Tadas Ivanauskas

Tadas Ivanauskas (December 16, 1882 – June 1, 1970) was a prominent Lithuanian zoologist and biologist, and one of the founders of Vytautas Magnus University.

After finishing Warsaw Gymnasium in 1901 Ivanauskas moved to Saint Petersburg, where studied in the 1st gymnasium of the city. In 1903 he studied at the natural sciences department of the Saint Petersburg University. He met and befriendied Lithuanian students here and learned Lithuanian language.

In 1905 he moved to Paris, and studied at Sorbonne University Nature-history faculty and graduated in 1909. Since 1904 was member of Lithuanian society Lituania. Together with another early twentieth century Lithuanian activist, Michał Römer, Ivanauskas gave lectures about Lithuania in Paris in 1905.

In 1909 he again entered Saint Petersburg University, as Russian Empire did not recognize foreign diplomas, and finished with first grade diploma in 1910. During the studies he was active in Lithuanian student society, was elected a chairman.

In 1910 in Saint Petersburg established natural sciences visual devices laboratory Zootom, that prepared various biological, botanical, anatomical and mineralogical devices. In summertime he traveled around Lithuania collecting material for his devices. 1914 and 1917 Ivanauskas participated in scientific expeditions into Northern Russia (Murmansk and Archangelsk) and Norway. 1918 Ivanauskas returned to Lithuania and together with his wife Honorata opened Lithuanian school.

1920 he moved to Kaunas and worked as adviser in Ministry of Agriculture of Lithuania, also helped organizing Higher courses, that later became University of Lithuania. Together with Konstantinas Regelis organized Kaunas Botanical Park in 1923. together with his wife started organizing annual National day of birds and Tree planting days.

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