Smart Geography / Key Challenges in Geography (PDF)

space, depopulation processes, spatial planning, geographic information systems and geographical education.




Dr. Georgi Zhelezov is an Associate Professor and the head of the department of Geography in National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy, and Geography at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. He graduated in Geography from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" in 1999. He defended a doctoral dissertation in Cartography at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" in 2005. He specialized in Vienna University in 2002, 2003 and 2007. Georgi Zhelezov started working at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Geography and Department of Geography at the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography) in 2005. His fields of expertise include physical geography, landscape ecology and cartography. The scientific interests and research projects are related to investigation of the state and dynamics of landscape diversity, spatial modelling of nature systems and analysis of ecosystem services.




Dr. Boian Koulov is an economic and social geographer at the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy, and Geography at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. He is on the leadership team of Sofia University's "Heritage BG" Center of Excellence.




Between 1990 and 2007, he taught at George Washington University, American University and the US Foreign Service Institute in Washington, D.C., and spent a sabbatical at Harvard University in 2009. Koulov is a Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar. The European Commission, the US National Science Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the US National Research Council, and the Bulgarian National Science Fund have sponsored his research on regional development and environmental management. The journals "Political Geography" and "Tijdschrift voor Economische/Sociale Geografie", as well as Springer, Oxford University Press, John Wiley & Sons, Wichmann, Berg Publishers, Westview Press, and Ashgate have published his research.




Dr. Kliment Naydenov is Assoc. Prof. at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Faculty of Geology and Geography, Department of Regional Development.




He graduated from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" with Master degree in Economic geography - Geography of population and settlements and Geography Teacher. He is a specialist in International relations. He has a master degree in the field of Tourism. He has also a PhD degree in the field of Regional demography. Today he is the head of the department "Regional development" and Chairperson of the Bulgarian Geographical Society. His teaching activities include conducting lectures on the demography and human resources management, regional development and policy, urban planning and management, geodemography and tourism. Kliment Naydenov is author and co-author of over 60 publications in scientific journals and proceedings in Bulgaria and abroad, including books and textbooks for higher and secondary school. He has participated in more than 100 national and international projects.




Dr. Stelian Dimitrov is Assoc. Prof. at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Faculty of Geology and Geography. He obtained a master degree in Economic Geography from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and MA level from University of Oxford Geography, Environmental and Regional Planning. Dr. Dimitrov is the managing director of Geographica Ltd, dealing with regional development and planning, spatial planning, GIS, analysis and forecasting of the economic development of Bulgarian municipalities, strategic documents assessment; socio-economic and geographical analysis. As a lecturer at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, he has taught courses on Regional development of Central and Eastern Europe. Dr. Dimitrov was Vice Dean of Science, research and International relations at the faculty of Geology and Geography at Sofia University.