AMERICAN ARMENIAN FAMOUS ASTROPHYSICIST YERVANT TERZIAN WAS HONORED IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan

Se p 19, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. On September 17,
a Tribute reception to honor world famous American Armenian scientist,
astrophysicist and a professor of New York Cornell University
Prof. Yervant Terzian was organized at the Yerevan Office of the
Fund for Armenian Relief of America. The scietist is the author and
co-author of more than 220 scietific researches. Y. Terzian heads the
Armenian National Science and Education Fund (ANSEF), which implements
a project of scientific grants within the framework of FAR. The goal of
ANSEF is to stop the leakage of intellectual potential from the country
and to contribute to the permanence of the research work. During the
last eight years nearly 180 scientific works of various spheres have
been financed by ANSEF. 5000 USD was provided to each and the total
contribution in the native science has amounted to 1 million USD.

The purpose of Professor Terzian’s visit to Armenia is to participate
in the celebration events dedicated to famous Armenian scientist
Viktor Hambardzumian’s 100th Anniversary. According to the estimation
of President of the RA National Academy of Sciences Radik Martirosian,
Y. Terzian is the appologist of V. Hambartsumian’s ideas. Y. Terzian
was awarded the first of the medals released on the occasion of
V. Hambartsumian’s anniversary and a latter of thanks by the RA
NAS. The RA Ministry of Education and Science awarded also Gold
Comemmorative Medal and Yerevan State University Gold Medal to the
American Armenian scientist for public-patriotic fruitful activity
and scientific achievements.

Y. Terzian was born in Alexandria (Egypt), graduated from Cairo
Galustian College, then Cairo American University’s Physics and
Mathematics department, then promoted his scientific activity in the
USA. He is a research professor of the American National Center of
the Astronomy and Ionic Environment, a member of the International
Astronomic, Radioscience International, American Astronomic and
Hellenic Astronomic Unions. Since 1990 he has been an international
member of the National Academy of Science of Armenia, an honorary
doctor of Indiana University since 1989, Yerevan State University
since 1994, Greek Tesalonic University since 1997 and of other
universities. In 1984 he was awarded a Clarke award, in 2004 a
special prize of Cairo American University, in 1996 was appointed
NASA New York Space Program Director, in 2001 was elected a member
of Scientific Progress American Association, in 2002 Chairman of
Consortium of US Universities and Institutes for the purpose of
building a huge radiotelescope.

In the interview with the journalists, Yervant Terzian said that the
Armenian scientists since the Soviet times has a high reputation and
"still they will be at high level, but with more difficult means, we
should help the young Armenian scientists to stay in Armenia and to
do their work in Armenia," he said. The scientist does not agree with
the opinion that the scientific merit of V. Hambartsumian is not known
among the young scientists living abroad. The most important scientists
are aware of the scietific heritage of the famous Armenian scientist,
though V. Hambartsumian’s works need to be spoken very and very much.