The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is organizing commemorative solemn evenings dedicated to prominent Bulgarian scientists of European and world renown – individuals who have made a fundamental contribution to the development of Bulgarian science, culture, and art. The idea of the President of BAS, Corr. Memb. Evelina Slavacheva, and academicians from the Assembly of Academicians and Corresponding Members of BAS is to start a conversation recalling the invaluable contribution of BAS scientists – from Marin Drinov to the present day, announced Acad. Ivan Granitski at the opening of the event which took place in the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall of the Academy.
The first commemorative evening is dedicated to Acad. Angel Balevski, in April it will be dedicated to Acad. Blagovest Sendov, and in May – to Acad. Stefan Vodenicharov. Angel Balevski was a Bulgarian engineer, scientist, inventor, and visionary leader, founder of the Bulgarian scientific school of metallurgy and metal technology.
“When we talk about the history of BAS, we often and rightly refer to its first builders – remarkable personalities such as Marin Drinov, Lyubomir Miletich, Bogdan Filov … Their names are a symbol of the beginning – of the spiritual energy that created the institution and laid the foundations of the Bulgarian scientific tradition,” said the President of BAS, Corr. Memb. Evelina Slavcheva, in her speech. She emphasized the debt owed to the memory of contemporary presidents, academicians, prominent scientists, and artists who, in more recent times, had taken on the responsibility of leading Bulgarian science through decades of rapid changes and new challenges and passing on its traditions to future generations.
After the 1960s, BAS entered a period of significant institutional and scientific development. Academician Angel Balevski who served as president of BAS for two decades (1968-1988) played a particularly important role in this process. Under his leadership, the Academy established itself as a powerful scientific center, new institutes and scientific fields were created, international contacts were strengthened, and entire scientific schools were formed. Let this commemorative evening be not only an act of respect for the work of Acad. Balevski, said Corr. Memb. Slavcheva, but also a reminder of the continuity in Bulgarian science, she emphasized.
Academicians Vassil Sgurev, Vasil Gyuzelev, and Yachko Ivanov shared memories and personal conversations with Acad. Balevski. His figure is so comprehensive that some historical time must pass in order to assess what kind of person he was, said Acad. Sgurev.
Acad. Angel Balevski is the founder of the Bulgarian scientific school of metallurgy and metal technology. He made successful attempts to construct a machine for hot pressing non-ferrous metals. Acad. Balevski developed an original method for producing cast iron from Bulgarian raw materials in a rotary drum furnace. Together with Corr. Memb. Ivan Dimov, he developed a method for counter pressure casting which was a novelty in global casting technology and was protected by over 100 patents in Bulgaria and abroad. Prof. Stoyko Gyurov from the “Acad. Angel Balevski” Institute of Metal Science, Equipment and Technologies with the Center for Hydro- and Aerodynamics of BAS talked about his work.
Every month, the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall of BAS will host an evening dedicated to patriotic events, with the first one dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising. During the commemorative evening, the idea was presented for the “Marin Drinov” Academic Publishing House to publish a series of books by academicians in which their life stories would also be presented. The commemorative evenings dedicated to these famous personalities will be reflected in special thematic issues of the general academic “Journal of BAS.”
