Tweet
Support Committee for Armenia's Cosmic Ray Division
Tel: 978-772-9417
Web: http://www.crdfriends.org/
AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE
My Involvement with Armenia's Cosmic Ray Division
Joseph Dagdigian
December 26, 1999: My wife Lisa and I were unable to decide on New
Year's Eve plans for the new millennium. So we went to Armenia.
Believing that the prophesies about the world's computers crashing on
Y2K may be true, I hoped to be stranded in Haiastan for a while. But it
was not to be.
A few months prior to our departure, at one of Prof. Richard
Hovanissian's Armenian Cities seminars at UCLA, I met Anahid Yeremian.
An announcement that she was working on some science projects in Armenia
led me to introduce myself to her. So on our December trip to Armenia I
took an envelope from Anahid to be delivered to the head of the
Armenia's Cosmic Ray Division (CRD), Prof. Ashot Chilingarian. The
envelope contained a few papers and some money for CRD.
CRD and Professor Ashot Chilingarian
We met Prof. Chilingarian in the lobby of the Ani Hotel where we
delivered the envelope, and talked a bit. Prof. Chilingarian was
extremely personable and easy to talk to. Anahid had suggested (strongly
I may add) that if we got invited to one of CRD's research stations on
Mt. Aragats it would be good to go. Although I am an engineer with a
strong interest in physics, I was apprehensive about spending a day with
a group of PhD physicists: what would we talk about? Would I understand
anything they were saying? Lisa was adamant: "/If we get invited, we're
going. It's only for a day!/" The invite came and we met Prof.
Chilingarian at his office at the Yerevan Physics Institute where he
briefly described CRD's research. They study cosmic ray physics and
space weather; the effect of cosmic rays on the earth's environment and
on systems such as satellites, power grids, and pipelines. They collect
cosmic ray data from two cosmic ray observatories on Mt. Aragats. We
left for the lower of CRD's two research stations, the Nor Ambert
research station at about 6,000 feet on Mt. Aragats. Going higher up to
the Aragats station at 10,500 feet would have been treacherous and time
consuming as there was deep snow cover at the higher altitudes.
At CRD's research stations on Mt. Aragats crews monitor sophisticated
cosmic ray detectors around the clock. Professor Chilingarian with
another senior scientist, Valerie Babayan, showed us their facilities.
One technician, working on an old troublesome IBM PC which was used to
relay cosmic ray data to CRD's facilities in Yerevan, joked about how
valuable the antiquated equipment was; museums would pay a fortune for
this stuff!
That evening we dined with the crew at the Nor Ambert station:
scientists, engineers, cooks, cleaning women, and the rest totaling
perhaps 8-10 people who were on duty there. We discussed everything
imaginable: science, Armenia, the US, politics, and history exactly as
we would do with dear friends back home. These people defied my
preconceived stereotype. It seemed that we had known each other all our
lives -- it's just we hadn't met yet. After dinner one gentleman arose,
approached me, looked me in the eye, and said "/I want you to know one
thing. We're going to do our research no matter what, but we're going to
do it in Armenia. I've been to Europe and the US. I can go wherever I
want. But I'd rather starve than leave Armenia/." Yes, I thought, but if
your child is going hungry you'll leave.
I excused myself, and asked for directions to the rest room. Looking
around I felt both embarrassed and ashamed that we, the Armenian people,
allowed such gifted scientists and dedicated Armenians to work and live
in such run down conditions. That evening as time to return to Yerevan
approached, Prof. Chilingarian indicated that he would remain on "/our
mountain/". Two of his staff would drive us back to Yerevan.
Chilingarian thanked us "/for all we had done/". Embarrassed by his
statement, I protested that we did nothing, just delivered an envelope
from Anahid. He stood up, looked me in the eye and said "/You don't have
the slightest idea what you've done. The mere fact that you're here
indicates that someone in the rest of the world knows we exist. You
don't know how important that is for us. It gives us the strength to go
on/."
During our drive back to Yerevan I quietly thought about how I would
sell Lisa on doing what we could to help CRD.We arrived at the Ani
Hotel. Despite only having met hosts 8 or so hours ago, we knew each
other in a very fundamental way. It was an emotional goodbye. As soon as
the car left Lisa turned to me and stated "/That's it, were going to
adopt the CRD/."
Upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union CRD's funding dried up, with
CRD's employees going without pay for months on end. Professor
Chilingarian told his people that as funds became available, he would
distribute the funds equitably among them. Whoever wanted to seek
employment elsewhere had his blessing, he understood, and would help as
best he could. Most everyone stayed. But to keep up with cutting edge
science some of their antiquated equipment had to be replaced. Confident
of Prof. Chilingarian's leadership, his people agreed to forego part of
their already meager pay to fund essential new equipment. It was an
investment in CRD's future. Local villagers, I am told, during the cold
winter months would cook and bring warm food to the scientists stating
"/We don't quite understanding what you are doing, but we know it's
important/."
Prof. Chilingarian has on numerous occasions decried the emigration of
bright young Armenians to foreign soil. He once told me "/You don't
realize how bright some of our students are. I know I can't hire them
all, I don't have the means. But every year if I can hire one or two of
the brightest, keep themhere in Armenia, pay them enough so that some
day they can bring up families here, well... I think my life will be a
success/."
Prof Chilingarian in Boston
Early in February 2000 Prof. Chilingarian was invited by the US State
Department to a conference in greater Boston, after which he stayed with
us for a few days. He, accompanied by Anahid Yeremian, gave a lecture at
the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA). While staying with us
he received news that CRD's electric power was about to be turned off
for non-payment of their bill. CRD simply did not have the cash.
Chilingarian convinced the electric company to delay cutting the power
for another month or two. I suggested to Anahid that Chilingarian issue
an appeal to the Diaspora for support. Anahid replied "/These people
have lost everything but their dignity, I'm not about to ask them to
give that up too/", referring to having them plea for funds. So Anahid
and I asked our friends and relatives for support. Chilingarian was
initially against this. He stated the Diaspora had enough problems, they
need schools, community centers etc. But finally he relented. Anahid and
I formed the Support Committee for Armenia's Cosmic Ray Division
(SCACRD) working in conjunction with a number of organizations,
including the Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA).
Subsequent Visits to CRD
During one visit I was escorted to a building at the Nor Ambert research
station - a large garage filled with wood and woodworking equipment.
Prof. Chilingarian explained that he needed new windows for the Aragats
Research Station building at 11,500 ft altitude atop Mt. Aragats. Winter
snow there often reaches the 2^nd story windows. Though there were funds
to buy new windows, he realized that with the same amount of money he
could equip a woodworking shop and hire a couple of local carpenters to
make the windows. Otherwise, he stated, these people would have had to
leave Armenia as they had no other opportunities for work here.
On another occasion I sent $100 to Professor Chilingarian. This was not
part of our official aid to CRD, but a personal contribution for him to
use as he saw fit. I suggested they buy a new TV, or perhaps a couple of
kegs of beer for CRD's employees on Mt. Aragats. A week later I received
a thank you note. There were two men in the local village who did
part-time repair work on CRD's facilities. Both had orchards which were
wiped out during a recent hail storm. "/If I give each $50/", stated
Chilingarian, "/they can replant their orchards and be back in business
in a few years. Is that ok?/" Of course it was!
Anahid and I were privileged to attend the international Solar Extreme
Events conference at CRD's Nor Ambert research station during the summer
of 2005. By this time Diaspora funding had allowed Chilingarian some
latitude in negotiating research partnerships with many international
scientific organizations. Research grants now paid for well over half of
CRD's budget with a bit more support now coming from the Armenian
government as well. Still, Diaspora support remained, and remains,
essential. Anahid and I interviewed on video a leading scientist from a
Swiss research institute. We assured him that we wanted honest responses
and would not be offended by any comments he may make. We proceeded to
question him on the quality and relevance of CRD's research. He had
nothing but positive things to say. The following day he approached us
and requested that we delete his interview. Shocked, we agreed to do so.
"/Yes/", he exclaimed, "/since yesterday I've seen more of the
facilities here and have a better understanding of the research being
conducted./ /Would you mind interviewing me again? I have many more
positive comments to make about the CRD!/"
At the conclusion of the conference a scientist from Japan, a very
senior, internationally renowned physicist asked for permission to
speak. He reminisced about his long association with Prof. Chilingarian,
first as a young PhD, until now. He spoke admiringly of Chilingarian's
research, vision, and his leadership of the CRD.
The Future
Prof. Chilingarian and the CRD have received numerous accolades and
awards too numerous to list here (visit www.crdfriends.org
for a details). He has increased the number
of students taken under his wing, mentoring a number of very talented
young scientists. Chilingarian has not only taken a leadership role
within Armenia but within international scientific organizations as
well. He recently was appointed director of the Yerevan Physics
Institute where he is embarking on a program to utilize Armenia's
scientific talent to generate revenue for Armenia while benefiting
Armenia socially. Among projects being implemented are the production of
short live medical radioisotopes for the diagnosis of diseases, and
sophisticated medical imaging. He continues as well to lead the CRD.
Prof. Chilingarian's research has been internationally acknowledged on a
number of occasions . He is a newly elected Fellow of the American
Physical Society together with two other Armenians, Harut Avagyan at the
Jefferson Laboratory in Virginia, and Yuri Oganessian from the Joint
Institute for Nuclear Research in Russia. All are originally from Armenia.
Conclusion
A last minute trip to California, then Armenia, resulted in an
unintended but welcome consequence: the formation of the Support
Committee for Armenia's Cosmic Ray Division (SCACRD). While I don't know
all of our dispersed SCACRD members and supporters personally, I think
of them all every day and thank them for their trust. What they have
helped accomplish is and continues to be extremely important. And I
thank Anahid for her vision, tireless dedication, and determination.
In 2000 there were perhaps 2-3 young scientists at the CRD. Now there
are many. Both graduate and undergraduate students conduct relevant real
world research under Prof. Chilingarian's tutelage. Many of these
students have received international acclaim for their research. During
a recent visit to CRD's headquarters in Yerevan I entered an office
filled with young people. As I left I stopped in Chilingarian's office
to say goodbye. I commented on how impressive it was to see an office
full of young people working collaboratively. Prof. Chilingarian looked
up and said "/Of course, what do you expect? This is the road to our
future/."
Tel: 978-772-9417
Web: http://www.crdfriends.org/
AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE
My Involvement with Armenia's Cosmic Ray Division
Joseph Dagdigian
December 26, 1999: My wife Lisa and I were unable to decide on New
Year's Eve plans for the new millennium. So we went to Armenia.
Believing that the prophesies about the world's computers crashing on
Y2K may be true, I hoped to be stranded in Haiastan for a while. But it
was not to be.
A few months prior to our departure, at one of Prof. Richard
Hovanissian's Armenian Cities seminars at UCLA, I met Anahid Yeremian.
An announcement that she was working on some science projects in Armenia
led me to introduce myself to her. So on our December trip to Armenia I
took an envelope from Anahid to be delivered to the head of the
Armenia's Cosmic Ray Division (CRD), Prof. Ashot Chilingarian. The
envelope contained a few papers and some money for CRD.
CRD and Professor Ashot Chilingarian
We met Prof. Chilingarian in the lobby of the Ani Hotel where we
delivered the envelope, and talked a bit. Prof. Chilingarian was
extremely personable and easy to talk to. Anahid had suggested (strongly
I may add) that if we got invited to one of CRD's research stations on
Mt. Aragats it would be good to go. Although I am an engineer with a
strong interest in physics, I was apprehensive about spending a day with
a group of PhD physicists: what would we talk about? Would I understand
anything they were saying? Lisa was adamant: "/If we get invited, we're
going. It's only for a day!/" The invite came and we met Prof.
Chilingarian at his office at the Yerevan Physics Institute where he
briefly described CRD's research. They study cosmic ray physics and
space weather; the effect of cosmic rays on the earth's environment and
on systems such as satellites, power grids, and pipelines. They collect
cosmic ray data from two cosmic ray observatories on Mt. Aragats. We
left for the lower of CRD's two research stations, the Nor Ambert
research station at about 6,000 feet on Mt. Aragats. Going higher up to
the Aragats station at 10,500 feet would have been treacherous and time
consuming as there was deep snow cover at the higher altitudes.
At CRD's research stations on Mt. Aragats crews monitor sophisticated
cosmic ray detectors around the clock. Professor Chilingarian with
another senior scientist, Valerie Babayan, showed us their facilities.
One technician, working on an old troublesome IBM PC which was used to
relay cosmic ray data to CRD's facilities in Yerevan, joked about how
valuable the antiquated equipment was; museums would pay a fortune for
this stuff!
That evening we dined with the crew at the Nor Ambert station:
scientists, engineers, cooks, cleaning women, and the rest totaling
perhaps 8-10 people who were on duty there. We discussed everything
imaginable: science, Armenia, the US, politics, and history exactly as
we would do with dear friends back home. These people defied my
preconceived stereotype. It seemed that we had known each other all our
lives -- it's just we hadn't met yet. After dinner one gentleman arose,
approached me, looked me in the eye, and said "/I want you to know one
thing. We're going to do our research no matter what, but we're going to
do it in Armenia. I've been to Europe and the US. I can go wherever I
want. But I'd rather starve than leave Armenia/." Yes, I thought, but if
your child is going hungry you'll leave.
I excused myself, and asked for directions to the rest room. Looking
around I felt both embarrassed and ashamed that we, the Armenian people,
allowed such gifted scientists and dedicated Armenians to work and live
in such run down conditions. That evening as time to return to Yerevan
approached, Prof. Chilingarian indicated that he would remain on "/our
mountain/". Two of his staff would drive us back to Yerevan.
Chilingarian thanked us "/for all we had done/". Embarrassed by his
statement, I protested that we did nothing, just delivered an envelope
from Anahid. He stood up, looked me in the eye and said "/You don't have
the slightest idea what you've done. The mere fact that you're here
indicates that someone in the rest of the world knows we exist. You
don't know how important that is for us. It gives us the strength to go
on/."
During our drive back to Yerevan I quietly thought about how I would
sell Lisa on doing what we could to help CRD.We arrived at the Ani
Hotel. Despite only having met hosts 8 or so hours ago, we knew each
other in a very fundamental way. It was an emotional goodbye. As soon as
the car left Lisa turned to me and stated "/That's it, were going to
adopt the CRD/."
Upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union CRD's funding dried up, with
CRD's employees going without pay for months on end. Professor
Chilingarian told his people that as funds became available, he would
distribute the funds equitably among them. Whoever wanted to seek
employment elsewhere had his blessing, he understood, and would help as
best he could. Most everyone stayed. But to keep up with cutting edge
science some of their antiquated equipment had to be replaced. Confident
of Prof. Chilingarian's leadership, his people agreed to forego part of
their already meager pay to fund essential new equipment. It was an
investment in CRD's future. Local villagers, I am told, during the cold
winter months would cook and bring warm food to the scientists stating
"/We don't quite understanding what you are doing, but we know it's
important/."
Prof. Chilingarian has on numerous occasions decried the emigration of
bright young Armenians to foreign soil. He once told me "/You don't
realize how bright some of our students are. I know I can't hire them
all, I don't have the means. But every year if I can hire one or two of
the brightest, keep themhere in Armenia, pay them enough so that some
day they can bring up families here, well... I think my life will be a
success/."
Prof Chilingarian in Boston
Early in February 2000 Prof. Chilingarian was invited by the US State
Department to a conference in greater Boston, after which he stayed with
us for a few days. He, accompanied by Anahid Yeremian, gave a lecture at
the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA). While staying with us
he received news that CRD's electric power was about to be turned off
for non-payment of their bill. CRD simply did not have the cash.
Chilingarian convinced the electric company to delay cutting the power
for another month or two. I suggested to Anahid that Chilingarian issue
an appeal to the Diaspora for support. Anahid replied "/These people
have lost everything but their dignity, I'm not about to ask them to
give that up too/", referring to having them plea for funds. So Anahid
and I asked our friends and relatives for support. Chilingarian was
initially against this. He stated the Diaspora had enough problems, they
need schools, community centers etc. But finally he relented. Anahid and
I formed the Support Committee for Armenia's Cosmic Ray Division
(SCACRD) working in conjunction with a number of organizations,
including the Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA).
Subsequent Visits to CRD
During one visit I was escorted to a building at the Nor Ambert research
station - a large garage filled with wood and woodworking equipment.
Prof. Chilingarian explained that he needed new windows for the Aragats
Research Station building at 11,500 ft altitude atop Mt. Aragats. Winter
snow there often reaches the 2^nd story windows. Though there were funds
to buy new windows, he realized that with the same amount of money he
could equip a woodworking shop and hire a couple of local carpenters to
make the windows. Otherwise, he stated, these people would have had to
leave Armenia as they had no other opportunities for work here.
On another occasion I sent $100 to Professor Chilingarian. This was not
part of our official aid to CRD, but a personal contribution for him to
use as he saw fit. I suggested they buy a new TV, or perhaps a couple of
kegs of beer for CRD's employees on Mt. Aragats. A week later I received
a thank you note. There were two men in the local village who did
part-time repair work on CRD's facilities. Both had orchards which were
wiped out during a recent hail storm. "/If I give each $50/", stated
Chilingarian, "/they can replant their orchards and be back in business
in a few years. Is that ok?/" Of course it was!
Anahid and I were privileged to attend the international Solar Extreme
Events conference at CRD's Nor Ambert research station during the summer
of 2005. By this time Diaspora funding had allowed Chilingarian some
latitude in negotiating research partnerships with many international
scientific organizations. Research grants now paid for well over half of
CRD's budget with a bit more support now coming from the Armenian
government as well. Still, Diaspora support remained, and remains,
essential. Anahid and I interviewed on video a leading scientist from a
Swiss research institute. We assured him that we wanted honest responses
and would not be offended by any comments he may make. We proceeded to
question him on the quality and relevance of CRD's research. He had
nothing but positive things to say. The following day he approached us
and requested that we delete his interview. Shocked, we agreed to do so.
"/Yes/", he exclaimed, "/since yesterday I've seen more of the
facilities here and have a better understanding of the research being
conducted./ /Would you mind interviewing me again? I have many more
positive comments to make about the CRD!/"
At the conclusion of the conference a scientist from Japan, a very
senior, internationally renowned physicist asked for permission to
speak. He reminisced about his long association with Prof. Chilingarian,
first as a young PhD, until now. He spoke admiringly of Chilingarian's
research, vision, and his leadership of the CRD.
The Future
Prof. Chilingarian and the CRD have received numerous accolades and
awards too numerous to list here (visit www.crdfriends.org
for a details). He has increased the number
of students taken under his wing, mentoring a number of very talented
young scientists. Chilingarian has not only taken a leadership role
within Armenia but within international scientific organizations as
well. He recently was appointed director of the Yerevan Physics
Institute where he is embarking on a program to utilize Armenia's
scientific talent to generate revenue for Armenia while benefiting
Armenia socially. Among projects being implemented are the production of
short live medical radioisotopes for the diagnosis of diseases, and
sophisticated medical imaging. He continues as well to lead the CRD.
Prof. Chilingarian's research has been internationally acknowledged on a
number of occasions . He is a newly elected Fellow of the American
Physical Society together with two other Armenians, Harut Avagyan at the
Jefferson Laboratory in Virginia, and Yuri Oganessian from the Joint
Institute for Nuclear Research in Russia. All are originally from Armenia.
Conclusion
A last minute trip to California, then Armenia, resulted in an
unintended but welcome consequence: the formation of the Support
Committee for Armenia's Cosmic Ray Division (SCACRD). While I don't know
all of our dispersed SCACRD members and supporters personally, I think
of them all every day and thank them for their trust. What they have
helped accomplish is and continues to be extremely important. And I
thank Anahid for her vision, tireless dedication, and determination.
In 2000 there were perhaps 2-3 young scientists at the CRD. Now there
are many. Both graduate and undergraduate students conduct relevant real
world research under Prof. Chilingarian's tutelage. Many of these
students have received international acclaim for their research. During
a recent visit to CRD's headquarters in Yerevan I entered an office
filled with young people. As I left I stopped in Chilingarian's office
to say goodbye. I commented on how impressive it was to see an office
full of young people working collaboratively. Prof. Chilingarian looked
up and said "/Of course, what do you expect? This is the road to our
future/."