Bulgaria participates in the 37th session of the International Co-ordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme

The 37th session of the International Co-ordinating Council (MAB-ICC) of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme was held in Hangzhou, China, from 26 to 28 September 2025. Bulgaria, which is a full member of this highest governing body of the Programme, was represented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ina Aneva - Scientific Secretary of the Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology Division, elected by the UNESCO General Conference for a four-year term. The Hangzhou session brought together representatives from countries around the world to chart the future of the Man and the Biosphere Programme, discuss strategic priorities and consider proposals for new biosphere reserves. During the sessions, Assoc. Prof. Aneva took part and expressed Bulgaria's position on issues of the agenda. She welcomed the digitalization of MAB processes [...]

2025-09-30T14:08:57+03:00Tuesday, 30 September 2025|Categories: Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology|

Max Planck Institute for Anthropology in Leipzig funds NMNHS-BAS research

  The excavations of the palaeontological team of the National Museum of Natural History (NMNHS-BAS) in the Late Miocene Azmaka trove (Chirpan region), led by Prof. Nikolai Spassov, have aroused particular international interest in connection with the discovery of a hominid femur bone (a fossil member of the human family) dated 7.2 million years ago. After the publication in 2012 of a hominid tooth found in the same trove, this is the second find discovered by the team. The femur, presumably attributed to the hominid Graecopithecus described by a mandible found during World War II near Athens, has important implications for palaeoanthropology. It provides an opportunity to study the mode of locomotion of this latest European pre-human hominid. The now completed study (in print) shows [...]

2025-08-21T11:59:13+03:00Thursday, 21 August 2025|Categories: Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology|

The expedition of the National Museum of Natural History near Tran successfully completed

  Part of the expedition team (from left to right): Assoc. Prof. Docho Dochev, Asst. Prof. Vladimir Nikolov, Prof. Marlena Yaneva and Georgi Sevov. Photo: Latinka Hristova The eighth palaeontological expedition of the National Museum of Natural History at BAS to the locality of dinosaurs and other vertebrates of Late Cretaceous age near the town of Tran which took place from 28 July to 5 August finished with new dinosaur finds. The leader of the expedition, Assoc. Prof. Latinka Hristova from NMNHS-BAS, found an almost completely preserved dinosaur rib; the length of the fossil bone is about 50 centimeters. Prof. Marlena Yaneva ("Strashimir Dimitrov" Geological Institute - BAS), Assoc. Prof. Docho Dochev (Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"), Asst. Prof. Vladimir Nikolov (NMNHS-BAS), students [...]

2025-08-15T10:31:02+03:00Thursday, 14 August 2025|Categories: Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology|

Four medals for Bulgaria at the International Biology Olympiad

  The Bulgarian students have won four medals - two silver and two bronze from the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). The Olympiad was held from 20 to 27 July in the Philippines. The silver medals were won by Dimitar Oronov (XI grade, National High School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics - NHSNSM) and Stoyan Dobrev (XII grade, NHSNSM). The bronze awards went to Martin Zamfirov (XII grade, NHSNSM) and Boyan Tsenov (XI grade, NHSNSM). Their supervisors have been Prof. Dr. Albena Jordanova (Medical Faculty, SU "St. Kliment Ohridski"), Sen. Asst. Prof. Dr. Radoslav Aleksandrov (Institute of Molecular Biology of BAS) and PhD student Teodor Trifonov (Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research of BAS). The International Biology Olympiad is the world's most prestigious competition for biology [...]

Bulgarian DNA Barcoding Unit organizes the first training on nanopore barcoding and genome analysis in Bulgaria

At the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics of BAS, the first of its kind for Bulgaria Practical Training Course on Nanopore Barcoding and Genome Analysis was held. The training took place in the period 7-9 July and was aimed at undergraduate students, PhD students and young scientists. The aim of the training was to build scientific capacity in the field of DNA barcoding and nanopore sequencing and their application to the study of biodiversity. The event was organised by the Bulgarian DNA barcoding unit (Bulgarian Barcode of Life - BgBOL) with the support of the European project initiative Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE). Six expert lecturers from Greece (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Poland (Lodz University) and Bulgaria (National Museum of Natural History, BAS) participated in [...]

2025-07-10T15:10:11+03:00Thursday, 10 July 2025|Categories: Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology|

Prof. Valya Vassileva – among the eight selected participants from over 860 applications in Malmö Residency 2025

Prof. Dr. Valya Vassileva, Director of the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics at BAS, is among the eight scientists and innovators from around the world selected to participate in the prestigious international Malmö Residency 2025 programme. Besides personal success, this is also a recognition of the high scientific level and international commitment of the Bulgarian academic community. Malmö Residency is an initiative of more than 70 institutions, universities, companies and public organisations in the Swedish city of Malmö. The programme is funded by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket), Malmö City and the Swedish Institute. It offers a one-month stay, full logistical support and collaboration opportunities for international experts working on current topics such as green transition, artificial intelligence and emerging [...]

2025-05-22T09:15:33+03:00Wednesday, 21 May 2025|Categories: Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology|
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