The Contribution and Legacy of Academician V.A. Koptyug to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)

Abstract Valentin Koptyug (1931–1997) was President of IUPAC during the 1987/89 biennium. In addition to his immense service to the educational, scientific and economic development of his own country Professor Koptyug made outstanding contributions to IUPAC over many years as well as to the other international organisations which he served. His interest in and dedication to the preservation of the environment and to the principles of sustainable development came very early. As a consequence, his influence has extended over many years. His inspiration has motivated IUPAC to greatly broaden the scope of its work and to collaborate with other international organisations to tackle real problems of societal interest.