ARPA Institute, AR”A HIMNARG NEWSLETTER LRAPYR December 2019, Vol. 26 Tygdympyr 2019, : 26 Address: 18106 Miranda St., Tarzana, CA 91356 Analysis Research & Planning for Armenia ARPA Board of Directors and Officers in 2018 Newsletter Topics H. V. Panossian, Ph.D. President, Technology A. Gharakhani, Sc.D. V. President, Software/Tech A. V. Tomassian, Ph.D. Secretary, Physics A. H. DeMirdjian, M.S. Treasurer, Energy/Petroleum H. Baran, Ph.D. • President’s Message Page 2 Education R. Berberian, MBA, CPA ARPA Provides A $20K Grant to Alikhanian Institute Page 2 Finance/Management • D. Dalian, Ph.D. Technology • ARPA Purchases A Device for Inst Phys Resrch, Ashtarak Page 2 A. Kocharyan, Ph.D. Science • ARPA Co-Funds Micro-Businesses in Border Villages Page 3 J. Manoucherian, B.S. Distance Learning Chair R. Ohanian, M.S. • ARPA Provides Training for Science Fairs in Armenia Page 3 Technology/Robotics V. Panossian, MBA • Participants of the ARPA Invention Competition in 2019 Page 4 Global Business Develop A. Petrossians, Ph.D. Science • List of Donations to ARPA in 2019 Page 6 S. Shekherdimian, M.D. Health • ARPA Lectures/Seminars During 2019 Page 6 R. Shirinian, Ph.D. Political Science Trip Report on ARPA Activities in Armenia Page 16 H. Surmenian, M.S. • Electrical Eng. • Miscellaneous Page 20 Executive Committee, Armenia M. Aghazarian, M.S. Exec Director, Software/Tech H. Boghosian, Ph.D., MBA Technology A. Martirosyan, M.D. Exec Director, Health N. Seferian, M.D., MBA Health Management G. Tabakian, M.A. Management Return to the Front Page President’s Message conferences related to important issues for economic development. Armenia and the diaspora have shared identities and their futures are linked inextricably together, highlighting the Please visit our website (http://www.ARPAInstitute.org) to need for discourse between Armenia and the diaspora. learn more about our projects. You can personally help Armenians must translate the tremendous technical and support these long-term projects that boost innovative financial wealth of individual talent in the diaspora into economic growth in Armenia! Please make a tax- advancement of the Armenian nation. Our challenge is to deductible donation to ARPA Institute through the website go beyond our own parochialism and to develop an or by sending in your checks to the ARPA Treasurer: Mr. integrated, all-inclusive policy process for collaboration Harold DeMirjian, 13100 Addison St., Sherman Oaks, CA with the diaspora. To achieve this level of collaboration, 91423. Armenia has no choice but to develop cutting edge our professional, intellectual and financial resources in the technologies such as nanotechnology and create the means diaspora should participate with a feeling of responsibility necessary for production of complex and competitive for Armenia’s future. products and enter the global markets. Creativity is the single most important resource for any ARPA Institute Provides A $20,000 Grant to developing country. Armenia is becoming a powerhouse of information and communication technologies. However, Alikhanian Institute of Physics Armenia needs to be competitive in the existing diverse In the Alikhanian Institute of Physics, the team of global environment in this age of high technology and scientists headed by Dr. Amur Margaryan works on the innovation. The country now needs to pay special attention development of highly technical Radio Frequency Photo to developing specialized expertise and technical Multiplier Tube using advanced photonics technology to knowhow to diversify her industry and create complex, develop a device that can detect short light pulses, such as innovative and competitive products for a healthier laser pulses, down to a picosecond (10-12) accuracy. The economy. most advanced such device detects it in larger than 20 To this end, ARPA Institute is working with the ministries picoseconds. A proposal for $20,000 matching funds was of High Technology Industry and of Science, Education, received from the Institute to develop a new and improved Culture and Sports towards establishment of a modern prototype in order to demonstrate its market readiness. Nanotechnology Research and Development Center. The Familiar with the great work of this team, which ARPA has first step will be for the World Bank experts to carry out a supported in the past by purchasing other advanced feasibility study to evaluate the existing human and other instruments, The Board of Directors of ARPA Institute technical resources and determine the best direction to evaluated the proposal and funded the grant in full. The follow. In addition, we are working to establish the Director of the Institute, Dr. Ani Aprahamian, sent a formal “Science Fair” process in all schools in Armenia. This will letter of acknowledgement to ARPA Institute. teach the students to think innovatively and become the critical thinkers, inventors and scientists of the future. Moreover, Armenia will now be able to participate in the annual International Science and Engineering Fair, sponsored by Intel. Our goal in Armenia for the past 27 years has been to help advance innovation and creativity among the young generation. Through the ARPA Institute annual Invention Competition for Young Scientists we have tried to encourage the development of new high technology products. Our Distance Learning program helps in technology transfer, the assistance ARPA provides to various NAS Institutes and universities helps advance scientific research, innovation and critical thinking. Due to ARPA Institute Purchases A Special Device for the numerous scientific instruments and devices we have Institute of Physical Research in Ashtarak donated, quite a few scientific papers and patentable inventions have been produced. In the past, we have taught A team of scientists in the Institute of Physical Research in children about “Health Education and Lifestyle” for Ashtarak is working on a new technique to kill cancerous healthy living, established the first modern blood bank in cells in the human body using nanoparticles. They needed the Erebuni Hospital and organized various seminars and a Hypothermia device to carry out their experiments in the Return to the Front Page Page 2 Return to the Front Page proper environment. The ARPA Board members worked with MSI Automation (Wichita, Kansas) and had them develop the specialized device. The cost of this instrument was around $14,000. The device was delivered on November 29 and received by the Institute. ARPA has previously donated a Photospectrometer to the Institute. Hrachoohi during the teacher training session judging of the projects. The event was organized by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Ms. Gohar Mamikonyan and Ms. Varsenik. Over 80 teachers were invited from schools in Yerevan for the training. Also present were the appointed Director of the Science Fairs in Armenia, Dr. Harutyun Sargsyan, and the Heratsi School teacher in Yerevan, Ms. Rubina Harutyunyan. The latter two individuals participated in Intel Corporation’s 2019 ARPA Institute Co-funds Micro-Businesses International Science and Engineering Fair (held in in Border Villagers Phoenix, Arizona) to see the event and learn the process of ARPA Institute works with the Sahman organization in Science Fairs. Their expenses were covered by ARPA Armenia and sponsors border villagers to create jobs, help Institute (with help from the AESA-John Shirajian). the locals to be self-reliant and stay in their villages. Thus The training program started with a short opening remark far, ARPA has donated funds to five micro-businesses in by Gohar. Next, Hrachoohi gave a short introduction on the Bergabar village in northeast Armenia, Tavush region, ARPA, followed by a 20-minute presentation about the including a tailor shop, a persimmon orchard, a kiwi importance of “Creative Thinking” and how to encourage orchard, a mushroom production facility, and a children’s students to use it in the classrooms and in life (focus on the doll manufacturing shop. little things; ask who-, what-, where-, why-like questions; .don’t steer a student into a specific direction; rather, help them find their path, etc). The session went well with high interest/engagement by the teachers. The Armenian version of the Science Fair video (prepared by the students of the Instigate “Real School” in Armenia) was then played for the attendees to help them visualize what a Science Fair project should entail. Following the video, Harutyun discussed Intel’s ISEF and the plans for Science Fair competitions in Armenia. This ballooned into somewhat of a chaotic situation, with the teachers firing off detailed (though warranted) questions With Mrs. Sonya, the owner of the Tailor Shop in Bergabar, about timelines, judging criteria, road map, IP issues, etc. Tavush Region The focus of the meeting was then redirected to the execution of the Science Fair, ensuring that all questions Report on Science Fair Training in Armenia were answered. Hrachoohi provided an overview of the By: Barkev Iskikian main steps to conduct a Science Fair and how to set up the Science project display board. Thereafter, Rubina’s On November 29, a “Teacher Training” session was held experience with her class science projects was presented. by the ARPA Institute Executive Director in Armenia, Mr. Her two students (Mher and Seda) presented their project Barkev Iskikian, and by the ARPA Board member, Dr. (The Effects of WiFi on Human Cells) and their journey Hrachoohi Boghossian, to explain how to organize and from class science project to presenting their project to implement a successful Science Fair in schools, how to different schools and different organizations/events. guide the students in the project selection, research, experimentation, data analysis, and presentation, as well as Overall, this was a very productive meeting, but there is how to select judges and guide them to carry out the still much to do to prepare the teachers in conducting Return to the Front Page Page 3 Return to the Front Page effective Science Fairs. It was heart-warming to see most teachers engaged and passionate about Science Fairs.