In January, one of the key partners of the Center of Competence “Clean&Circle” – the University of Forestry in Sofia – celebrated its 70th anniversary as an independent higher education institution.

The celebration took place in Hall 3 of the National Palace of Culture. In an emotional academic address, Rector of the University of Forestry, Corr. Mem. Prof. Ivan Iliev, PhD, presented to the academic guests, representatives of state and municipal authorities, faculty and students the stages of the university’s development, as well as its achievements in the fields of education, environmental protection, and in particular the enrichment of forests and forest resources.

Rector of the University of Forestry, Corr. Mem. Prof. Ivan Iliev, PhD, delivering his emotional speech at the anniversary celebration

After the academic session of the event, the guests enjoyed a concert filled with positive emotion, arranged and performed with finesse and mastery. The “Three Tenors” and students of the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” participated. The audience was particularly impressed by the a cappella performance of the university anthem “Beautiful Forest, My Homeland” and by the performance of the folklore ensemble “Nestini” from the University of Forestry.

On behalf of the Clean&Circle team, Prof. Yana Topalova, DSc – project coordinator and lecturer at the Faculty of Biology of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” – delivered a congratulatory address.

“Your achievements in the fields of clean technologies, waste management, and circular economy are extremely valuable for our joint work within the Center of Competence. We highly appreciate your innovation, constructiveness, and partnership support and understanding.” – emphasized Prof. Topalova in her address to her colleagues from the University of Forestry.

Prof. Yana Topalova, DSc, and Assoc. Prof. Irina Schneider, PhD, from the management team of the Center, were among the guests at the celebration in the National Palace of Culture. Also pictured: Assoc. Prof. Ekaterina Todorova, PhD, leading researcher, and Assist. Prof. Aleksandrina Kostadinova-Slaveva, PhD, from the University of Forestry, both actively engaged in the Center of Competence.

The contribution of the University of Forestry, and in particular the work of the experts from the Department of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Restoration at the Faculty of Ecology and Landscape Architecture, is invaluable in the numerous complex scientific projects carried out by Clean&Circle.

The research interests of the university experts involved in the Center include technologies for waste treatment and management, combating air pollution, soil remediation, management of protected areas, and many others. What unites all these efforts is the commitment of the scientists from the University of Forestry to creating models for sustainable development and circular economy within the project.

The entire Clean&Circle team congratulates their colleagues at the University of Forestry, wishing them many more successes in their scientific work, and to the university itself – academic longevity and more reasons to be proud of its alumni.