Meeting of the National Academic Network of BAS

A meeting of the National Academic Network of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences was held in Varna to mark the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising

On June 19, an expanded meeting of the National Academic Network (NAN) was held at the BAS Creative House in Varna, attended by Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva, President of BAS; Prof. Shtelian Shterionov, DSc, Vice-President; regional coordinators; and members of the Advisory Council.

The meeting was opened by Corr. Memb. Alexandre Kostov, chief coordinator of the NAN. In his opening remarks, he outlined the successes and challenges in the regional centers’ work to date, as well as their short-term prospects. In the presentations by the coordinators and during the discussion, the key priorities in the planned activities of the respective Regional Activity Centers (RACs) through the end of this year and into 2027 were presented. Information was also provided regarding the regional centers’ participation in the national commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising. Relationships and collaborative efforts with regional and municipal authorities, higher and secondary educational institutions, public and business organizations, companies, and entrepreneurs were discussed. Opportunities were also identified for involving the BAS as a national center of expertise in commemorating anniversaries of landmark historical events, discussing and addressing important economic and social issues in a given city or region, supporting the work of local partners, and so on. In this regard, the participants discussed opportunities for organizing various scientific forums (conferences, seminars, etc.) and lectures by BAS scientists, as well as the implementation of joint projects and initiatives and other forms of activity.

Academician Nikola Sabotinov and Acad. Yachko Ivanov addressed the meeting participants. In their remarks, these distinguished scholars offered their wishes and recommendations for future activities.

The meeting concluded with an in-depth discussion in which all attendees participated. The President of BAS, Corr. Memb. Evelina Slavcheva, delivered closing remarks, summarizing the results of the discussion and proposing measures to expand the activities of the regional academic centers.

After the meeting, the participants attended the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising, organized and presented by Assoc. Prof. Dimiter Christov (Institute for Historical Studies), Dr. Silviya Naydenova (Director of the Central Library of BAS) and Anna Todorova (Scientific Archives of BAS), as well as a lecture titled “Historical Memory and National Identity” delivered by Acad. Ivan Granitski. Members of Parliament, public figures, and scientists from the Varna region also participated in these events.