Scientific and Organizational Activities of Viktoriia Yuzvenko (On the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Birthday)

The article is devoted to the famous Ukrainian scientist, folklorist, Slavist Viktoriia Yuzvenko (1924–2024). Her significance as an organizer of the scientific process is described. She has continued the Slavic direction of activity initiated by Maksym Rylskyi at the Institute of Art Studies, Folklore and Ethnography of the Academy of Sciences of Ukrainian SSR (nowadays it is M. Rylskyi Institute of Art Studies, Folkloristics and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IASFE)). The scholar has devoted more than 50 years of work at the scientific institution to this cause first as a post-graduate student, scientific secretary, and later as the head of the Slavic Studies Center. She has chaired the Department of Slavic Folklore Studies, directing her strength and energy to establishing an active scientific life and training scientific personnel. A comparative and historical study of the problems of history and theory of folklore of Slavic peoples, oral folk art of Slavs and national minorities of Ukraine has been initiated, and the program of historical and comparative studies has been expanded beyond Slavic Studies under the leadership of Viktoriia Yuzvenko. The scientist’s research interests have included the history of Slavic Folkloristics, Ukrainian-Polish folkloristic relations, studies of the genre system of modern Slavic folklore and inter-Slavic folklore ties, Slavic fairy-tale epics. Over 20 collective works have been prepared with the participation and editing of Viktoriia Yuzvenko. They have received well-deserved recognition from Ukrainian and foreign scientists. The expansion and support of international relations, cooperation with specialized scientific centers, institutions, and Slavic scholars around the world are considered as her priority area of activity. Thanks to the support of international contacts, an active exchange of published works, coordination of scientific research and development of scientific projects have taken place. Viktoriia Yuzvenko has represented Ukrainian science at international forums, she is known as a long-time participant and speaker at International Congresses of Slavists for many years. She has contributed significantly to the scientific support and organization of field expeditionary research.