An Unintended Consequence: My Involvement with Armenia’s Cosmic Ray Division

An Unintended Consequence: My Involvement with Armenia’s Cosmic Ray Division

By Joseph Dagdigian

December 12, 2011

The Armenian Reporter International

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 Hayastan 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 eight 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 them here 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 second 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 two-three 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."