Резюме. This memorial note is devoted to Botyu Botev (1919-2008) who was an eminent scientist and public figure in the fields of cytology, immunology and educational policy.

Ключови думи: Botyu Botev, scientific activity, biology, educational policy

Botyu Atanassov Botev was born on the 26th of October 1919 in the village of Chomakovci, region of Pleven, Bulgaria and died on the 5th of May 2008.

Main areas of his scientific contributions

B. Botev worked predominantly in the fields of cytology, immunology and educational policy. He dedicated his research on in vitro cultivation of plant tissues and organs, cellular proliferation and differentiation in ontogenesis of animals, tumor genesis issues, body’s immune response against growing tumor in it and participation of the tumor antigens in the course of immune responses. He studied the immunology of reproduction, general immunological issues and the receipt of murine hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies against a-fetoprotein.

The questions about man and nature, the fauna of our country and the problems of environmental protection as well as biological and ecological problems of environmental education at school and university level occupied a great deal of his time and interest. Among his studies were the achievements and prospects of biological control of plant pests and the genetic consequences of environmental pollution. He was one of the organizers of the establishment of the “Red Data Book of NRB” and one of its editors.

Early years

The father Atanas Botev Petkov and mother Milka Tsonkova Atanasova, were farmers and had four children (three boys and a girl). His father had primary education and his mother was illiterate; his wife – Aska Stoimenova Boteva (b. 1921), now on pension, was a high educational administrator; his son – Milko Botyov Botev (b. 1965), is a biologist.

Botyo Botev graduated a secondary school in the town of Vratsa in 1938. He studied natural history at Sofia University „St. Kliment Ohridski”, enrolled in 1938 and graduated in 1946 (2 years was in prison for communist activity and 2 years in the army during the war).

His research “Amitotic division during spermatogenesis in Helix Pomatia” was accomplished in 1953 under the supervision of the eminent Bulgarian academician Metody Popov.

Career

Botev’s academic positions included: assistant professor of geology at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics in the University of Sofia (1946-1949); assistant professor of general biology (1949-1958); lecturer (1958-1960), associate professor (1960-1967) and professor (1967) at the Higher Medical Institute in Sofia.

Botev served as a dean of the Faculty of Biology of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” (1974-1976). He was also a director of the Zoological Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (1972-1989) and in 1984 he became a Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS).

His occupations were also the following: vice-dean of the Medical Department (1962-1963); head of the Chair of General Biology at the Faculty of Biolog; Scientific Secretary of BAS and Member of the Presidium of the Higher Attestation Committee; member of many Scientific Committees, member of the Academic Council of Sofia University; Chairman of the Scientific Council of Zoology and Hydrobiology; Director of the Scientific Medico-Biological Institute at Medical Academy (MA); Head of the Department of General Biology at the Medical School in MA. Under his leadership two new environmental sections - Terrestrial Ecology and Ecological Foundations of Biological Control were created in the Institute of Zoology, BAS. The first experimental section on Ontogenesis and Morphogenesis in Animals was also founded at the Institute. He had been a leader of research projects, scientific institutions and postgraduate students.

Public duties

Botyu Botev was a Chairman of the Council on Environmental Problems in the Unified Center for Biology at the Academy of Sciences; Chairman of the Bulgarian Naturalist Society (1978-1992). He was an editor-in-chief of the popular magazine Prorodoznanie (Nature & Knowledge) (1966-1993); member of the editorial board of the journal “Problems of Biology”; member of the editorial and publishing council of BAS as well as of the editorial board of Bulgarian Fauna; chair of the editorial Board of Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, and of the editorial board of the popular journal of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Priroda (Nature).

The scientific and public activity of Botyo Botev was split between Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Medical University, Biology Faculties of Sofia and Plovdiv Universities and Bulgarian Naturalist Society. He was a strong theoretical and practical defender of the place of biology in the school and university curricula.

Pedagogical ideas

Botev presented his scientific and pedagogical ideas in more than 210 scientific books and articles; in 20 textbooks for university students, 10 textbooks for secondary school students; 16 articles on organizational aspects of biology education, 20 popular science articles, spreading biological knowledge among citizens, 50 articles on social aspects of biology. From 1962 up to the present day, students in secondary and higher education have being using his textbooks. He was a supervisor of 8 dissertations for PhD, 5 dissertations for DSc., 13 contests for the scientific degree PhD, 6 contests for the scientific degree DSc., 7 contests for Corresponding Members of BAS and a reviewer of many books and articles.

He expressed his views and comments on a targeted approach in the planning of research, development and operation of the Institute of Zoology, in analyzing the state and problems of the Bulgarian fauna studies, achievements and problems of ecology, environmental protection issues, environment and tasks of education, the activities of Bulgarian Naturalist Society and others.

Awards

„За народна свобода” (For People’s Liberty) order II degree (1959), the „9-th of September” order I degree (1969), “People’s Republic of Bulgaria” order II degree (1979), Title “Honoured worker of science” (1981), ”Georgi Dimitrov” order (1989).

BIBLIOGRAPHY (CHOSEN PUBLICATIONS)

Botev, B., Kehayov, I. & Kyurkchiev, S. (1982). Shedding of the embryonic placenta-specific antigen (EPSA-1) in patients with trophoblastic tumor. 5th Europ. Immunol. Meeting (Istanbul) , p. 250.

Botev, B., Marcholev, L. & Vatseva, T. (1986). Influence of microscopically detectable tumors on granulocytes of tumor-carrier animals. C. R. Bulg. Acad. Sci., 39(11), 149-152.

Botev, B., Topashka-Ancheva, M., Marinova, T. & Dimitrova, D. (1997). The influence of an antithymus serum upon the immune reactivity and the ultrastructure of the thumus in mice. C. R. Acad. Bulg. Sci., 50(7-8), 77-81.

Ботев, Б. (1974). Съвременни проблеми и постижения на биологичната наука: проблеми на биологията. Проблеми на биологията, кн. 7, 9-23.

Ботев, Б. (1979). Биологични проблеми на опазване на природната среда (сс. 38-46). В: Актуални проблеми на науката. София: Българска академия на науките.

Ботев, Б. (1988). Човекът и природата. Природа и знание, кн. 1, 1-2.

Ботев, Б. & Бешков, В. (1985). Червената книга на НРБ. Списание БАН, кн. 2, 94-96.

Ботев, Б. & Пешев, Ц. (1977). Фауната на нашата страна и нейното значение. Проблеми на биологията, кн. 10, 92-101.

Ботев, Б. & Топашка, М. (1983). Индивидуално развитие на животните. София: Народна просвета.

Ботев, Б. & Топашка-Анчева, М. (2008). Туморите като общобиологичен проблем. София: Пенсофт.

Ботев, Б., Буланов, И., Вълчанов, В., Еврев, Т., Живков, С., Киров, К., Наков, Л. & Попиванов, Р. (1973). Медицинска генетика. София: Медицина и физкултура.

Ботев, Б., Николов, Т., Марков, Г. & Бойчинова, З. (1975). Обща биология: учебник за Х клас. София: Народна просвета [2 изд. 1980].

Ботев, Б., Николов, Т., Константинов, Г., Мургов, И., Рашкова, С., Костова, З. & Свещарова, Л. (1982). Обща биология: учебник за Х клас. София: Народна просвета [2 изд. 1986].

Ботев, Б., Николов, T., Панайотов, Х., Рашкова, С., Костова, З. & Свещарова, Л. (1982). Биология: учебно пособие за свободно избираема подготовка за Х клас. София: Народна просвета.

Ботев, Б., Цонев, И. & Дойчев, Р. (1988). Екологията, нейните проблеми и опазването на природната среда. Биология и химия, кн. 6, 15-17.

Ботев, Б., Наков, Л., Костова, З. & Топашка-Анчева, М. (2001). Биология и здравно образование. 10. клас. София: Анубис.

Попиванов, Р. & Ботев, Б. (1977). Обща биология: учебник за студенти по медицина и стоматология. София: Медицина и физкултура [5 стереотипни издания].

Попиванов, Р., Ботев, Б., Наков, Л. & Киров, K. (1966). Сравнителна анатомия на гръбначните: учебник за студенти медици и стоматолози. София: Медицина и физкултура [2 изд. 1971; 3 изд. 1974].

Попиванов, Р., Ботев, Б. & Цонева-Манева, M. (1966). Паразитология: учебник за студенти медици и стоматолози. София: Медицина и физкултура.

Попиванов, Р., Ботев, Б., Наков, Л., Новоселска, Л., Еврев, Т., Киров, К., Бошнакова, Е., Живков, С., Цветкова, А., Буланов, И. & Мархолев, Л. (1984). Биология: учебник за студенти по медицина и стоматология. София: Медицина и физкултура [2 изд. 1987; 3 изд. 1992].