Short history of the department of Mathematical Modelling

 

The Department of Mathematical Modelling of the Institute for Mathematics and Informatics (IMI) of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) is the direct successor of the following units formed in the early 60’s:

  • Department of Numerical Methods and Algorithms of the Institute for Mathematics with a Computing Centre of BAS;
  • Chair of Computational Mathematics of the Faculty of Mathematics in the Sofia University (successor of the laboratory of Computational Mathematics at the Department for Advanced Analysis)

The Department was formed within the United Centre for Science and Education in Mathematics and Mechanics, following a Decision of the Bulgarian government “for endorsement of a new model in the education in mathematics and mechanics and integration of the activities of the Faculty of Mathematics in the Sofia University and the Institute for Mathematics with a Computing Centre of BAS”. The Department was called sector during the period of functioning of the united centers for science and education - till 1988. The following scientists entered on December 30, 1970 the new Department of Mathematical Modelling:

Acad. Blagovest Sendov, Acad. Borislav Bojanov, Corresponding member of BAS Vassil Popov, Prof. DSc Raycho Lazarov, Prof. DSc Stefka Dimova, Prof. DSc Svetoslav Markov, Prof. DSc Rumen Maleev, Prof. DSc Mihail Kaschiev, Prof. Dr Milko Petkov, Assoc. Prof. Dr Todor Boyanov, Assoc. Prof. Dr Vassil Vesselinov, Assoc. Prof. Dr Andrey Andreev, Assoc. Prof. Dr Nikolay Kyurkchiev, Assoc. Prof. Dr Evgeniya Kolarova-Sendova, Assist. Prof. Dr Mitko Tsvetanov, Assist. Prof. Dr Margarita Nikolcheva, Assist. Prof. Dr Emiliya Mateeva, Assist. Prof. Teodora Kirpikova-Jukanova, Assist. Prof. Mara Apostolova.

 

As of 1 January 2009 the Department of Mathematical Modelling consists of:

Assoc. Prof. Dr Nikolay Kyurkchiev (head of the Department), Prof. DSc Kamen Ivanov, Prof. DSc Pencho Petrushev, Prof. DSc Lili Popova, Assoc. Prof. Dr Andrey Andreev, Assoc. Prof. Dr Nikolay Kyurkchiev, Assoc. Prof. Dr Vladimir Hristov, Assoc. Prof. Dr Georgi Iliev, Assoc. Prof. Dr Ognyan Trifonov, Assoc. Prof. Dr Denka Kutzarova, Assist. Prof. Dr Irina Nikolova, Assist. Prof. Dr Borislav Draganov, Veselin Kyurkchiev, Daniela Stoyanova.

 

Two temporary groups existed in the Department of Mathematical Modelling till 1995, namely, a temporary problem group on mathematical modelling of the gravity impact of the Sun and the Moon on the Earth with staff Prof. DSc Ivan Ivanov, Assist. Prof. Petar Dabnishki, and Assist. Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov; Laboratory for Mathematical Chemistry and Chemical Informatics with staff Assoc. Prof. DSc Daniel Bonchev, Assist. Prof. Ivan Bangov.

 

Members of the Department of Mathematical Modelling were also:

Prof. DSc Ivan Dimov, Prof. DSc Ralitsa Kovacheva, Assoc. Prof. Dr Spas Tashev, Assoc. Prof. Dr Nataliya Kolkovska, Assoc. Prof. Dr Tatyana Chernogorova, Assist. Prof. Dr Nikola Naydenov, Assoc. Prof. Dr Panayot Vassilevski, Assist. Prof. Dr Nikola Vladov, Assist. Prof. Dr Milena Moskova, Assist. Prof. Dr Hristo Jijev, Assist. Prof. Angelina Yotova, Assist. Prof. Nikolay Bankov, Assist. Prof. Petar Shopov, Krasimira Popova, Maksim Chilev, Yanko Chernev.

 

Several new groups working in closely related mathematical fields originated from Department of Mathematical Modelling. Departments of Numerical methods and Biomathematics of IMI-BAS separated from Department of Mathematical Modelling. Essential parts of the founders of Institute for Parallel Processing of BAS and the Chair of Numerical Methods and Algorithms of the Faculty of Mathematics in the Sofia University were former members of the Department too.

 

Consecutive heads of Department of Mathematical Modelling are Acad. Blagovest Sendov, Prof. DSc Racho Denchev, Prof. DSc Pencho Petrushev, Assoc. Prof. Dr Vladimir Hristov, Prof. DSc Kamen Ivanov and Assoc. Prof. Dr Nikolay Kyurkchiev.

 

The main field of research is the development of mathematical models in astronomy, biology, economics, medicine, fusion synthesis, chemistry. The Bulgarian school in approximation theory was founded and developed as a part of Department of Mathematical Modelling under the leadership of Acad. Bl. Sendov. Other fields of research are numerical analysis, numerical methods for solving differential and integral equations, functional analysis and analytic number theory.

 

The members of Depatment of Mathematical Modelling are also active as lecturers in a number of domestic and foreign universities. More than 120 PhD dissertations were prepared and defended under the supervision of staff of the Deparment. The Department was the main organizer of the international conferences Constructive Function Theory held in 1971, 1977, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1991, 2002 and 2005.

 

The international recognition of the mathematical results of the school in approximation theory resulted in the only prize for young scientists working in the field - the Vassil A. Popov prize. The prize is awarded by an international committee every third year. It was won by 5 different mathematicians from France, Belgium and the USA. The state Dimitrov Prize was awarded to academician Blagovest Sendov and corresponding member of BAS Vassil Popov, as the later is also a winner of the Nikola Obrechkoff Prize for remarkable achievements in the field of mathematics.

 

1 January 2009