THE NEW BOOK OF ACADEMICIAN TODOR NIKOLOV – “FEATURES ON THE PATH OF LIFE”
Academician Todor Nikolov presented his new book “Strokes on the Path of Life” on May 18, 2016 in the Great Hall of BAS. The event brought together the Bulgarian academic community and became an occasion to hear many valuable and exciting reviews about the book and its author.
The book is abbotobiographical, but the reader is imperceptibly involved not only in the history of a dignified life, but also in the history of the development and flourishing of geology, stratigraphy and paleontology in Bulgaria. These are stories about the choice a scientist makes, about job satisfaction, about the joy of being a teacher, and about a meaningful life through science.
We learn how the person born on February 26, 1931. in the village of Varana, Pleven region, Todor Nikolov grew up with a lot of love for his relatives and for the nature of his homeland. The author warmly talks about the influence of his godfather, the poet Ivan Krastev, and his teachers. We learn about the choice to study geology and about his notable professors at Sofia University, such as Acad. Ekim Bonchevi and others. We also learn about how the Training Base of the Sofia University in Elena and the Museum of Paleontology were created, as well as why a bay in Antarctica is named after Acad. Nikolov.
The book also includes his selected articles, essays, reflections and travelogues, as well as many photos and documents. Academician Todor Nikolov, went through a long research career, which began with his work at the Geological Institute of BAS in 1957, continued in 1957, continued through specialization in the Soviet Union, internship in France, long-term collaboration with French and other scientists. and work at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski ”.
Everywhere his scientific achievements lead to well-deserved recognition and remarkable academic authority and growth. In 1994, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor honoris causa of the Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse. During the period 1980–1987 he was a professor and vice-rector of Sofia University. In 1997 he became an “academician” (full member) of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and from 2001 to 2009 he was Chairman of the Department of Natural, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences at the Assembly of Academicians and Corresponding Members of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Author of over 320 scientific and popular science publications. He has won a number of academic awards and distinctions. In his book, Acad. Todor Nikolov says the following about his achievements: “I have not made long-term plans with a record of the goals that the BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES should be.
In short: I worked on interesting topics and promising research areas and this work turned out to be fruitful … “.
Acad. Nikolov meets many different people on his “life path”. He talks about them with attention, respect and gratitude, whether it is his teachers, friends, colleagues or students. The author’s love for family, science and people connects the pages of this book so rich in thoughts and feelings and makes the reader feel empathetic to what is written.
In the period from 2004 to 2009 Acad. Todor Nikolov was a visiting professor at the Institute of Geography at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and a member of the Scientific Council of the Institute. With the memory of our work together and with gratitude for the wisdom shared over the years, today we, his colleagues from the Department of Geography at NIGGG, are happy to expand this book and find in it a good guide to how a scientist can walk with dignity. The “path of life”, paving the way for those who come after him.
Mariana Nikolova