Opening of the temporary exhibit “Let’s Save Our Planet’s Life!”
On 2 February 2026, Prof. Pavel Stoev, the museum’s Director, officially opened the temporary exhibit “Let’s Save Our Planet’s Life!” in the foyer of the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia (NMNHS). This exhibit is a product of the First National Student Competition for educational biology comics, organised by the Museum and the Faculty of Biology at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” (FB-SU) in accordance with the National Program “Education with Science” by the Ministry of Education and Science. The awarded works are printed on panels and displayed in the cases of the first floor of the Museum, and the works of all participants can be seen on a nearby screen.
Assoc. Prof. Asya Asenova, vice Dean of the Sofia University Faculty of Biology, greeted the guests and awarded diplomas to the selected authors, and all participants received certificates.
Due to the exceptional interest and impressive execution of the submitted educational comics, the jury rewarded a total of 20 students with diplomas over the three categories of the contest and gave one special award to the Dean of the Sofia University Faculty of Biology.
The contest took place in the period between 17.10.2025 and 30.11.2025 in two age groups — a middle school group (5—7 grade) and a high school one (8—12 grade). The jury was chaired by Assoc. Prof. Asya Asenova, vice Dean of FB-SU, and members Assoc. Prof. Nikolay Simov (NMNHS), Assoc. Prof. Rostislav Bekchiev (NMNHS), Assoc. Prof. Mario Langourov (NMNHS), Sen. Assist. Dr Atanas Grozdanov (FB-SU), as well as consultants Sen. Assist. Dr Assen Ignatov (NMNHS), zoologist and scientific illustrator, and Mariya Valkova, graphic designer, Master in “Illustration” at the National Academy of Art with specializations in Germany and South Korea. The jury awarded the following works, in alphabetical order of author names:
GROUP 1: Middle School students (5—7 grade)
In the category “Best interpretation of scientific facts and phenomena”
“The Heroes of the Big Walnut” by Alina Akselova Alieva, grade 7 from Primary School “Ivan Vazov”, Gorna Oryahovitsa
“The Adventures of Amoebia and Dr Green” by Ivanaya Martin Dimitrova,grade 7 from Primary School “Mitropolit Avksentiy Veleshki”, Samokov
“The Last Seed” by Maksim Atanasov Vezirev and Kalina Yaneva, grade 7b from 41st Primary School “St. Patriarch Evtimiy”, Sofia
In the category “Most Original Plot”
“Ecosystem — Food Chains” by Ana Ivaylova Stoyanova, grade 7 from Primary School “Mitropolit Avksentiy Veleshki”, Samokov
“Little Bear’s Rescue” by Bilyana Zheleva Petrova, grade 5 from Primary School “Saints Cyril and Methodius”, Markovo village
“Melanie — Saviour of the Oceans” by Melanie Vladimirova Yankova, grade 6 from Primary School “Dr Petar Beron”, Kostinbrod
In the category “Best Artistic Execution”
“When the Earth Fell Silent” by Lea Nikolaeva Stoyanova, grade 7 from Primary School “Rayna Knyaginya”, Plovdiv
“A Story of the Earth” by Tsvetelina Gulubova Doycheva, grade 7 from Primary School “ Dr Petar Beron”, Kostinbrod
“The Enochians” by Yana Vladislavova Hristova, grade 6 from Primary School “Dr Petar Beron”, Kostinbrod
GROUP 2: High School students (8—12 grade)
In the category “Best interpretation of scientific facts and phenomena”
“Planet Earth’s Green Breath” by Liudmila Ognyanova Georgieva, grade 9a from the Specialized high School of Sciences and Mathematics “Konstantin Fotinov”, Samokov
“The World Ocean in Humanity’s Trap” by Maria-Sara Isaac Mandil and Kamelia Valerieva Vuncheva grade 10 from 134th Secondary School “Dimcho Debelyanov”, Sofia
“Emis: The Story of a Rescued Generation” by Momchil Petkov Mihaylov, grade 9 from the “John Atanasoff” Vocational High School of Electronics
In the category “Most Original Plot”
“The Forest Speaks” by Michelle Milenova Slaveva from Secondary school “Hristo Botev”, Sapareva Banya
“The Last Seed of Hope” by Mümün Mustafa Kerim of the Computer Graphics group at Secondary School “Nikola Vaptsarov”, Aytos
“Mushrooms — The Tiny Helpers” by Svitlana Volkova grade 11, from Secondary School “Konstantin Petkanov”, Burgas
In the category “Best Artistic Execution”
“A Comic about Great and Small Things” by Adriana Gesheva, grade 10 from Math High School “Acad. Kiril Popov”, Plovdiv
“Let’s Save Planet Earth’s Life! The Taste of Time” by Mia Angelova Pendeva from the National Vocational High School of Printing and Photography — Sofia
“How NOT to Save a Planet” by Samuil Terziyski, grade 12 from High School 125 “Prof. Boyan Penev”, Sofia
The special award of the Dean of the Faculty of Biology at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” was granted to Ilyana Dimova Tringova of “Ivan Vazov” Secondary School with Foreign Languages and Management, Sofia for her comic “Reflections of Paradise Lost.”
We congratulate all participants for their active roles and creative work! With your art you have shown that science becomes more interesting and accessible when presented creatively.
