Bay Area Friends of Armenia :. www.bafa.org

Cosmic Ray Division in Armenia

We invite you to join us in an exciting new challenge – to support one of the world’s premiere scientific organizations Armenia’s Cosmic Ray Division (CRD). Your help is crucial at this time to preserve this valuable resource for Armenia. The CRD is a vibrant organization which has persevered to maintain Armenia’s standing among the top five countries in the world in the field of cosmic ray research. Thanks to the dedication of Professor Ashot Chilingarian and his staff of approximately 100 talented scientists, engineers, technicians, and support personnel, the CRD operates two high altitude research stations on Mt. Aragats at 6500 ft and 10500 ft elevation on Mt. Aragats all year round.

Their primary area of research includes fundamental science as well as practical applications in the areas of High Energy Astrophysics, Solar Physics, Space Weather Forecasting, Multivariate Statistical analysis. The latter two have huge potential business applications.

During the winter months, the shifts at the mountain stations change every five weeks. Dangerous narrow roads blocked by avalanches do not deter this group of tough and committed scientists from persevering in their task of preserving and advancing Armenia’s scientific capabilities. All who visit the CRD’s research stations on top of Mt. Aragats express amazement at the tremendous output of scientific research and practical applications accomplished under severe budgetary restrictions. Even though CRD scientists and support personnel could easily find employment elsewhere in the world, they remain dedicated to conducting their research in Armenia. They also mentor and educate PhD students from Yerevan State University and provide them with exciting employment opportunities.

Thanks to numerous proposals written by the CRD and the quality of their completed projects, international funding from NATO, United States, European Union, and Japan supports half of CRD’s budget. Prof. Chilingarian is also pursuing relevant business opportunities in order to supplement these international grants. At this difficult economic time in Armenia when CRD is struggling towards self-sufficiency, it is at the cross roads of propelling forward as one of the world leaders in cosmic ray research, or sliding towards disintegration. We cannot allow the latter to happen! Support from the Diaspora is a vital ingredient for the continued success of this dynamic group of scientists.

For more information please visit the web site at http://www.crdfriends.org and from there select Armenia’s Cosmic Ray Division to view the on-line data from CRD instruments, project reports, the list of ongoing and completed projects, and the spectacular scenery from Armenia’s Mt. Aragats. It is the next best thing to being there yourself.

Highest Cosmic Ray Station Complex, Aragats, at 10500 ft. on Mt. Aragats

Some of the CRD scientists, technicians, and support personnel at the lower Cosmic Ray station Complex, Nor Ambert, at 6500 ft. On Mt. Aragats.

Head of CRD, Prof. Chilingarian, in one of the control rooms at the Aragats station.

Japan-Armenia Solar Neutron Telescope at the Aragats station.

Preparing for shift change in the winter time.

Underground tunnels are the only way to go from building to building at the highest altitude station, Aragats, in the winter time.

PhD students from Yerevan State University and Post Doctoral scientist who conduct their thesis research under the tutelage of CRD scientific staff with Prof. Chilingarian.

Young CRD scientists (on the right) a the International Cosmic Ray Conference in 2001 where 20 papers were presented on projects at the CRD in Armenia.

The infrastructure which has not had a major repair for the past 10 years is in critical need of it.



	Cosmic Ray Division in Armenia We invite you to join us in an exciting new challenge – to support one of the world’s premiere scientific organizations Armenia’s Cosmic Ray Division (CRD). Your help is crucial at this time to preserve this valuable resource for Armenia. The CRD is a vibrant organization which has persevered to maintain Armenia’s standing among the top five countries in the world in the field of cosmic ray research. Thanks to the dedication of Professor Ashot Chilingarian and his staff of approximately 100 talented scientists, engineers, technicians, and support personnel, the CRD operates two high altitude research stations on Mt. Aragats at 6500 ft and 10500 ft elevation on Mt. Aragats all year round. Their primary area of research includes fundamental science as well as practical applications in the areas of High Energy Astrophysics, Solar Physics, Space Weather Forecasting, Multivariate Statistical analysis. The latter two have huge potential business applications. During the winter months, the shifts at the mountain stations change every five weeks. Dangerous narrow roads blocked by avalanches do not deter this group of tough and committed scientists from persevering in their task of preserving and advancing Armenia’s scientific capabilities. All who visit the CRD’s research stations on top of Mt. Aragats express amazement at the tremendous output of scientific research and practical applications accomplished under severe budgetary restrictions. Even though CRD scientists and support personnel could easily find employment elsewhere in the world, they remain dedicated to conducting their research in Armenia. They also mentor and educate PhD students from Yerevan State University and provide them with exciting employment opportunities. Thanks to numerous proposals written by the CRD and the quality of their completed projects, international funding from NATO, United States, European Union, and Japan supports half of CRD’s budget. Prof. Chilingarian is also pursuing relevant business opportunities in order to supplement these international grants. At this difficult economic time in Armenia when CRD is struggling towards self-sufficiency, it is at the cross roads of propelling forward as one of the world leaders in cosmic ray research, or sliding towards disintegration. We cannot allow the latter to happen! Support from the Diaspora is a vital ingredient for the continued success of this dynamic group of scientists. For more information please visit the web site at http://www.crdfriends.org and from there select Armenia’s Cosmic Ray Division to view the on-line data from CRD instruments, project reports, the list of ongoing and completed projects, and the spectacular scenery from Armenia’s Mt. Aragats. It is the next best thing to being there yourself. Highest Cosmic Ray Station Complex, Aragats, at 10500 ft. on Mt. Aragats Some of the CRD scientists, technicians, and support personnel at the lower Cosmic Ray station Complex, Nor Ambert, at 6500 ft. On Mt. Aragats. Head of CRD, Prof. Chilingarian, in one of the control rooms at the Aragats station. Japan-Armenia Solar Neutron Telescope at the Aragats station. Preparing for shift change in the winter time. Underground tunnels are the only way to go from building to building at the highest altitude station, Aragats, in the winter time. PhD students from Yerevan State University and Post Doctoral scientist who conduct their thesis research under the tutelage of CRD scientific staff with Prof. Chilingarian. Young CRD scientists (on the right) a the International Cosmic Ray Conference in 2001 where 20 papers were presented on projects at the CRD in Armenia. The infrastructure which has not had a major repair for the past 10 years is in critical need of it.