Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography () is a scientific research institution, which was founded in 1933 on the basis of the Faculty of Geography of the Tbilisi State University in the city of Tbilisi. Some attempts at establishing geographical institutions in Georgia were undertaken even earlier. The initiator and inspirer of this event was academician Alexander Javakhishvili. In its first year the institute published 13 works with 50 various thematic maps. The Georgian Academy of Sciences was created in 1941, while the institute joined it in 1945, and in that same year was renamed after the Georgian scientist Vakhushti Bagrationi. When the institute was founded, it focused primarily on physical-geographical and economic-geographical research on separate administrative Georgian districts, and created relevant maps. Key features of the Georgian climate were studied. The institute returned to TSU in 2010.
Under the guidance of the institute the following atlases were compiled and published: "Atlas of Georgian SSR" (1964), "Resorts and Resort Resources of Georgian SSR" (1989), "Educational-Geographical Atlas of Georgia" (1992), "Atlas of Vakhushti Bagrationi" (1997), as well as the large number of scientific papers, monographs, thematic maps for secondary and high schools, popular scientific literature, etc. The institute presented in 2018 the first “National Atlas of Georgia” at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where Georgia was the guest of honor.
At different times the Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography was director by: Alexander Javakhishvili (1945–62), Feofan Davitaia (1962–79), Alexander Aslanikashvili (1980–81), Tamaz Kiknadze (1982–1991), Roman Kverenchkhiladze (1991), Zurab Tatashidze (1993–2005), Ramin Gobejishvili (2005–07), Nana Bolashvili (2007-present).
Structure
Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography included Department of Geomorphology-Geoecology, Department of Hydrology and Climatology, Department of Physical Geography, Department of Social Geography and Cartography and GIS Laboratory.
Department of Geomorphology of the Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of Geography was created in 1953. It was called the Department of Geomorphology during the periods of 1956–80 and 1992–2006, the Department of Geomorphology and Paleogeography—during 1980–92 and since 2006 it is called Department of Geomorphology-Geoecology. Well-known geomorphologists worked at the Department of Geomorphology: Levan Maruashvili, David Tsereteli, Shalva Kipiani, Nicholoz Astakhov, Giorgi Changashvili, Zurab Tatashidze, Demur Tabidze, Igor Bondirev, Ramin Gobejishvili and others. At different times the department was led by Professor Levan Maruashvili (1956–92).
Department of Hydrology and Climatology was created in 1958. Until 1980 the department was led by professor Lev Vladimirov. In 1980 the department was divided into two departments — of Hydrology and Climatology. In 2006, due to reorganization held in the institute the “Department of Natural Resources, Landscape Planning and Expertise” has been created on the basis of above mentioned department that existed only for three years. In October 2009 was restored the "Department of Hydrology and Climatology", with famous scientists Feofan Davitaia, Lev Vladimirov, Mitrofane Kordzakhia, Givi Gigineishvili, Vladimer Gvakharia, Ilia Apkhazava, Sandro Javakhishvili, Nana Bolashvili and others.
From the very beginning the Department of Physical Geography was formed as a Group of Landscape Sciences (David Tsereteli as head until 1962 and David Ukleba until 1973), afterwards it was reformed in a Laboratory of the Landscape Sciences and in 1981 — in the Department of Physical Geography. Research area of the department is the investigation of natural-territorial complexes (landscapes) of geographical environment, identification of regularity of its origin, structure, development and distribution. Complex physical-geographical (landscape) research was always properly treated in the scientific activity of the Institute of Geography. At different times the Department of Physical Geography was led by: David Ukleba, Zurab Seperteladze, Koba Kharadze, Nana Sulkhanishvili, Igor Bondirev, Giorgi Lominadze and others.