 Meeting of scientists of the NAS of Ukraine with the management of the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS (Varna, Bulgaria): from left to right – O. Shchyptsov, S. Moncheva, V. Iemelianov, A. Palazov, G. Stefanov |
In accordance with the Agreement on Scientific Cooperation between the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NAS of Ukraine) and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) of June 6, 2016, the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Scientific Hydrophysical Centre of the NAS of Ukraine and the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS signed in October 2017, and at the invitation of the Bulgarian party, Ukrainian scientists visited the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS (Varna, Bulgaria) on April 2-3, 2018.
The following plenipotentiary representatives participated in working meetings and consultations:
– from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine – First Deputy Chief Scientific Secretary of the NAS of Ukraine, Director of the Center of the Problems of Marine Geology, Geoecology and Sedimentary Ore Formations Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine Volodymyr Iemelianov, Director of the Scientific Hydrophysical Centre of the NAS of Ukraine Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine Oleksandr Shchyptsov and acting Scientific Secretary of the Scientific Hydrophysical Centre of the NAS of Ukraine Georgi Stefanov;
– from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences – Director of the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS Professor, Doctor Snejanka Moncheva, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS Professor, Doctor Atanas Palazov and Scientific Secretary of the mentioned institute Assoc. Professor, Doctor Lyubomir Dimitrov.
During the consultations parties discussed conditions and perspectives of:
– charter of research vessel “Akademik” of the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS for conducting marine geological, geophysical and hydroacoustic research in the western part of the Black Sea in July 2018;
– renewal of the participation of NAS of Ukraine in the Black Sea Regional Alliance of the Global Ocean Observing System (BlackSea GOOS);
– cooperation in the field of hydrophysical research of the marine environment and exchange of oceanographic data between the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS and the Scientific Hydrophysical Center of the NAS of Ukraine;
– joint participation in the development of a project for the creation of a “new age” research vessel.
 Research vessel “Akademik” of the Institute of Oceanology of BAS |
In accordance with the provisions of Articles 248, 249 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, the parties agreed to organize the mentioned cruise approximately in the period from July 5 to July 15, 2018. The scientific staff of the Ukrainian expedition will include 15 persons – 10 Ukrainian and 5 Bulgarian scientists. It is defined that the scientific chief of the cruise will be a representative of Ukraine, and the deputy chief – a representative of Bulgaria.
It is expected that the scheduled marine research will have geological, geophysical and hydroacoustic orientation, therefore representatives of the NAS of Ukraine paid special attention to the possibility of the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS to provide relevant equipment for such investigations.
Particularly, the delegation of the NAS of Ukraine conducted fruitful consultations with the Scientific Secretary of the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS Assoc. Professor, Doctor Lyubomir Dimitrov and Senior Researcher of the Department of Marine Geology and Archeology Assoc. Professor, Doctor Atanas Vasilev concerning organizational and technical issues of the cruise on the research vessel “Akademik”.
Representatives of NAS of Ukraine also got acquainted with scientific directions and laboratories of the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS.
 Introduction to the technical equipment of the National Oceanographic Data Center of Bulgaria: from left to right – O. Shchyptsov, A. Palazov, V. Iemelianov |
The delegation of the NAS of Ukraine visited the research vessel “Akademik” of the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS, which had just returned from the regular cruise, and looked at the relevant scientific equipment necessary for carrying out the scheduled marine research. The representatives of the Ukrainian Academy unanimously noted the high technical equipment of the vessel and the suitability of its equipment for the activities, provided by the cruise plan. In addition, the representatives of the NAS of Ukraine established personal working relations with some of the crew members of vessel “Akademik”, as well as with the superintendent engineer Branimir Kostov.
 Ukrainian delegation onboard research vessel “Akademik” with Captain of the vessel M. Cholakov |
The delegation of the NAS of Ukraine also had the honor of meeting with the Minister of Education and Science of Bulgaria Mr. Krasimir Valchev, who visited research vessel “Akademik” at the same time. The parties expressed their hopes for the development of cooperation between the research institutions of Ukraine and Bulgaria.
 Representatives of Ukraine V. Iemelianov and O. Shchyptsov and Minister of Education and Science of Bulgaria K. Valchev on the bridge of research vessel “Akademik” |
During the visit of the representatives of the NAS of Ukraine to the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS the parties also discussed other issues. Particularly, considering the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) proclaimed by the United Nations on December 12, 2017 (A/RES/72/73), the scientists of the two countries were highly interested in the discussion of the prospects of joint participation in the development of a project for the creation of a “new age” research vessel.
Upon completion of the working meeting and consultations, Ukrainian and Bulgarian scientists drew up and signed minutes, which reflects the relevant arrangements.
In general, the plenipotentiary representatives of the NAS of Ukraine consider their visit to the Institute of Oceanology of the BAS as successful, and bilateral consultations on interaction and cooperation in the field of marine environment research as fruitful and corresponding to the spirit and letter of the Agreement on Scientific Cooperation between the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Information is provided by Scientific Hydrophysical Centre of the NAS of Ukraine
News published by: Press-office of NASU