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Prof. Ashot Chilingarian named Physics Institute Director

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  • Prof. Ashot Chilingarian named Physics Institute Director

    PRESS RELEASE
    Support Committee for Armenia's Cosmic Ray Division (SCACRD)
    April 13, 2009
    Joseph Dagdigian
    For questions contact Anahid Yeremian
    650 926-4444
    [email protected] ; [email protected]
    www.crdfriends.org

    * *

    CRD HEAD PROF. ASHOT CHILINGARIAN NAMED PHYSICS INSTITUTE DIRECTOR
    In November 2008, Professor Ashot Chilingarian was appointed director of
    the Yerevan Physics Institute (YerPhI). Chilingarian accepted the
    position on an interim basis during which the institute will be
    reorganized while a search is conducted for a permanent director.
    Chilingarian remains the head of the institute's Cosmic Ray Division
    (CRD). Under his leadership the CRD has established a prominent role in
    the international scientific community, and has provided a number of
    young Armenian scientists and engineers an opportunity to train and work
    at CRD's research stations on Mt. Aragats. With Diasporan support, he
    has been able to establish international research partnerships and
    projects which leverage Diaspora contributions 5 fold.

    Prof. Chilingarian earned his Ph.D. in 1984 and Doctor of Science in
    Physics and Mathematics from Yerevan Physics Institute in 1991, becoming
    the deputy director of the institute as well as head of the Cosmic Ray
    Division in 1993. Since 1975 he has been a lecturer of Physics and
    Software Engineering at Yerevan State University (YSU).

    Chilingarian's expertise is in the sphere of high energy astroparticle
    physics. He has been awarded more than 20 research grants from
    foundations including the International Science and Technology Center
    and the International Technology and Science foundation. These grants,
    together with Diaspora help, were crucial in supporting CRD's ongoing
    scientific research during the most difficult years of Armenia's
    independence and continue to be essential today. Chilingarian is the
    author of the ANI computer code library, which has been extensively used
    during the last few decades for analysis of cosmic ray detector data. He
    also introduced analytical methods to distinguish between gene
    expression in normal and tumor-affected tissue, a problem which is
    mathematically similar to identifying constituent particles in cosmic
    rays. Under his supervision, the Data Visualization Interactive Network
    *(*DVIN) was developed for the Aragats Space Environmental Center
    (ASEC*)* in Armenia. This project won a UN World Summit on Information
    Society award in Geneva in 2003, and the All-Armenia Information Society
    award in 2005. He also has served as a lecturer for CERN's post-graduate
    physics school, an annual event organized by the CERN international
    physics research center on the French-Swiss border.

    Prof. Chilingarian has authored approximately 300 scientific
    publications and is currently Armenia's representative to the Commission
    for Space Research, and is the International Heliophysical Year - 2007
    spokesperson for Armenia's ANI and ASEC collaborations.

    PHYSICS INSTITUTE FOCUSES ON KEY AREAS OF SCIENCE
    Under Chilingarian's leadership YerPhI's focus will continue on
    theoretical physics, accelerator technology, and cosmic ray physics.
    Focus will also be directed towards effective utilization of YerPhI's
    physical and intellectual assets to enhance revenue generation. Under
    consideration are ways to support Armenia's scientific community, and to
    develop partnerships for commercialization of technologies that not only
    will generate revenue, but will enhance Armenia's social well being as
    well. Projects being considered include the development of medical
    imaging and radiopharmaceutical technologies for use both in Armenia and
    in the region.

    COSMIC RAY DIVISION (CRD)
    Prof. Chilingarian will continue to lead CRD's research and
    international partnerships which funds a large part of CRD's activities.
    SEVAN (Space Environment Viewing and Analysis Network), a world-wide
    network of new particle detectors for research in space weather and
    solar physics, was developed at the CRD within the framework of the
    International Heliophysical Year and the United Nations Basic Space
    Science (UNBSS) program. UNBSS focuses on the deployment of arrays of
    small inexpensive instruments around the world. Many of the key
    developers are young scientists and engineers who were trained at the
    CRD and supported in part by Diaspora funding. Installation of the first
    SEVAN detectors in Croatia and Bulgaria in December 2008 was performed
    by young CRD experts. The number of countries interested in
    participating in this project is growing rapidly. The SEVAN detectors
    are designed and manufactured in Armenia, and financed by international
    sources. The CRD and Prof. Chilingarian are the technical leads for the
    international SEVAN project.

    More information on the CRD can be found at www.crdfriends.org .
    Information on the Yerevan Physics Institute can be found at
    www.yerphi.am .
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