From 1993 to 2010, Jordan Nikolov Stamenov, Doctor of Physical Sciences, Corresponding Member of the BAS, was Director of the Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy of the BAS and Head of Moussala Basic Environmental Observatory (BEO).

He was born in 1940 in the town of Biala Slatina. In 1963, he graduated from the Technical University of Dresden, Germany, with the major of Nuclear Physics. He started his scientific career in 1964 as a Research Scientist at the Moussala Peak Cosmic Rays Station of the Institute of Physics of the BAS. In 1966 he enrolled as a PhD student in the P.N. Lebedev Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR – Tian Shan High-Mountain Observatory, Kazakhstan. There, he defended in 1970 his PhD thesis entitled “Characteristics of the Muon Component in the extensive air showers”. In the 1972 – 1975 period he was appointed a Senior Research Scientist and Head of a Research Group at the P.N. Lebedev Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. From 1976 to 1978 he was a Research Scientist at the Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy of the BAS, and in 1980 was elected there a Senior Research Scientist, Second Degree (Assoc. Prof.). He defended (1982) a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Physical Sciences on Studies on the Primary Cosmic Rays by Means of extensive air showers at the P.N. Lebedev Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. During 1982 – 1986 he was the Head of a Thematic Group at the Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy of the BAS; in 1987 he was elected there a Senior Research Scientist, First Degree (Full Professor) and was appointed to lead the Astrophysics of Ultra-High Energies Laboratory. Form 1989 to 1993 he was a Deputy Director of the Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy, and was appointed Director of the Institute in 1993. In 2004, The General Assembly of the BAS elected him a Corresponding Member of the Academy. He was bestowed the Republic of France’s high honorary award of Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite for his contribution to the cooperation between France and Bulgaria.

The restoration of the Moussala Peak Cosmic Rays Station and its further development as a Basic Environmental Observatory only became possible due to Prof. Stamenov’s tireless efforts. He dreamt of transforming it to a world-class scientific and ecological center. Many seemingly insurmountable obstacles were overcome because of his reputation and bold vision for the future.

The loss is irreparable. We grieve deeply for the Man and the Scientist Jordan Stamenov. An entire era went away with him, but he will always have a place in our hearts. We feel it our duty to advance the deed of one of the greatest scientists and leaders of the epoch of the daring dreamers and visionaries.:

Farewell, dear Professor!

Let there be peace and light along your journey!

And, please, forgive us!