In warm April days the ​​ anniversary is celebrated by the Doctor of Engineering, professor, the Honored master of sciences and engineering of Ukraine Natalya Sergiivna Ravska.

This vigorous, clever, essential woman is known and respected at our university and is far beyond its borders. What is special in this woman who is remembered even after one meeting with Natalya Sergiivna. And she is remembered for a long time, and always these memories are pleasant. Often happens so that the nature gives to the person something that at first sight isn't the most important and obligatory in life. God generously endowed Natalya Sergiivna with sharp mind which allows to see quickly an essence, curiosity which doesn't disappear with the years, working capacity which allowed to achieve great results, love of life and sociability.

In school days little Natasha had an uncommon talent for the exact sciences, for mathematics, she was interested in everything that was new, in “tasks without solutions”. Therefore it was no wonder that her choice which university to enter, was decisive - the “KPI”! In the 50s of XX century it was really difficult to enter the “KPI” on mechanical specialties. It was really competitive entry with a huge number of examinations. During the entry the active, clever, essential school leaver was noticed by the dean of mechanical faculty of that time professor Sergy Oleksiyovich Kartavov. Student's years were interesting and busy: an excellent pupil, the monitor of group, the master of sports in rowing and the active participant of clearing (she is awarded the medal “For Clearing”).

The graduate of 1960, the mechanical engineer of specialty “Technology of engineering, metal-cutting equipment” decided that it is possible to become the real engineer only by working in a factory. N. S. Ravska came to the plant “Generator” where she passed the way from the engineer to the assistant of chief of big mechanical workshop of the defensive enterprise, the chief of branch laboratory of the Ministry of electronic industry of the USSR. It took 16 years of her life.

In 1975 on-the-job Natalya Sergiivna defends the master's thesis on the subject “Research of the Field of Use and Cutting Properties of the Tool Made from Tungstenless Hard Alloy Metal”. The same year the member correspondent of NAS of Ukraine, professor Petro Rodionovich Rodin invites Natalya Sergiivna to Department of tool-making facilities (since 2009 - Department of Integrated Manufacturing).

In 1982 Natalya Sergiivna is entitled the associate professor, and in 1991 defends the dissertation on gaining an academic degree of the Doctor of Engineering. Her work on the subject “Development of Progressive Cutting Tools on the basis of Modelling of Their Work on a Self-organization Method” allowed resolving important for the industry issues of optimization of geometrical and designing factors of the cutting tool and its operating modes. The results of her scientific search found broad application at leading enterprises of various manufacturing sectors, in particular, sectors of aviation and automobile building. The scientific and technical development made under the direction of N. S. Ravska found also recognition abroad. The order of one of the German firms for development and implementation of chop saws with an irregular pitch of teeth for various conditions of their application was successfully completed.

In 1992 N. S. Ravska was gained the academic degree of professor on Department of tool-making facilities. Nowadays Natalya Sergiivna is well-known and respected scientist in the field of a shaping of surfaces at machining, designing of cutting tools, modeling of cutting processes and operation of cutting tools. 2 textbooks, 12 manuals, 4 monographs, 280 scientific articles, 39 patents, scientific consultation of 3 doctoral dissertations and the management of 27 master's theses – all these are a worthy legacy she can be proud of. Many scientists appreciate Natalya Sergiivna for her work in a specialized academic council on protection of doctoral and master's theses. From the very beginning of council creation she conscientiously worked as a scientific secretary, and for 20 years she is the invariable head of this council.

From 1996 to 2010 N. S. Ravska was a head of Department of tool-making facilities of the NTUU “KPI” of Institute of Mechanical Engineering. Huge organizational work on carrying out scientific researches, improvement of educational process, and development of material resources allowed to the Department to take a worthy place among leading departments of our university in very hard times. The aspiration peculiar to women to console, to help the employees in everyday situations allowed to Natalya Sergiivna Ravska to form the collective into one body, to create comfortable, creative conditions for department activity. The efforts of N. S. Ravska and the head of V. M. Bakul Institute of superfirm materials of NAS of Ukraine the academician M.V.Novikov helped to create the joint research center where on the basis of ISM students-toolmakers of the last courses listen the lectures of leading scientists of NAS of Ukraine once a week and carry out scientific researches. Personal authority of N.S. Ravska helped to create in 2002 Joint Ukrainian and German faculty of engineering. Thanks to Natalya Sergiivna's foresight, in 2007 on the basis of Department of tool-making facilities the Joint center CAD/CAM technologies between NTUU “KPI” and the company DELCAM plc (Great Britain) was created. Continuous search of something new led to the implementation at the Department of training of specialists and masters of new specialization - technical design. All this placed the Department of tool-making facilities on a new footing, broadened the field of scientific and educational interests and allowed it to be transformed to Department of Integrated Manufacturing.

The importance of scientific and technical development was assessed by the state - in 1998 Natalya Sergiivna Ravska received an honorary title “The honored worker of science and equipment of Ukraine”. Not less powerful is recognition of native Alma Mater - from the beginning of the competition “teacher-researcher” in the “KPI” in 2006 Natalya Sergiivna is its annual winner.

Everything, that Natalya Sergiivna start doing burns in her female hands without getting her and other people’s back. Her work is beneficial for students, teachers and scientists of the Department and university.

I know that Natalya Sergiivna determined a formula of happiness for herself a long time ago. The main component of her formula is to be necessary to people. You never will see her alone; you can always see graduate students, doctoral candidates and colleagues from the “KPI” or from other universities with her. People seek her advice and help very often and she manages to help everybody.

Therefore, we wish her long years of life, inspiration and success!

V.A. Pasichnik, the head of the Department of Integrated Manufacturing
Translator: Попчук Зоріна ЛА-11