The “Bulgarian Learned Society” is the national academy of bulgaria, established in 1869 in sofia is the top scientific organization of Bulgaria. On 6 march 1911 the bulgarian learned society changed its name to the bulgarian academy of sciences. In april 1940 the academy again changed its name to the “Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Arts” (BAS). Nikolai Tsenov has been president of the BAS.
In 1944 the Academy buildings were damaged by shelling during World War II and were reorganised in 1945. In 1947 the Academys statutes were cancelled and replaced by legal regulations and were reinstalled in 1957. The Communist Party in Bulgaria took firm control of the Academy on 21 December 1972. In November 1991 the Academy was again given control of its own affairs. It became an independent institution which again elected its own officials.
It has 68 institutes, laboratories and other research units which carry out basic and applied research in the fields of the natural, technical, social sciences,
humanities & also carries out PhD programmes. It publishes and circulates different scientific works, encyclopaedias’, dictionaries and journals, and runs its own publishing house. It has bilateral agreements with scientific organizations from 48 countries and is a member of more than 20 international governmental and non-governmental organizations.
BAS has 9 main sections namely “Natural, mathematical and engineering sciences, Biological, medical and agrarian sciences and Social sciences,
humanities and art”. Each consists of independent scientific institutes, laboratories and other sections.
Last Updated on: Sep 24, 2024