stage and study basis of Romanian benthic algology. And, after Alexandru’s father,
she became his second role model. During Alexandru’s university studies, Professor Dr. Ana P. Fabian, a plant physiologist, initiated his scientific research, becoming a third role model.
A generous chance invitation to complete Alexandru’s desire to introduce the
C
14 method for estimating planktonic primary production and productivity came
from the All-Russia Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography
(VNIRO) in Moscow. So he joined its 13th scientific cruise on board the R/V
Akademik Knipovich in the east-central Atlantic Ocean in 1974. This experience
offered both professional and personal attributes to Alexandru’s career, for which
he was sincerely grateful. The cruise went well, and after returning home,
Alexandru was able to introduce the abovementioned method by liquid scintillation counting for the first time in Romania.
A totally new experience was found by joining three of the total four scientific
cruises organized by his institute, within a major research contract, in Libyan
territorial waters, on board of the Romanian trawler (adapted with laboratories)
Delta Duna ˘rii, between 1975 and 1976. At this time, Alexandru faced many
unexpected situational complexities. The biggest technological problem was
related to the need of measuring the planktonic primary production of those waters
using the chlorophyll method (in the absence of C
14 facilities), but the procedure
was complicated by the sea’s extreme oligotrophic feature. This difficulty was
related to the fact that he had to filter hundreds of liters of seawater with most of
the results below the detection limit.
Another extreme training event in the fields of marine radioactivity and radioecology occurred at the IAEA’s International Laboratory of Marine Radioactivity
in Monaco (1986). This was the result of a frustrating yearlong confrontation with
the communist authorities and their usual fearful attitude, y compris, concerning the
freedom of travel. The instruction was, unfortunately, quite short (3 months allowed
by the home country instead of the 1 year approved by Vienna) but nevertheless
very welcomed. Alexandru succeeded in this effort, and it proved to be even more
opportune because it took place immediately after the unforgettable Chernobyl
tragedy. The anticommunist revolution that took place at the end of the 1980s
brought immense joy for Alexandru to escape the undeserved and much too long
communist nightmare for his country. Before the revolution, there were many more
hopes than those that actually came true. But as they say, hope dies last.
Starting from 1990, Alexandru Bologa’s professional multitasking activities
included positions as scientific director of the NIMRD, associate professor at the
University Ovidius of Constant ¸a, editor in chief of the institute’s yearly scientific
journal (Cerceta ˘ri marine: Recherches marines), and chairman of the local subcommittee (which he founded in Constant ¸a in 1993) of the Romanian Committee of
History of Science and Technology of the Romanian Academy, until his retirement
in 2011. Other international responsibilities included being a national delegate to
the International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean
Sea (CIESM) between 1993 and 2011, director at the International Ocean Institute
(Malta) of the Black Sea Operational Centre (1996–2004), and national rapporteur
xx
Alexandru Bologa: Some Reminisces and Appreciation of His Devotion. . .
she became his second role model. During Alexandru’s university studies, Professor Dr. Ana P. Fabian, a plant physiologist, initiated his scientific research, becoming a third role model.
A generous chance invitation to complete Alexandru’s desire to introduce the
C
14 method for estimating planktonic primary production and productivity came
from the All-Russia Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography
(VNIRO) in Moscow. So he joined its 13th scientific cruise on board the R/V
Akademik Knipovich in the east-central Atlantic Ocean in 1974. This experience
offered both professional and personal attributes to Alexandru’s career, for which
he was sincerely grateful. The cruise went well, and after returning home,
Alexandru was able to introduce the abovementioned method by liquid scintillation counting for the first time in Romania.
A totally new experience was found by joining three of the total four scientific
cruises organized by his institute, within a major research contract, in Libyan
territorial waters, on board of the Romanian trawler (adapted with laboratories)
Delta Duna ˘rii, between 1975 and 1976. At this time, Alexandru faced many
unexpected situational complexities. The biggest technological problem was
related to the need of measuring the planktonic primary production of those waters
using the chlorophyll method (in the absence of C
14 facilities), but the procedure
was complicated by the sea’s extreme oligotrophic feature. This difficulty was
related to the fact that he had to filter hundreds of liters of seawater with most of
the results below the detection limit.
Another extreme training event in the fields of marine radioactivity and radioecology occurred at the IAEA’s International Laboratory of Marine Radioactivity
in Monaco (1986). This was the result of a frustrating yearlong confrontation with
the communist authorities and their usual fearful attitude, y compris, concerning the
freedom of travel. The instruction was, unfortunately, quite short (3 months allowed
by the home country instead of the 1 year approved by Vienna) but nevertheless
very welcomed. Alexandru succeeded in this effort, and it proved to be even more
opportune because it took place immediately after the unforgettable Chernobyl
tragedy. The anticommunist revolution that took place at the end of the 1980s
brought immense joy for Alexandru to escape the undeserved and much too long
communist nightmare for his country. Before the revolution, there were many more
hopes than those that actually came true. But as they say, hope dies last.
Starting from 1990, Alexandru Bologa’s professional multitasking activities
included positions as scientific director of the NIMRD, associate professor at the
University Ovidius of Constant ¸a, editor in chief of the institute’s yearly scientific
journal (Cerceta ˘ri marine: Recherches marines), and chairman of the local subcommittee (which he founded in Constant ¸a in 1993) of the Romanian Committee of
History of Science and Technology of the Romanian Academy, until his retirement
in 2011. Other international responsibilities included being a national delegate to
the International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean
Sea (CIESM) between 1993 and 2011, director at the International Ocean Institute
(Malta) of the Black Sea Operational Centre (1996–2004), and national rapporteur
xx
Alexandru Bologa: Some Reminisces and Appreciation of His Devotion. . .