site.btaAntarctica and Bulgarian Science on World Stage, Sofia University Rector Says

In an interview for BTA taken aboard the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421), Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Rector Prof. Dr Georgi Valchev emphasized his university's fundamental role in Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions. He reported that Sofia University has established itself as a centre for scientific research and a catalyst for the Bulgarian presence in Antarctica, which explains why the university and Bulgaria's Antarctic base have the same namesake, St. Kliment Ohridski.

According to Valchev, the added value for Bulgarian science from the Antarctic missions is tremendous. Antarctica provides a unique opportunity to study climate change in historical terms and to analyse natural processes in an environment that is scarcely affected by human activity. This allows scientists to capture and track global trends that would go unnoticed in more populated areas of the planet.

Valchev noted that the Bulgarian Antarctic programme faces many challenges, the biggest of which are securing sustainable funding and increasing international cooperation. Sofia University is working to secure long-term funding to enable better expedition planning. Institutional synergy is also key. The Rector pointed to the successful partnership between the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy and the RSV 421 as a good example of resource sharing.

The future of Bulgarian Antarctic research, according to the scientist, lies in the expansion of interdisciplinary teams and the recruitment of specialists from various fields. The programme is coming out of its "romantic" period and is now on solid scientific footing with modern infrastructure on Livingston Island, he said.

The Rector said that Antarctica is a dream come true for students and young scientists. To have the opportunity to set foot on this distant continent and to be part of real scientific research is not only inspiring but also an invaluable experience. Their participation in expeditions broadens their horizons and gives them the confidence of true explorers, he concluded.