How Tervel Leubomir is following his boldest dreams as scientist in Bulgaria

published on 6/6/24 7:15 AM

Tervel Leubomir Boyanov

Photo: Facebook / tervel.nakamoto

Tervel Leubomir Boyanov is just 22 but he is one of the young hopefuls of Bulgarian science. He has been nominated for the prestigious TOYP (The Outstanding Young Persons) of Bulgaria. He graduated school long before other people his age, and went on to become the youngest student ever at the University of Mining and Geology in Sofia, where he chose to study biotechnologies.

Tervel Leubomir is someone who follows his dreams and who does his best to make them come true. Before biotechnologies became part of his life, he discovered the infinite world of quantum physics and started concentrating on ways the human race can acquire a powerful quantum computer. In 2017 relatively few people had even heard of quantum computing, and even fewer had anything to do with this sphere.

Tervel Leubomir, 18 at the time, set up his own startup company. Terrvel Technologies is the first startup in Bulgaria for quantum computing, he says in an interview with the BNR’s Hristo Botev channel:

“A quantum computer capable of doing something useful does not exist yet but that does not mean we shouldn’t be working in this direction to develop new technologies. My startup deals exclusively with biotechnologies that have already been developed and can be used to develop different products. My dream is connected with quantum technologies – to contribute to their development – on a world scale and here, in Bulgaria. I would like to see more than one functioning quantum computer in this country in the coming years. I have chosen to stay in Bulgaria because it is the country of our birth and because it is a good thing to evolve right here.”

Tervel Leubomir actually graduated secondary school as a private student. Every year he would sit for all compulsory exams, taking the exams for the last two years in just one. Thus he graduated a year earlier than the other pupils his age, and he says it is a rare thing for children in Bulgaria to study in the way he himself did:

“I have always had many teachers in life, I have always known many professors at universities, I have endeavoured to take part in university initiatives, lectures and projects. As a matter of fact, I grew at the university, not at school. I had access because of my mother who lectures at the St. Kliment Ohridski University, Sofia and so I was able to get to meet all professors from all spheres at the university. They teach physics, mathematics, chemistry, and also at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences – I have met many scientists through the years. I have always loved minerals and I have been interested in the subjects taught at the University of Mining and Geology in Sofia, that is why I chose to study there. It is a university that is not restricted to narrow specialization, it offers a broad range of knowledge, including in geology.”

With his education and his work in biotechnologies Tervel Leubomir says he admires living nature. He also collects insects. He donated his most valuable specimen to the National Museum of Natural history with the idea that when he tells young people about it they will develop an interest and go and visit the museum:

“Young people tend to copy one another and when they see another young person doing something they too will want to see or do something similar. They will go to a given museum because I have posted a photograph showing I have been there, I have made a donation or I have taken part in some kind of initiative.”