The ChETEC-INFRA scientific community and consortium announce with great sadness the passing of its General Assembly member and PI of the ChETEC-INFRA infrastructure at the Rozhen telescope, Professor Evgeni Hristov Semkov, on December 29, 2024, after a brief illness.
Evgeni Semkov graduated from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” in Bulgaria with a degree in astronomy. He earned his PhD in 1994 and his Doctor of Science (DSci) degree in 2023. His main research focus was the study of young stellar objects, and he successfully supervised four PhD students in this field.
From 2016 until his passing, Prof. Semkov served as the Director of the Institute of Astronomy with the National Astronomical Observatory (NAO). During his tenure, he spearheaded the construction of a new 1.5-meter telescope at NAO-Rozhen, a major scientific infrastructure project under the National Science Infrastructure Roadmap, which is now fully operational.
Prof. Semkov’s outstanding contributions to science were widely recognized. He was honored with the Award for High Scientific Achievements during the competition commemorating the 145th anniversary of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and received the prestigious 2024 Pythagorean Prize. In the same year, he was elected a Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, marking a significant acknowledgment of his exceptional scientific accomplishments.
Prof. Semkov was deeply committed to the field of astronomy. Known for his openness to new ideas, readiness to assist others, and unwavering support for young scientists, he was a beloved figure in the astronomical community. With his passing, Bulgaria has lost one of its most prominent representatives in the field of astronomy.