The Cosmic Ray Division – Shines Brighter than Ever
By Anahid Yeremian
November 4, 2004
Prof. Ashot Chilingarian (left), showing the new
detectors being designed for CRD’s Space Weather program, to a
US delegation from the International Science and Technology
Center.
The Cosmic Ray Division (CRD) of the Alikhanian Physics Institute (formerly known as Yerevan Physics Institute) shines in the international scientific arena, despite the difficult conditions in Armenia. Scientific advances at the CRD continue at a steady pace with ties between the Diaspora and the CRD stronger than ever, making us all proud of our joint accomplishments. For detailed information about the CRD please visit WWW.CRDFRIENDS.ORG . Here are a few highlights:
Important New Scientific Partnerships
CRD is a leader in ground based Space Weather Research as indicated
by endorsements from the scientific community around the world. In 2004
the CRD officially signed a memorandum of understanding for scientific
cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union’s
Commission On Science and Technology (COST). These are important additions
to other prestigious research partners such as the National Oceanographic
and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) in the U.S. CRD’s close scientific
collaboration with EU scientific organizations will strengthen Armenia’s
bid to join the EU in the future.
Strong Scientific Presence in International Conferences
During the past year CRD scientists have made important scientific contributions
at several international conferences, including the NATO Space Weather
Workshop in Moscow, the European Cosmic Ray Conference in Florence,
and the COmmittee for SPace Research (COSPAR) congress in Paris. In
many cases, CRD’s participation was by special invitation. Prof.
Ashot Chilingarian, the visionary head of the CRD, is also Armenia’s
representative to COSPAR, and his active participation in the committee’s
activities have earned him a letter of commendation from the Executive
Director of COSPAR: “… I would like to take the opportunity
of this letter to thank you [Prof. Chilingarian], as Armenian National
Representative, for participating actively in the committee’s
activities. It is rare for new members to participate to the degree
that you have, e.g., attending committee meetings, nominating candidates
for awards, seeking COSPAR’s assistance in obtaining EU funding,
etc. Armenia’s participation has added to the value of our Committee’s
work and been remarked by our officers and certainly other national
and international scientific union members as well. We look forward
to future close relations, to widening participation by Armenian scientists
in the international space research community, and trust you will not
hesitate to contact us concerning capacity building activities or other
matters in which our collaboration may be of assistance. Sincerely yours,
Dr. I. Revah, Executive Director, COSPAR”
5 International Organizations Reviewed CRD in
2004.
From February through September, five different review commission from
the United states and Europe visited CRD’s research stations on
Mt. Aragats and headquarters in Yerevan. Visitors were introduced to
the CRD’s vision and the progress of the various projects by Prof.
Ashot Chilingarian. Discussions regarding sensible science policy, particularly
as it relates to Armenia, ensued. Several visitors, who made their visit
in the summer months and were able to go to the mountain stations, emphasized
that, although they already had plenty of knowledge about the Aragats
research center, only after detailed examination of the facilities and
the explanations presented to them, did they fully appreciate the importance
of CRD to the world-wide attempts to create a reliable and timely service
for Space Weather forecasting. In his oral close-out report to the CRD
group on September 25, Dr. Manfred Fleischer, deputy director in charge
of research at the Deutsches Elektronen SYnchrotron (DESY), emphasized
the 3 main ingredients that characterize the relevance and importance
of good research to the world. He congratulated the CRD staff for fully
satisfying these rather severe requirements: 1. incorporation of
their research activities into numerous world-wide scientific networks,
2. co-authorship of joint papers with other scientific organizations,
3. the attraction of very large fraction of CRD’s funding from
international sources. All the visitors rated CRD’s performance
as outstanding and commended CRD’s important contributions to
the international scientific community.
New PhD Student, Artur Reimers
The CRD has 18 students and young trainees who are completing various
stages of their education at Yerevan State University. These students
come to the CRD for lectures on astrophysics and some of them elect
to conduct their undergraduate, masters, or PhD thesis in the field
of Cosmic Rays and Space Weather. Graduates from the CRD program are
offered research opportunities at the CRD - first as young trainees,
and then as full employees. This academic year the Support Committee
for Armenia’s Cosmic Ray Division (SACRD) welcomes our new PhD
student, Artur Reimers, who developed an interest in Cosmic Ray Physics
as an undergraduate student of Prof. Chilingarian.
Social Responsibility at the CRD
In addition to its outstanding international scientific accomplishments,
the CRD takes social responsibility in Armenia seriously. As CRD’s
computer systems were upgraded, the older computers were donated to
a school in the village of Antarout on Mt. Aragats. CRD’s university
students supported the school by installing the computers and providing
technical assistance to the students and staff. Three years ago when
Dr. Art Hazarabedian, founder of the Armenian Technology Group (ATG),
donated 20 beehives with bees to the CRD to make honey for CRD’s
staff stationed on Mt. Aragats, the CRD decided to committed 10% of
the honey to soup-kitchens and orphanages in Armenia. The CRD has donated
at least 10% of the honey to the less fortunate every year since.
Diaspora’s involvement with the CRD.
SCACRD member, Joe Dagdigian, recently returned from Armenia where he
visited the CRD for the 3rd time. “I am so impressed with
these people”, says Dagdigian. “They accomplish
so much with so little, and are determined to stay and prosper in Armenia.
My wife Lisa and I are extremely honored to be associated with such
people, and with CRD’s head Prof. Ashot Chilingarian. These people
are both superb scientists and dedicated Armenians. They are setting
an example of how to revitalize Armenian Science. While a lot of challenges
remain, the advances CRD has made during the past 5 years under Prof.
Chilingarian’s leadership are astounding. ”
The SCACRD thanks the AAA, ANC, ARS, ATG, KoV, UAF, and the Armenian Diaspora press for its continued support. We thank Hairenik and NAASR bookstores in Watertown and Belmont, MA and the Sardarabad bookstore in Glendale, CA for carrying the CRD calendars featuring beautiful sights from Armenia. The proceeds from the sale of these calendars benefits the CRD.
Special thanks also go to the Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA), 417 West Arden St., #112C, Glendale, CA 91203; the AESA – MI Section, P.O. Box 4867, Troy, MI 48099; and the Bay Area Friends of Armenia (BAFA), P.O. box 3584, Daly City, CA 94015 for accepting tax deductible contributions designated specifically for the CRD. We especially thank you, the individual Diaspora members, who have caught the vision of Prof. Chilingarian and continue to stay with us on this exciting journey. Most of all we thank Prof. Ashot Chilingarian, the 80 dedicated scientists and technicians, and the 18 students of the CRD, who stay in Armenia and contribute to our motherland’s accelerated development with their talents.
Photo: Prof. Ashot Chilingarian (left),
showing the new detectors being designed for CRD’s Space Weather
program, to a US delegation from the International Science and Technology
Center.