Young Minds Meet Science:
Students from “Pilot Hristo Toprakchiev” Secondary School Visited the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics
On November 6th and 7th, 2025, at the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, with the support of the museum “Mathematics and Informatics in Bulgaria,” a special seminar was held for the 8th and 9th-grade students from the Software and Hardware Sciences profile at “Pilot Hristo Toprakchiev” Secondary School in Bozhurishte.
The event was opened by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hristo Kostadinov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, who welcomed the students and emphasized the importance of initiatives that connect school education with real scientific environments.
Following the welcome address, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dimitrina Polimirova, Head of the National Laboratory of Computer Virology at the Institute, presented the laboratory’s activities focused on research and analysis in the field of computer security and the prevention of malicious software. The topic “The History of Computing Machines: Historical Interconnections between Mathematics and Informatics” was presented by Polimira Nikolova, a research associate at the National Laboratory of Computer Virology, who introduced the students to the fundamental mathematical models and systems that led to the creation of modern computing technologies.
During the seminar, the four stages of the development of computing machines and the reasons behind their creation were discussed. For each stage, characteristic examples, their inventors, and their contribution to the progress of informatics were presented.
Special attention was given to the life and achievements of John Atanasoff and the creation of the Atanasoff–Berry Computer (ABC) – considered the first electronic digital computer in the world. The four principles formulated by Atanasoff, which remain fundamental to the operation of modern computing devices, were discussed and analyzed.
In the practical part of the event, the students took part in an audio-visual quiz, divided into three teams. Through this interactive format, they reinforced their knowledge, practiced teamwork, and demonstrated genuine curiosity by asking questions and engaging in lively discussions.
After the quiz, the participants visited the physical museum “Mathematics and Informatics in Bulgaria,” where they explored original exhibits, documents, textbooks, and historical artifacts tracing the evolution of computing technology. The students had the opportunity to see authentic examples from various stages in the development of computing machines.
The visit to the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences demonstrated that the connection between the past and the future of technology lies in the knowledge and curiosity of young people. The meeting between the students of “Pilot Hristo Toprakchiev” Secondary School and the researchers from the Institute turned the history of computing into a living, inspiring journey – not merely a chronology of facts, but a story of humanity’s quest for logic, precision, and discovery.
The atmosphere of scientific exchange, combined with interactive elements and direct contact with historical artifacts, made the visit an emotional and memorable experience. Such initiatives not only spark an interest in science but also help build a generation that understands that technological progress begins with knowing its roots.