Background
The idea of creating a social union of people involved in science and education was not born suddenly and accidentally. It appeared both as a necessity of time and as the insight of smart and patriotic Bulgarians. This is how the Bulgarian Literary Society (1869) emerged before our country was revived. The last decades of the 19th and the first of the 20th century were rife with the creation of bases for scientific research and practice such as the Botanical and Zoological Garden (1888), the Natural History Museum and the Bacteriology Laboratory (1889). On 1 October 1888, the dream of Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi came to fruition to establish the first Bulgarian university, proudly proclaimed as Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.” In 1923, the idea of forming a union was born, which was to comprise representatives from various scientific fields. It bore the pretentious name of “Union of Mental Workers” and could be seen as a real precursor to the Union of Scientific Workers in Bulgaria (USWB). The constituent assembly was held on 30 October 1944.
History
The Union of Scientists in Bulgaria was established in October 1944 by 17 prominent Bulgarian scientists. The Union grew rapidly and became the largest organization of scientists and lecturers in higher education institutions. It brings together scientists from different scientific fields, at different ages, with different political beliefs. Throughout the years of its existence, the Union has been steadily upholding its position as an independent, non-governmental, non-profit, non-political, professional and creative organization of scientists.
According to the changes in the Statute of USB, passed at the latest Eighth Congress, held on 26 and 27 October 2001, and according to the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities, the Union of Scientists is entered in the register of non-profit legal entities, with a decision of the Sofia City Court of 30 January 2002 as a “national, voluntary, non-governmental and democratic creative and professional organization of scientists”, as “a non-profit legal entity – an association for pursuing activities in the public interest…”, as a Union “… built and functioning on a federative principle” and “… continuing the creative traditions of the scientific community in Bulgaria.”