Teki Isak Biçoku (6 June 1926 – 21 November 2009) was an
Albania
Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...
n
geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the structure, composition, and History of Earth, history of Earth. Geologists incorporate techniques from physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and geography to perform research in the Field research, ...
and former member and president of the
Academy of Sciences of Albania
The Academy of Sciences of Albania (), founded in 1972, is the most important scientific institution in Albania. In the 1980s, several research institutes began at the University of Tirana were transferred to the Academy's jurisdiction. The ins ...
.
Biography
Tell Biçoku was born in
Elbasan
Elbasan ( , ; sq-definite, Elbasani, ) is the fourth most populous city of Albania and seat of Elbasan County and Elbasan Municipality. It lies to the north of the river Shkumbin between the Skanderbeg Mountains and the Myzeqe Plain in centr ...
on the 6th of June 1926 to an
Albanian
Albanian may refer to:
*Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular:
**Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans
**Albanian language
**Albanian culture
**Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...
family, his father was Isak Biçoku as we can see from his middle name. He completed his elementary education in Elbasan(1932–1937), after which he pursued his studies in the
Shkolla Normale e Elbasanit. In addition, he studied in the Technique Schools of
Korça (1942–43), and
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...
(1946–47). In 1943-44 he was involved in the Antifascist War and in 1944-46 he served in the military as a courier.
He pursued university studies at The
Petroleum Institute “Gubkin” of
Moscow
Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
, (1948–1953). On March 20, 1953 he graduated and earned the title "Geophysical Engineer".
On April 5, 1965 Biçoku received a Doctorate in Science and on April 27, 1970 earned the title of Professor. On January 22, 1973 Biçoku became a member of the Albanian Academy of Sciences and on September 3, 2008 became an active member of the
European Academy of Sciences and Arts
The European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA, ) is a transnational and interdisciplinary network, connecting about 2,000 recommended scientists and artists worldwide, including 38 Nobel Prize laureates. The European Academy of Sciences and ...
; Class IV-Sciences of Nature. On December 4, 2008 Biçoku became a Permanent Member of Albanian Academy of Sciences until his death.
Professional career
His first job was as a geophysical engineer in the seismic expedition of Fier, (April 6, 1953 - December 31, 1954). On January 1, 1955 he was nominated Chief of Geological branch in the General Directory of Geology in Tirana. On June 1, 1957 Biçoku was nominated Vice President and Chief Geologist of the State Commission of Geology and subsequently Geologist in chief of the General Directorate of Geology in the Ministry of Mines and Geology. On April 1, 1966 he is re-nominated General Director of Geology in the Ministry of Industry and Mines.
Imprisonment and Innocence
From August 1, 1975 till May 14, 1977 was transferred as geophysical engineer near the seismic expedition of Seism-Gravimetric Enterprise of
Fier
Fier (; sq-definite, Fieri, Latin: ''Fierum'') is the seventh most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Fier County and Fier Municipality. It is situated on the bank of Gjanica River in the Myzeqe Plain between the Seman in ...
, where he was arrested. He was sentenced for 20 years in prison under the accusation “Sabotage, agitation and propaganda”. He stayed for 11 years and 6 months in jail, and left the prison on December 16, 1988.
On September 25, 1991 the Plenum and the Penal College of High Court of Albania, declared Acad. Prof. Dr. Teki Biçoku not guilty for the above-mentioned accuses and acquitted him of all the charges.
President of the Albanian Academy of Sciences
During the period February 22, 2008 - February 23, 2009 he was President of the Albanian Academy of Sciences.
Participation in Geological Forums
*Head of the technical-scientific ministerial council of geology (1955–75)
*Head of the Ministerial Council State Commission of Minerals (1957–75)
*Head of the Geology and Geophysical Qualifying Commission of the Geology and Mine Faculty, University of Tirana (1958–75).
*Member of the Economic State Commission, and permanent deputy of Albania in the Committee of Reciprocal Economic Aid (KNER) (1955–61)
*Member of Scientific Council of Geology and Mine faculty, University of Tirana (1962–1975)
*Chief-redactor of periodic (now
Buletini i Shkencave Gjeologjike) (1965–75)
*Member of Headship of the Albanian Geosciences Uninion (from year 2000)
*Chief-redactor of periodic Buletini i Shkencave Gjeologjike (1997–2006)
*Member of Editorial Staff of Buletini i Shkencave Gjeologjike (2006–2009)
*Organizer of 5 National Conferences of Geology during 1956-68.
Rewards
*1946 "Medalja e Kujtimit"
*1946 "Medalja e Çlirimit"
*1953 "Medalja e Trimërisë"
*1957 "Urdhëri i Punës" Klasi II
*1962 "Urdhëri i Punës" Klasi I
*1970 "Cmimi i Republikës" Shkalla I
*2001 "Urdhëri Mjeshtër i Madh"
*2004 "Medalja 60 Vjetori i Çlirimit të Atdheut"
References
External links
Albanian Geological Survey
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bicoku, Teki
1926 births
2009 deaths
Albanian geologists
Members of the Academy of Sciences of Albania
Members of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts
University of Elbasan alumni
People from Elbasan
20th-century Albanian scientists
21st-century Albanian scientists
20th-century geologists