On May 17, Ukraine celebrates Science Day, World Internet Day, World Telecommunications and Information Society Day, World Pulmonologist Day, World Orienteering Day and World Violin Day. The historical events of this day span over eight centuries, from medieval uprisings to the technological breakthroughs and cultural shifts of modern times.
Science Day in Ukraine
This is a professional holiday of scientists, researchers, teachers, engineers, technologists and everyone involved in the production and dissemination of knowledge. The Day of Science in Ukraine was introduced by the Presidential Decree in 1997, it concerns everyone who understands that without science it is impossible to overcome the complex challenges of modern times: not on the battlefield, not in the economy, not in medicine, not in education, not in security, energy or climate issues.
Despite the war, thousands of Ukrainian scientists continue to work in laboratories, research centers and universities. Many of them are simultaneously involved in dual-use projects — including defense technology, digital security, cyber defense, medicine, psychology, distance learning, and energy innovation. Some specialists work as part of international teams abroad, representing Ukrainian science at the level of the EU, NATO, CERN, ESA, Horizon Europe and other platforms.
This year, Science Day in Ukraine is a reminder that in the conditions of military and economic exhaustion, science remains a critically important part of the national potential. If in the 1990s and 2000s science was talked about mainly in the past tense, today more and more requests are formulated in the present tense: develop, model, measure, test.
Ukraine is actively integrating into the global scientific space. In 2024, Ukrainian scientists received dozens of grants under the Horizon Europe, COST, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie programs. More than 60 Ukrainian universities participate in international academic alliances, and institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine increasingly sign agreements with laboratories from Germany, Italy, Poland, and the USA. Project participants are not only academics, but also graduate students, masters, high school students who win Olympiads, conduct their own research and work in STEM fields.
Interesting facts
As of 2025, more than 600 scientific institutions and almost 300 higher educational institutions with active research activities are operating in Ukraine.
The largest grant programs currently supporting Ukrainian science are Horizon Europe, MSCA, ERASMUS+, USAID Science, DAAD Research Ukraine.
According to Scopus, the number of publications by Ukrainian scientists in international publications increased in 2023-2024 despite the war.
There are 3 youth scientific associations working in Ukraine, which are part of the European networks Young Academy of Ukraine, UAScientists, Ukrainian Global University.
Ukrainian geologists and physicists participate in the work of global groups investigating the impact of war on the climate, in particular within the framework of the European Environment Agency.
After February 24, 2022, some Ukrainian scientists moved abroad, but many of them remain involved in Ukrainian institutions and work remotely on joint projects.
World Internet Day
It was on this day in 1991 that the first common standard was approved for the World Wide Web, the network that later became the foundation of the modern Internet. The idea of creating a “World Wide Web” belongs to the British scientist Timothy Berners-Lee, who started work on the project back in 1989 at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The introduction of a single standard on May 17, 1991 made it possible to structure the network in the form of hypertext pages, which became the basis of the modern web. In the same period, the world’s first website was created.
The Internet in its current form is the result of decades of technical development, from the first connection within the ARPANET network in 1969 to the introduction of the TCP/IP protocol in 1983 and the creation of the World Wide Web in 1991. But Internet Day is not so much a historical date as a social one. It is about realizing how deeply this technology is rooted in all spheres of life — from communications to medicine, from finance to education.
The Internet is of special importance for Ukraine. Since 1992, when the country first connected to the world wide web, there has been rapid development of digital infrastructure. Especially big changes were felt in the 2010s — with the advent of the mobile Internet, the development of online markets, electronic democracy, and digital government services. With the onset of full-scale war, the role of the Internet grew even more: not only as a means of communication, but also as a critical tool for defense, volunteering, logistics, coordination, documentation, and psychosocial support.
Today, Ukraine is one of the most digitally active countries in Eastern Europe. According to data for 2025, more than 85% of Ukrainians have access to the Internet. Digitalization programs cover not only large cities, but also remote communities, schools, military units, and humanitarian aid points.
Interesting facts
The first word on the internet was “LO”. “LOGIN” was supposed to be passed to the system, but it crashed after two letters. It happened on October 29, 1969, between computers at UCLA and Stanford.
ARPANET is a project of the US military, created to communicate between scientific centers. In the event of a nuclear strike, the network had to remain functional through decentralization.
TCP/IP – the language of the Internet – began to be used on January 1, 1983. This date is considered the second important “birth” of the Internet.
The first website (info.cern.ch) appeared on August 6, 1991. It was created by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research). He also introduced the concept of “World Wide Web”.
In 1993, the first graphical browser Mosaic appeared, which made the Internet accessible to the mass user.
The first email was sent by Ray Tomlinson in 1971. It was he who proposed the “@” symbol as a separator between a username and a domain.
In 1995, Amazon and eBay began selling goods online, ushering in the era of e-commerce.
Today, more than 5.4 billion people are online, which is more than 65% of the world’s population. Back in the 2000s, there were less than a billion of them.
More than 231 million e-mails are sent every minute on the Internet, more than 5 million Google searches are performed, and more than 40 million messages are sent in messengers (data for 2024).
The Wayback Machine Internet Archive contains more than 800 billion pages — the digital history of humanity in one place.
World Day of Telecommunications and Information Society
This is an official date in the UN calendar, which was established to draw attention to the development of telecommunications, digital technologies, as well as access to information and digital services. This day is dedicated to the establishment of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), one of the oldest intergovernmental organizations in the world, founded on May 17, 1865.
In 2025, this day becomes especially relevant. Digital tools play an important role in the functioning of education, health care, public administration, security and defense. For millions of Ukrainians who have become internally displaced or have gone abroad, communication and access to information have become critical conditions for maintaining family ties, civil rights, and access to social services. For communities, businesses and state institutions, it is a question of viability and stability in wartime conditions.
Interesting facts
The first intercontinental telegraph cable connected Europe and North America in 1858 — 10 years before the ITU. The message went for several hours.
In 1962, the United States launched the Telstar satellite, which transmitted a television signal across the Atlantic for the first time — this was the moment when “the airwaves went global.”
In 2023, more than 2.6 billion people still do not have access to the Internet. More than half of them are women living in rural areas.
The first mobile phone call was made by Martin Cooper in 1973 on the streets of New York. His device weighed 1.1 kg.
At the beginning of the 20th century, radio communication was used not only for telegrams. For example, the Titanic sent SOS signals by radio – with the help of the Marconi telegraph operator.
In Japan, the first mass mobile Internet appeared as early as 1999, while in Europe this service became available several years later.
Artificial intelligence based on telecom data is already predicting natural disasters, including power outages and disease outbreaks — using only cellular signals.
World pulmonologist day
This day was started in 1997 as an occasion to remember one of the most underrated, but extremely important medical specialties. Pulmonologists are those who deal with everything related to the lungs, from common bronchitis to tuberculosis and rare autoimmune diseases, from asthma to the effects of COVID-19 and lung complications after injuries.
In the context of the war, this specialty gained new relevance. Pulmonary injuries after blast injuries, respiratory tract damage due to smoke, chemical exposure or dust – all these require deep professional attention. In addition, the number of patients with post-covid changes, chronic obstructive diseases, long-term complications after pneumonia is increasing.
A pulmonologist is not only a doctor who is consulted during a cough. This is a specialist who reads X-rays and CT scans of the chest, prescribes functional breathing tests, understands complex pharmacotherapy and coordinates interdisciplinary care when a patient requires the participation of an allergist, cardiologist or oncologist.
Interesting facts
The term “pulmonology” comes from the Latin pulmo – lung. It is one of the youngest independent specialties in internal medicine: it was officially distinguished only in the middle of the 20th century.
Human lungs have more than 300 million alveoli, and the total area of gas exchange can reach 100 square meters. m – about the size of a tennis court.
The first stethoscope was created in 1816 by the French doctor Laennec specifically for listening to the lungs.
More than 10% of all chronic diseases in Ukraine are diseases of the respiratory system, and this number tends to increase due to environmental factors, smoking, infections and war conditions.
In 2020, due to COVID-19, pulmonologists were among the most in-demand doctors in the world. In many countries, there was a massive shortage of them even in the capitals.
Modern pulmonologists work with bronchoscopy, 3D lung models and remote diagnostics, using telemedicine and automated assessment of respiratory functions.
Ukraine has a National Association of Pulmonologists, which develops clinical guidelines and conducts training programs for primary care physicians.
World Orienteering Day
This event was started by the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) with the aim of popularizing this sport among youth and general audiences worldwide. Orienteering is a competition where participants look for checkpoints with a compass and a map, and is a complex discipline that combines physical endurance, analytical thinking, and the ability to make quick decisions in a changing environment.
Participation in orienteering is always individual responsibility for the route and the result, which is especially relevant in the modern world, where the ability to adapt to a new situation is critically important.
Interesting facts
The homeland of orienteering is Sweden. The first competitions were held back in 1897, and this sport received official status in 1961 with the formation of the IOF.
Modern orienteering uses electronic chips and GPS tracking, although the principles remain the same: map, compass, own decision.
There are different formats of orienteering: running, skiing, bicycle orienteering, trail orienteering (inclusive), night orienteering. All of them have international status and championships.
Ukraine is actively represented on the international arena. Ukrainian athletes regularly participate in world and European championships, and also organize competitions at the national level, in particular for young people.
Orienteering develops skills that are important outside of sports: spatial thinking, cartographic literacy, attentiveness, endurance and independence.
The youngest participants of the officially registered starts were children aged 4 and over, the oldest was over 80.
World Violin Day
This date is dedicated to one of the most recognizable and sensual instruments of classical music – the violin, which for centuries has remained a symbol of emotionality, virtuosity and technical perfection. The violin appeared in Italy in the 16th century. Its modern form was formed thanks to the work of the masters of Cremona, such as Andrea Amati, Guarneri and, of course, Antonio Stradivari. Their instruments are still considered a standard of quality: in particular, the Stradivarius Messiah, made in 1716, is valued at tens of millions of dollars and is kept in Oxford. At the same time, the violin became an instrument not only of the aristocracy – it went from palaces to folk ensembles, jazz, rock and even electronic music.
The violin is one of the most versatile instruments. It is mandatory in a symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, folk groups and solo performances. The repertoire includes everything from Bach and Paganini to soundtracks by Hans Zimmer or rock covers by Metallica. In the 21st century, the violin remains in demand both in the academic environment and in modern music – that is why it does not go out of use, despite digitization.
Interesting facts
The violin has only 4 strings, but more than 70 thousand combinations of sounds. It is one of the instruments with the widest dynamic range.
The cost of some vintage violins reaches $20-30 million. One of the most expensive instruments — Stradivarius “Lady Blunt” — was sold for $15.9 million.
The youngest professional violinists start playing at the age of 3-4. For example, Japanese violinist Sayaka Shoji won an international competition in Genoa at the age of 16.
Ukraine has its own world-class violin school. Famous names are Bogodar Kotorovich, Oleg Krysa, Myroslava Kotorovich, Vasyl Popadyuk, Mark Lubotsky, Anton Sorokov, Valeriya Sokolova.
In 2022, the violin became a symbol of Ukrainian cultural stability. At many charity concerts, Ukrainian musicians played simply in shelters and subways.
The violin appears in more than 200 feature films, from “Fiddler on the Roof” to “Red Violins” and “Amadeus”.
An electric violin was also produced, which is used in rock and pop arrangements, jazz and experimental music. It does not have a resonator case, but it gives a strong effect when connected to sound equipment.
Historical events on this day
1215 — English barons who rebelled against King John the Landless captured London, taking a step toward limiting royal power.
1302 — A rebellion of artisans against French rule broke out in Bruges. This speech marked the beginning of the liberation struggle of Flanders.
1497 — Vasco da Gama’s sea expedition reached the shores of India, opening a direct route from Europe to Asia.
1604 — Russia and Poland signed an agreement called “Eternal Peace”, trying to put an end to armed conflicts.
1718 — English lawyer James Puckle received a patent for the world’s first machine gun, a weapon that was ahead of its time.
1792 — Under a sprawling tree, 24 brokers agreed to establish the New York Stock Exchange. Wall Street would later appear at this location.
1809 – Emperor Napoleon I issued a decree depriving the Pope of Roman secular power. Rome and other ecclesiastical possessions were annexed to the French Empire.
1861 — The Thomas Cook Tourist Office made the first organized trip in history: from London to Paris.
1861 — In London, for the first time, a color photograph made by the method of the Scottish physicist James Maxwell was publicly shown.
1916 — In Great Britain, for the first time in the world, the transition to summer time was officially introduced.
1924 — Actress Marlene Dietrich married director Rudolf Sieber.
1929 — In Philadelphia, the police arrested the gangster Al Capone. However, he was accused only of illegal possession of weapons.
1973 — Hearings on the Watergate scandal, which ended with the resignation of President Richard Nixon, began in the US Senate.
1978 — In Lausanne, Switzerland, the police found the remains of Charlie Chaplin, who had previously been stolen from his grave and disappeared for 11 weeks.
1985 — An anti-alcohol campaign has been announced in the Soviet Union.
1990 — The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the list of mental disorders.
1995 — In Geneva, the “Di” diamond was sold at an auction for a record amount – more than 16.5 million dollars.
1997 — Paul McCartney received more than 3 million questions on the Internet in just 30 minutes — an absolute record at that time.
2009 — A test version of the Minecraft game appeared, which later became one of the most successful and influential in the world.
