A Bulgarian scientist from the Technical University – Sofia will depart for Antarctica to investigate the influence of solar activity on the ionosphere using innovative radio equipment.
Bulgarian scientific research on the Ice Continent continues to develop and strengthen the country's position among the leading polar programs in the world. Just two weeks before departing for his second consecutive Antarctic expedition, Assoc. Prof. Nachev from the Technical University – Sofia shares insights into his motivation, preparation, and the scientific work ahead. Following his successful participation in the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, he is once again heading to Antarctica to continue his research on solar activity and its impact on the Earth's ionosphere and magnetic field.
In this interview, he discusses the challenges, scientific progress, and personal emotions associated with working on one of the most extreme continents on the planet.
The Expedition and Personal Motivation
Assoc. Prof. Nachev, you are departing for your second consecutive Antarctic expedition in just two weeks. What motivates you to return?
First and foremost, the satisfaction from the work and the cause of achieving high scientific results, both for the project I will be working on and for Bulgarian scientific research. In recent years, it has become evident that Bulgaria is indeed ranking among the leading scientific programs on a global scale. However, to maintain and consolidate our position, it is necessary to continue our scientific programs. Working in Antarctica personally builds character, cohesion, and collectivism, while from a professional perspective, it is both a challenge and an accumulation of vital practical experience, because in the event of a technical problem, one must find an engineering solution to resolve it using only what is available, what you have at the base, and within the shortest possible timeframe.
What is it like to fly the flag of TU-Sofia in one of the most inaccessible regions of the planet?
Over the years, researchers who graduated from TU-Sofia have worked and continue to work at our base. However, during the 33rd Antarctic Expedition, I was the first official representative of the University through my participation in the project 'Impact of Solar Activity on Ionospheric Dynamics and High-Energy Particle Fluxes over Antarctica' – a joint project of the Technical University – Sofia, the Institute of Astronomy with the National Astronomical Observatory at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the 'N. Y. Vaptsarov' Naval Academy. I am glad that I managed to fly the university's flag all the way to the Ice Continent, because since my student days at the Faculty of Telecommunications, my professional development has been linked to the Technical University – Sofia. Another reason for my happiness is that I flew the flag right next to the equipment used for scientific research, which was designed by our LASER research group at TU-Sofia and operated flawlessly throughout the entire stay of the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition.
Scientific Work
Work on solar activity research. What exactly are you studying and which phenomena are the object of your observations?
The research we conduct is related to the study of solar activity and its influence on the Earth's Ionosphere, the study of the Earth's magnetic field, the concentration of cosmic particles resulting from Solar eruptions, and the search for interconnections between these processes.
Why is Antarctica specifically a suitable place for such measurements and what conditions does it provide that are lacking in other places around the world?
We are currently at the peak of the 11-year solar cycle and the period is suitable for the study of this type of events due to increased Solar activity. Our research is linked to monitoring events that are most noticeable in different ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. In populated areas, monitoring this spectrum for such scientific research is difficult because all modern technologies of our daily life operate on different ranges of it. This requires not only complex data processing but also the possibility that a specific event cannot be directly linked to solar activity and requires verification from other types of instruments in observational astronomy, which in some cases cannot verify the specific event. Due to the lack of permanent residents and the lack of industrial technologies, the spectrum of Antarctica is exceptionally clean and suitable for monitoring the sun using technical means for radio monitoring. One of our systems receives data due to the orientation of its sensor and constant monitoring of the Sun's trajectory – due to the long day during the Antarctic summer season, this is possible with a duration of more than 18 hours per day.
How does solar activity affect life on Earth – from technologies to human health?
Solar activity affects radio and satellite communication systems the most. Various radio communication technologies become almost unusable during high solar activity. Historically, high solar activity has even been documented to cause disruptions in power transmission networks – a clear example from the last 50 years is the events that occurred in Quebec, Canada in 1989. Regarding human health, I am an engineer and scientist and can comment on the quality of equipment, the data obtained, discoveries, and hypotheses in solar-terrestrial connections. There is data in the scientific literature about people sensitive to electromagnetic storms, and other scientific units are studying the influence of solar activity on various target groups, so let them compare the feedback from these groups with data on solar activity from different systems, and why not with the data we publish in scientific journals, and as experts in their field, give an opinion on how this affects health. Personally, for me and my close ones – I don't remember discussing discomfort solely due to the presence of solar eruptions or geomagnetic storms.
What tools, equipment, or innovative methods will you use during the new expedition?
During the last expedition, the equipment designed by our scientific group at TU-Sofia performed very well. In the upcoming expedition, we will use a modernized version of the equipment for monitoring the impact of solar activity on the Ionosphere, direct observation of solar flares in a wide frequency range, and monitoring of the Earth's magnetic field. This year, we have added several additional technical means that will increase the sensitivity of the measurements, as well as software for recording and analyzing data in real time, developed entirely by us.
Results and Upgrades
Can you share some of the results from your previous expedition and what you are upgrading this year?
Due to scientific ethics, I cannot share our specific hypotheses or the nature of the discoveries before the publication of the scientific papers resulting from the project. What I can share at the moment is that initial hypotheses have been generated based on the aforementioned results, but as it becomes clear, the research continues, and we expect to supplement the results during the current season. For example, the Earth's magnetic field has characteristic local and regional variations – one of our systems recorded data from a change in the Earth's magnetic field, unique for the geographical region of Livingston Island. On the Bulgarian scientific research vessel NIK 421, named after the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, we also had equipment installed, and it turned out that through it we conducted one of the longest experiments of this kind from the deck of a moving object.
Is there a prospect for the results to be implemented in education or research and development activities at TU-Sofia?
Part of the hardware subsystems has already been included in our curriculum. At the Faculty of Telecommunications, we have a new master's program in Aerospace Communications, where, due to the nature of the specifics and reliability of satellite operations, similar hardware solutions are considered. Several students have already expressed interest in working on their thesis to find engineering solutions related to specific cases for remote monitoring stations. After the data is published, we provide it to students who have shown interest in using it for their university projects and applying various methods for its processing. In our scientific group, we have set the ambitious goal for this type of system to be further developed and established specifically within the university's research and development activities.
Experiences
What are the biggest challenges you face in Antarctica?
The work in Antarctica itself is a challenge. This is the moment to note that during the installation of the equipment during the previous expedition, I received key logistical support from the base's logistics team. One thing that impressed me was the camaraderie of the expedition participants and the readiness of everyone to help each other in moments when they are not directly occupied with their work.
How does a 'typical' day in the base go?
Every day is unique in itself. In the morning, we usually gather for breakfast, where daily tasks for various scientific projects are discussed, and when and where the logisticians will be most needed. After that, everyone starts doing their work, and sometimes it goes late into the evening, sometimes you might have a day off. When someone is not directly occupied with their work, they always find something to help others, if they wish, and there is no lack of such willingness.
Looking ahead
What are your expectations for this expedition?
My stay on this expedition will be a few days longer than last year, most of the equipment is at the base. My expectations are to restore the field work setups as quickly as possible after the necessary maintenance of the hardware following the harsh Antarctic winter. I hope to gain a few more days of equipment operation, and the recorded data will confirm our hypotheses and turn them into discoveries.
Are you thinking about a third expedition or is it still too early?
For the Technical University, I believe without reservation that there will be a third expedition; this is only the beginning of our polar research, but to continue it, we must demonstrate our serious scientific results. As for myself, I will answer at our next meeting, after my return from the upcoming 34th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition.
What would you say to young people who dream of pursuing science and working on the Ice Continent?
Many of the studies conducted in Antarctica are linked to processes occurring on Earth thousands of years ago. Our research, in addition to contributing to science, accumulates a substantial database and scientific discoveries that can be used and built upon in the future. Thus, Antarctica remains an open laboratory for future scientific research.
Antarctica is the place where science meets the limits of human endurance. With his second consecutive mission, Assistant Professor Nachev proved that Bulgarian scientists not only attend the Ice Continent—they create knowledge that matters. And every new measurement, every successfully operating instrument, and every collected data point bring the next Bulgarian discovery closer.
*
Dr. Ivailo Nachev is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Radio Communications and Video Technologies at the Faculty of Telecommunications of the Technical University – Sofia.
Nachev is part of the scientific group LASER at TU-Sofia, where he participates in the development of innovative equipment for radio observations and space monitoring. He is among the leading researchers in the first Bulgarian polar astronomy project, implemented jointly by the Technical University – Sofia, the Institute of Astronomy with the National Astronomical Observatory at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the Vasil Levski National Military University "N. Y. Vaptsarov".
During the 2023–2024 season, Assoc. Prof. Nachev served as the official representative of TU-Sofia in the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition. On Livingston Island, he installed and maintained highly sensitive equipment designed at the university, which enables the observation of solar flares, the registration of high-energy particles, and the tracking of changes in the Earth's magnetic field. The instruments operated flawlessly throughout the entire season and provided unique scientific data for the region.
nova.bg
Bulgarian scientific research on the Ice Continent continues to develop and strengthen the country's position among the leading polar programs in the world. Just two weeks before departing for his second consecutive Antarctic expedition, Assoc. Prof. Nachev from the Technical University – Sofia shares insights into his motivation, preparation, and the scientific work ahead. Following his successful participation in the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, he is once again heading to Antarctica to continue his research on solar activity and its impact on the Earth's ionosphere and magnetic field.
In this interview, he discusses the challenges, scientific progress, and personal emotions associated with working on one of the most extreme continents on the planet.
The Expedition and Personal Motivation
Assoc. Prof. Nachev, you are departing for your second consecutive Antarctic expedition in just two weeks. What motivates you to return?
First and foremost, the satisfaction from the work and the cause of achieving high scientific results, both for the project I will be working on and for Bulgarian scientific research. In recent years, it has become evident that Bulgaria is indeed ranking among the leading scientific programs on a global scale. However, to maintain and consolidate our position, it is necessary to continue our scientific programs. Working in Antarctica personally builds character, cohesion, and collectivism, while from a professional perspective, it is both a challenge and an accumulation of vital practical experience, because in the event of a technical problem, one must find an engineering solution to resolve it using only what is available, what you have at the base, and within the shortest possible timeframe.
What is it like to fly the flag of TU-Sofia in one of the most inaccessible regions of the planet?
Over the years, researchers who graduated from TU-Sofia have worked and continue to work at our base. However, during the 33rd Antarctic Expedition, I was the first official representative of the University through my participation in the project 'Impact of Solar Activity on Ionospheric Dynamics and High-Energy Particle Fluxes over Antarctica' – a joint project of the Technical University – Sofia, the Institute of Astronomy with the National Astronomical Observatory at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the 'N. Y. Vaptsarov' Naval Academy. I am glad that I managed to fly the university's flag all the way to the Ice Continent, because since my student days at the Faculty of Telecommunications, my professional development has been linked to the Technical University – Sofia. Another reason for my happiness is that I flew the flag right next to the equipment used for scientific research, which was designed by our LASER research group at TU-Sofia and operated flawlessly throughout the entire stay of the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition.
Scientific Work
Work on solar activity research. What exactly are you studying and which phenomena are the object of your observations?
The research we conduct is related to the study of solar activity and its influence on the Earth's Ionosphere, the study of the Earth's magnetic field, the concentration of cosmic particles resulting from Solar eruptions, and the search for interconnections between these processes.
Why is Antarctica specifically a suitable place for such measurements and what conditions does it provide that are lacking in other places around the world?
We are currently at the peak of the 11-year solar cycle and the period is suitable for the study of this type of events due to increased Solar activity. Our research is linked to monitoring events that are most noticeable in different ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. In populated areas, monitoring this spectrum for such scientific research is difficult because all modern technologies of our daily life operate on different ranges of it. This requires not only complex data processing but also the possibility that a specific event cannot be directly linked to solar activity and requires verification from other types of instruments in observational astronomy, which in some cases cannot verify the specific event. Due to the lack of permanent residents and the lack of industrial technologies, the spectrum of Antarctica is exceptionally clean and suitable for monitoring the sun using technical means for radio monitoring. One of our systems receives data due to the orientation of its sensor and constant monitoring of the Sun's trajectory – due to the long day during the Antarctic summer season, this is possible with a duration of more than 18 hours per day.
How does solar activity affect life on Earth – from technologies to human health?
Solar activity affects radio and satellite communication systems the most. Various radio communication technologies become almost unusable during high solar activity. Historically, high solar activity has even been documented to cause disruptions in power transmission networks – a clear example from the last 50 years is the events that occurred in Quebec, Canada in 1989. Regarding human health, I am an engineer and scientist and can comment on the quality of equipment, the data obtained, discoveries, and hypotheses in solar-terrestrial connections. There is data in the scientific literature about people sensitive to electromagnetic storms, and other scientific units are studying the influence of solar activity on various target groups, so let them compare the feedback from these groups with data on solar activity from different systems, and why not with the data we publish in scientific journals, and as experts in their field, give an opinion on how this affects health. Personally, for me and my close ones – I don't remember discussing discomfort solely due to the presence of solar eruptions or geomagnetic storms.
What tools, equipment, or innovative methods will you use during the new expedition?
During the last expedition, the equipment designed by our scientific group at TU-Sofia performed very well. In the upcoming expedition, we will use a modernized version of the equipment for monitoring the impact of solar activity on the Ionosphere, direct observation of solar flares in a wide frequency range, and monitoring of the Earth's magnetic field. This year, we have added several additional technical means that will increase the sensitivity of the measurements, as well as software for recording and analyzing data in real time, developed entirely by us.
Results and Upgrades
Can you share some of the results from your previous expedition and what you are upgrading this year?
Due to scientific ethics, I cannot share our specific hypotheses or the nature of the discoveries before the publication of the scientific papers resulting from the project. What I can share at the moment is that initial hypotheses have been generated based on the aforementioned results, but as it becomes clear, the research continues, and we expect to supplement the results during the current season. For example, the Earth's magnetic field has characteristic local and regional variations – one of our systems recorded data from a change in the Earth's magnetic field, unique for the geographical region of Livingston Island. On the Bulgarian scientific research vessel NIK 421, named after the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, we also had equipment installed, and it turned out that through it we conducted one of the longest experiments of this kind from the deck of a moving object.
Is there a prospect for the results to be implemented in education or research and development activities at TU-Sofia?
Part of the hardware subsystems has already been included in our curriculum. At the Faculty of Telecommunications, we have a new master's program in Aerospace Communications, where, due to the nature of the specifics and reliability of satellite operations, similar hardware solutions are considered. Several students have already expressed interest in working on their thesis to find engineering solutions related to specific cases for remote monitoring stations. After the data is published, we provide it to students who have shown interest in using it for their university projects and applying various methods for its processing. In our scientific group, we have set the ambitious goal for this type of system to be further developed and established specifically within the university's research and development activities.
Experiences
What are the biggest challenges you face in Antarctica?
The work in Antarctica itself is a challenge. This is the moment to note that during the installation of the equipment during the previous expedition, I received key logistical support from the base's logistics team. One thing that impressed me was the camaraderie of the expedition participants and the readiness of everyone to help each other in moments when they are not directly occupied with their work.
How does a 'typical' day in the base go?
Every day is unique in itself. In the morning, we usually gather for breakfast, where daily tasks for various scientific projects are discussed, and when and where the logisticians will be most needed. After that, everyone starts doing their work, and sometimes it goes late into the evening, sometimes you might have a day off. When someone is not directly occupied with their work, they always find something to help others, if they wish, and there is no lack of such willingness.
Looking ahead
What are your expectations for this expedition?
My stay on this expedition will be a few days longer than last year, most of the equipment is at the base. My expectations are to restore the field work setups as quickly as possible after the necessary maintenance of the hardware following the harsh Antarctic winter. I hope to gain a few more days of equipment operation, and the recorded data will confirm our hypotheses and turn them into discoveries.
Are you thinking about a third expedition or is it still too early?
For the Technical University, I believe without reservation that there will be a third expedition; this is only the beginning of our polar research, but to continue it, we must demonstrate our serious scientific results. As for myself, I will answer at our next meeting, after my return from the upcoming 34th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition.
What would you say to young people who dream of pursuing science and working on the Ice Continent?
Many of the studies conducted in Antarctica are linked to processes occurring on Earth thousands of years ago. Our research, in addition to contributing to science, accumulates a substantial database and scientific discoveries that can be used and built upon in the future. Thus, Antarctica remains an open laboratory for future scientific research.
Antarctica is the place where science meets the limits of human endurance. With his second consecutive mission, Assistant Professor Nachev proved that Bulgarian scientists not only attend the Ice Continent—they create knowledge that matters. And every new measurement, every successfully operating instrument, and every collected data point bring the next Bulgarian discovery closer.
*
Dr. Ivailo Nachev is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Radio Communications and Video Technologies at the Faculty of Telecommunications of the Technical University – Sofia.
Nachev is part of the scientific group LASER at TU-Sofia, where he participates in the development of innovative equipment for radio observations and space monitoring. He is among the leading researchers in the first Bulgarian polar astronomy project, implemented jointly by the Technical University – Sofia, the Institute of Astronomy with the National Astronomical Observatory at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the Vasil Levski National Military University "N. Y. Vaptsarov".
During the 2023–2024 season, Assoc. Prof. Nachev served as the official representative of TU-Sofia in the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition. On Livingston Island, he installed and maintained highly sensitive equipment designed at the university, which enables the observation of solar flares, the registration of high-energy particles, and the tracking of changes in the Earth's magnetic field. The instruments operated flawlessly throughout the entire season and provided unique scientific data for the region.
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