DR SIMEON NEDKOV NEDKOV
ASSOC.PROFESSOR OF MUSEOLOGI AT THE SOFIA UNIVERSITY "ST. KLIMENT OHRIDSKI",
SOFIA, BULGARIA

Simeon Nedkov completed his secondary education in his native city of Gabrovo. After this he studied history at Sofia University and his first publications were the results of his research in the field of Bulgarian history and ethnology. In 1978 he graduated with honours from Sofia University, and got his MA degree.

After winning a competition he had worked as lecturer at the Academy of Social Sciences from December 1978. His scholarly interests were primarily in the field of history of Africa. He defended a dissertation in modern history in South Africa and was awarded PhD degree.

Dr Simeon Nedkov joined the Centre of Cultural Studies of the
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" in 1990 as lecturer in Museology.
He soon immersed himself in these fields and was dedicated not only to preparing a course of lectures for the students but also to research in the history of the museums in Bulgaria and around the world. As a result of his through research several scholarly publications about these themes appeared. His comprehensive work on "Museum and Museology" was discussed and approved by the Faculty Council and published in 1998. From 1992 to 1996 he was a Director of the Sofia University Museum.

Dr Nedkov works in the field of Museology on the theme of history and the present day problems of the Open Air Museums. Currently, in two fundamental studies on the development and perspectives of these very attractive museums, he is outlining the Bulgarian contribution in this field. In 2000, after more than 20 years research, Dr Nedkov publishes the monograph “Open Air Museums”.

Dr Nedkov has gained international recognition through his participation in the 11-th General Assembly of the ICOMOS and International Symposium on The Heritage and Social Change at which he presented a paper entitled "The Tradition in Bulgarian Legislation for preserving the Unmovable Monuments of Culture".

Dr Nedkov has established a reputation among specialists in the field of museum studies through participation in numerous international and national science conferences. He enjoys great interest among his students. Apart from the general course in "Museology", Dr Nedkov lectures a course in "The History of Art and Museology" to tourism students, and also special courses in "The Library and Art" and "Local History". He is assoc. professor in the New Bulgarian University since the foundation in 1991.

In 2000-2001 he is the director of the Republican Science-Methodology Center of Museology, Attached to the National Museum of History.

Dr Nedkov is a member of the Council of Museums in the Ministry of Culture in Bulgaria.

He is a member of the International Council of Museums, and a member of the National Committee of ICOM - Bulgaria.

Hi is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Local History. He is also a member of the Bulgarian Historical Association. In 1995 he founded the Forum for Friendship between Bulgaria and South Africa, and serves presently as its Secretary General.