Vyda Ragulskienė

In 1965, she defended the dissertation of candidate of technical sciences (doctoral degree). In 1973 she defended the dissertation of doctor of sciences (habilitated doctor) and she received the scientific title of professor in 1977. She coauthored six research monographs, about two hundred research papers and 97 patents. For her research work she was awarded the State Prize of the Lithuanian SSR in 1983. Ragulskienė was a scientific supervisor or consultant of more than fifty defended dissertations.

Professor Vyda Kęsgailaitė-Ragulskienė (June 4, 1931 – January 4, 2009) was a Lithuanian scientist, inventor, the first woman to become Dr.habil. of technical sciences in Lithuania.

Ragulskienė was born in the family of Leonas Kęsgaila-Kenstavičius (1895–1979) and Stefanija Stanevičiūtė-Kęsgailienė (1899–1984) in the village of Dapšiai. In 1955, she graduated with honour from Kaunas Polytechnical Institute. She was a research associate of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences (1958–1967). From 1967 to 1993 she worked at Kaunas Polytechnical Institute (later Kaunas University of Technology). While studying in the Kaunas Polytechnical Institute, she graduated from Juozas Gruodis Higher Musical School (now it is a conservatory).

Ragulskienė translated from English Samogitia: The Unknown in History by American author of esoteric books and convicted con man Charles Pichel (1890–1982), who falsely claimed to be a French nobleman and signed Charles Louis Thourot Pichel. She was active in the collection of data for the encyclopedia The Officers of the Lithuanian Armed Forces 1918–1953. She also prepared materials about the history of her native village of Dapšiai. Many prominent Lithuanian people hailed from this village, including Kazimieras Simonavičius, the creator of the science of artillery and multi-stage rockets. Her family history reaches Kęsgailos of the 14th century.