Curriculum Vitae

General Information

Education

Ph.D. (Mathematics), Simon Fraser University, B.C., Canada, 1997, GPA 4.00 (out of 4.00).

Graduate credit courses

M.Sc. (Mathematics), University of Victoria, B.C., Canada, 1995.
B.Sc. (Mathematics), University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 1978.

Languages

Fluent: English, Russian, Bulgarian.

Research areas and professional specializations

Discrete Mathematics
Combinatorial Mathematics
Designs
Coverings
Extremal Set Theory
Optimization Algorithms
Education (Mathematical Competitions)

Computer knowledge

Pascal
Fortran
Turbo Basic
Unix
LaTeX
HTML
Maple

Professional Activities

Editing work and refereeing for Crux Mathematicorum with Mathematical Mayhem.
Refereeing for the Australasian Journal of Combinatorics.
Refereeing for the Journal of Combinatorial Designs.
Refereeing for the Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference.
Refereeing for the Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series A.
Refereeing for the Journal of Combinatorial Mathematics and Combinatorial Computing.
Refereeing for the journal Designs, Codes and Cryptography.
Refereeing for the journal Graphs and Combinatorics.
Over 65 contributions to various problem-solving oriented journals, including: Crux Mathematicorum (Crux Mathematicorum with Mathematical Mayhem, since 1997), Canada; American Mathematical Monthly, USA; Mathematics, Bulgaria; Education in Mathematics, Bulgaria; Mathematics in School, Russia (former USSR).

Service

Member of the Canadian Mathematical Olympiad Committee
Member of the Editorial Board of Crux Mathematicorum with Mathematical Mayhem
Member of the Problem Committee for the BC Secondary School Mathematics Contest (BCSSMC)
Member of the University Achievement Awards Committee (Research)
Member of the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee
Member of the University Promotion and Tenure Committee (UPTC)
Member of the College Promotion and Tenure Committee (CPTC)
Member of the University Graduate Studies Committee
Member of the CSAM Graduate Studies Committee
Putnam Coordinator and Supervisor
Member of the Departmental Hiring Committee
Member of the Departmental Curriculum Committee
Member of the Salary Anomalies Committee

Professional Societies

American Mathematical Society
Canadian Mathematical Society
Institute for Combinatorics and its Applications
Union of Bulgarian Mathematicians

Professional Experience

Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Northern British Columbia, Canada, 2007-present.
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Northern British Columbia, Canada, 2002-2007.
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Northern British Columbia, Canada, 1998-2002.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, B.C., Canada, 1997-1998.
Research Assistant, Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, B.C., Canada, Spring 1997.
Teaching Assistant, Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, B.C., Canada, 1995-1996.
Sessional Instructor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Victoria, B.C., Canada, 1995.
Teaching Assistant, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Victoria, B.C., Canada, 1993-1994.
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, Technical University, Gabrovo, Bulgaria, 1989-1993.
Teacher, Mathematical School, Gabrovo, Bulgaria, 1981-1989.
Instructor, Program for Excellence in Mathematics, Mathematical School, Gabrovo, Bulgaria, 1981-1989.

Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, Honors and Awards

Research Seed Grant, $6,000, Office of Research, UNBC, 2016.
Research Grant, $5,000, Office of Research, UNBC, 2014.
Travel Grant, $1,750, UNBC, 2014.
Discovery Grant (Pure and Applied Math B), $35,000, National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, 2005-2009.
Research Grant (Math B), $40,000, National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, 2000-2004.
1997 President's Ph.D. Research Stipend, Simon Fraser University, B.C., Canada.
1996/97 Graduate Fellowship, Senate Graduate Awards Adjudication Committee, Simon Fraser University, B.C., Canada.
1995 Nomination for the Lieutenant Governor's Silver Medal, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Victoria, B.C., Canada.
1994 Award and Research Grant from the Department of Mathematics and the Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Victoria, B.C., Canada.
1993 Award from University of Victoria Faculty of Graduate Studies, SWS at ELC, Division of Continuing Studies.

Invited and Conference Presentations

I. Bluskov, Finding Discrete Structures via Problem Dependent Optimization, Eight Conference of the Euro-American Consortium for Promoting the Application of Mathematics in Technical and Natural Sciences, June 22-27, 2016, Albena, Bulgaria.
I. Bluskov, Problem Dependent Optimization, Twenty-Eight Midwest Conference on Combinatorics, Cryptography, and Computing, Oct. 22-24, 2014, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
I. Bluskov, On the Covering Number C(v,6,2), 40th International Conference on Applications of Mathematics in Engineering and Economics, June 8-13, 2014 Sozopol, Bulgaria.
I. Bluskov, On a Self-Improving Discrete Optimization Metaheuristic, 39th International Conference on Applications of Mathematics in Engineering and Economics, June 8-13, 2013 Sozopol, Bulgaria.
I. Bluskov, On a Self-Optimizing Optimizer, The 55th Canadian Operational Research Society, May 27-29, 2013, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
I. Bluskov, LDEO update, Mathematics and Physical Sciences Symposium, March 2012, University of Northern BC, Prince George, Canada.
I. Bluskov, An Update on Level Dependent Experimental Optimization, 38th International Conference on Applications of Mathematics in Engineering and Economics, June 8-13, 2012, Sozopol, Bulgaria.
I. Bluskov, Some New Constant Weight Codes, Twenty-Fifth Midwest Conference on Combinatorics, Cryptography, and Computing, Oct. 20-22, 2011, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
I. Bluskov, Recent Results on Packings, Mathematics and Physical Sciences Symposium, Mar. 1-4, 2010, University of Northern BC, Prince George, Canada.
I. Bluskov, On Packing Designs, CMS Summer 2009 meeting, June 6-8, 2009, University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
I. Bluskov, New Results on Packings, Twenty-Second Midwest Conference on Combinatorics, Cryptography, and Computing, Oct. 22-24, 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
I. Bluskov, Powers Ending in 00...01, Mathematics and Physical Sciences Symposium, Feb. 26-29, 2008, University of Northern BC, Prince George, Canada.
I. Bluskov, On the Covering Number C(v,6,2), International Conference Pioneers of Bulgarian Mathematics, July 8-10, 2006, Sofia, Bulgaria.
I. Bluskov, Recent Results on Coverings, Mathematics and Physical Sciences Symposium, Mar. 2-4, 2006, University of Northern BC, Prince George, Canada.
I. Bluskov, Pair Covering Designs with Block Size 6, CMS Winter 2005 meeting, Dec. 10-12, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada.
I. Bluskov, Cyclic Designs and Discrete Optimization, Second International Conference of Applied Mathematics, Aug. 12-17, 2005, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
I. Bluskov and M. Greig, New Results on Packing and Covering Designs, 36th Southeastern International Conference on Combinatorics, Graph Theory and Computing, Mar. 7-11, 2005, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.
I. Bluskov and M. Greig, Pair Covering Designs with Block Size 5 with Higher Index - the Case of v Even, The 2004 NZIMA Conference in Combinatorics and its Applications, Dec. 13-18, 2004, Lake Taupo, New Zealand.
I. Bluskov, Constructing Combinatorial Designs, Mathematics/Physics Symposium, Jan. 12-16, 2004, University of Northern BC, Prince George, Canada.
I. Bluskov, LDEO in Resent Searches for Designs, CMS Winter 2003 meeting, Dec. 6-8, 2003, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada.
I. Bluskov, On Double Coverings, Seventeenth Midwestern Conference on Combinatorics, Cryptography, and Computing, Nov. 10-12, 2003, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
I. Bluskov, Computing "Small" Designs, CMS Summer 2003 meeting, June 14-16, 2003, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
I. Bluskov, Recent Results on BIBDs and Coverings, An Advanced Research Workshop in Geometry, Combinatorial Designs and Cryptology, June 1-7, 2003, Rhodes, Greece.
I. Bluskov, On the General Covering Number C(v,k,t,m), Fifteenth Midwestern Conference on Combinatorics, Cryptography, and Computing, Oct. 18-20, 2001, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
I. Bluskov, A Universal Optimization Algorithm, Coast Combinatorics Conference, Nov. 12-14, 2000, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
I. Bluskov, On a Self-Improving Optimization Algorithm, Fourteenth Mid-West Conference on Combinatorics, Cryptography, and Computing, Oct. 26-28, 2000, Wichita, Kansas, USA.
I. Bluskov, Difference Families and Optimization, Combinatorics 2000, May 28-June 3, 2000, Gaeta, Italy.
I. Bluskov and K. Heinrich, On Super-Simple Designs, An Advanced Research Workshop in Geometry, Combinatorial Designs and Related Structures, May 30-June 5, 1999, Pythagoreion, Samos, Greece.
I. D. Bluskov, M. Greig and K. Heinrich, Infinite Classes of Covering Numbers, 29 Southeastern Conference on Combinatorics, Graph Theory and Computing, Mar. 9-13, 1998, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.
I.D. Bluskov, New Covering Numbers, invited talk at the University of Nebraska, Mar. 1-7, 1998, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
I. D. Bluskov and K. Heinrich, General Upper Bounds on the Minimum Size of Covering Designs, Twelfth Midwestern Conference on Combinatorics, Cryptography, and Computing, Oct.30-Nov.1, 1997, Terre Haute, Indiana, USA.
I. D. Bluskov, New Designs from Codes and Geometry, 28 Southeastern Conference on Combinatorics, Graph Theory and Computing, Mar. 3-7, 1997, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.
I. D. Bluskov, Three Infinite Families of Minimal (t+1)-coverings from t-designs, Eleventh Midwestern Conference on Combinatorics, Cryptography, and Computing, Oct.31-Nov.2, 1996, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
I. D. Bluskov, New Upper Bounds on the Minimum Size of Covering Designs, Southeastern International Conference on Combinatorics, Graph Theory, and Computing, Feb. 19-23, 1996, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
I. D. Bluskov, New Upper Bounds on the Minimum Size of Covering Designs, 1995 Winter Meeting of the Canadian Mathematical Society, Dec. 9-11, 1995, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
I. D. Bluskov, Designs with Maximally Different Blocks, Second Upper-Michigan Combinatorics Workshop on Codes, Designs and Geometries, Aug. 17-20, 1994, Houghton, Michigan, USA.
A.H.Baartmans, I.D.Bluskov and V.D.Tonchev, The Preparata Codes and a Class of 4-Designs, 23 Manitoba Conference on Numerical Mathematics and Computing, Sept.30-Oct.2, 1993, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
I. D. Bluskov, Certain Designs with Maximally Different Blocks, Third Conference on Applications of Mathematics in Economics, May 1993, Svishtov, Bulgaria.

Publications

Textbooks

I. Bluskov, Recurrence Relations, volume XVI of ATOM, Canadian Mathematical Society, 2016, 68 p., ISBN 9780919558274.
I. Bluskov, S.D. Chae, S.M. Kim, Fundamentals of Modern Mathematics, Kyungmoon, 2008, 126 p., ISBN 8972829285.
I. Bluskov, S.D. Chae, S.M. Kim, Discrete Mathematics, Kyungmoon, 2007, 304 p., ISBN 8972829919.
M. Balev, I. Bluskov, R. Tarandova, T. Todorov, Functions of several variables, Gabrovo, Bulgaria, 1995 (series "Mathematics for engineering education").
I. Bluskov, J. Hlebarov, D. Izvorska, V. Terzieva, T. Todorov, Differential calculus of function of one variable, Gabrovo, Bulgaria, 1992 (series "Mathematics for engineering education").
I. Bluskov et al., A handbook for mathematical entrance exam preparation, Technical University, Gabrovo, Bulgaria, 1991.

Refereed journal publications, published or accepted

I. Bluskov, Problem Dependent Optimization (PDO), Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, 2016, 31(3), 1335-1344. (DOI 10.1007/s10878-014-9826-x)
I. Bluskov, Powers Ending in 00...01, Mathematical Gazette, July (2011), 94-98.
J. Abel, A. Assaf, I. Bluskov, M. Greig and N. Shalabi, New results on GDDs, Covering, Packing and Directable Designs with Block Size 5 with Higher Index, Journal of Combinatorial Designs, 18(2010), 337-368.
J. Abel, I. Bluskov, J. de Heer and M. Greig, Pair Covering and Other Designs with Block Size 6, Journal of Combinatorial Design, 15(2007), 511-533.
I. Bluskov, On the Covering Numbers C_2(v,k,t), Journal of Combinatorial Mathematics and Combinatorial Computing, 63(2007), 17-32.
J. Abel, A. Assaf, F. Bennet, I. Bluskov and M. Greig, Pair Covering Designs with Block Size 5, Discrete Mathematics, 307(2006), 1776-1791.
I. Bluskov, M. Greig, Pair Covering designs with Block Size 5 with Higher Index - The case of v even, Journal of Combinatorial Mathematics and Combinatorial Computing, 58(2006), 211-222.
R. Bertolo, I. Bluskov and H. Hamalainen, Upper Bounds on the General Covering Number C(v,k,t,m), Journal of Combinatorial Designs, 12(2004), 362-380.
J. Abel, I. Bluskov, M. Greig, Balanced Incomplete Block Designs with Block Size 9: Part III, Australasian Journal of Combinatorics, 30(2004), 57-73.
J. Abel, I. Bluskov, M. Greig, Balanced Incomplete Block Designs with Block Size 9: Part II, Discrete Mathematics, 279(2004), 5-32.
J. Abel, I. Bluskov, M. Greig, Balanced Incomplete Block Designs with Block Size 9 and $\lambda$ =2,4 and 8, Codes, Designs and Cryptography, 26(2002), 33-59.
I. Bluskov, Level-Dependent Experimental Optimization, Journal of Combinatorial Mathematics and Combinatorial Computing, 42(2002),139-145.
J. Abel, I. Bluskov, M. Greig, Balanced Incomplete Block Designs with Block Size 8, Journal of Combinatorial Designs, 9(2001), 233-268.
I. Bluskov and K. Heinrich, Super-simple designs with v<32, Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference, 95(2001), 121-131.
I. Bluskov and S. Magliveras, On the Number of Mutually Disjoint Cyclic Designs and Large Sets of Designs, Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference, 95(2001), 133-142.
I. Bluskov, M. Greig and K. Heinrich, Infinite Classes of Covering Numbers, Canadian Mathematical Bulletin, 43(2000), 385-396.
I. Bluskov, Optimization Algorithms and Cyclic Designs, Journal of Geometry, 67(2000), 42-49.
I. Bluskov and K. Heinrich, General Upper Bounds on The Minimum Size of Covering Designs, Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series A, 86(1999), 205-213.
I. Bluskov, New Simple 3-Designs on 26 and 28 Points, Ars Combinatoria 51(1999), 313-318.
I. Bluskov, Heikki Hamalainen, New Upper Bounds on the Minimum Size of Covering Designs, Journal of Combinatorial Designs, 6(1998), 21-41.
I. Bluskov, Some t-Designs are Minimal (t+1)-Coverings, Discrete Mathematics 188(1998), 245-251.
I. Bluskov, New Designs, Journal of Combinatorial Mathematics and Combinatorial Computing, 23(1997), 212-220.
I. Bluskov, Designs with Maximally Different Blocks and v=15,16, Utilitas Mathematica, 50(1996), 203-213.
I. Bluskov, Designs with Maximally Different Blocks, Utilitas Mathematica, 48 (1995), 193-201.
A.H.Baartmans, I.D.Bluskov, V.D.Tonchev, The Preparata Codes and a Class of 4-Designs, Journal of Combinatorial Designs, 2(1994), 167-170.

Submitted papers and papers in preparation

I. Bluskov, An Extremal Problem with Constraint (competition problem), submitted to Crux Mathematicorum with Mathematical Mayhem, 3 pages.
I. Bluskov, A Permutation with a Special Property (competition problem), submitted to Mathematics Magazine, 1 page.
I. Bluskov, New Constant Weight Codes and Packing Numbers, submitted in Ars Combinatoria, ~10 pages.
I. Bluskov and A. James, On a Decomposition of a 5-design into 3-designs, submitted in the Bulletin of the Institute for Combinatorics and its Applications, ~7 pages.

Publications related to education and mathematical competitions

(Some of my competition problems can be found here

I. Bluskov, An Identity of sums of binomials (solution to problem 1920), Mathematics Magazine, 87(2)/2014, 157.
I. Bluskov, Problem 3880, Crux Mathematicorum with Mathematical Mayhem, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 39(8)/2013, 372.
I. Bluskov, A Combinatorial Identity (problem 1920), Mathematics Magazine, 86(2)/2013, 148.
I. Bluskov, Covering the Chessboard with Sets of Non-attacking queens (solution to problem 11271), American Mathematical Monthly, 116(2009), 369-370.
I. Bluskov, A Combinatorial Identity (solution to problem 1751), Mathematics Magazine, 80(2007), 309-310.
I. Bluskov, Competition problem #11271, American Mathematical Monthly, 114(2007), 164.
I. Bluskov, Competition problem #1751, Mathematics Magazine, 79(2006), 309.
I. Bluskov, A useful and Surprising Limit (solution to problem 10695), American Mathematical Monthly, Washington DC, USA, 8/2000, 756-757.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 2337, Crux Mathematicorum with Mathematical Mayhem, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 4/1999.
I. Bluskov, Problem 10695, American Mathematical Monthly, Washington DC, USA, 9/1998.
I. Bluskov, Problem 2368, Crux Mathematicorum with Mathematical Mayhem, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 6/1998.
I. Bluskov, Problem 2337, Crux Mathematicorum with Mathematical Mayhem, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 3/1998.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 2100, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 8/1996.
I. Bluskov and Gary MacGillivray, Solution to problem 2085, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 7/1996.
I. Bluskov, Problem 2100, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 10/1995.
I. Bluskov and Gary MacGillivray, Problem 2085, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 9/1995.
I. Bluskov, Solution to Problem No 4, Mathematics and Informatics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 6/1994.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1877, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 8/1994.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1853, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 5/1994.
I. Bluskov and Stoyan Kapralov, Solution to problem 1838, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 3/1994.
I. Bluskov, Solution to Problem No 3, Mathematics and Informatics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2/1994.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 4, Education in Mathematics and Informatics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 6/1993.
I. Bluskov, Problem 1877, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 8/1993.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1794, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 8/1993.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1772, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 7/1993.
I. Bluskov, Problem 1853, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 6/1993.
I. Bluskov and Stoyan Kapralov, Problem 1838, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 4/1993.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1750, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 4/1993.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 3, Education in Mathematics and Informatics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2/1993.
I. Bluskov and Jordy Dou, Solution to problem 1710, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 1/1993.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1705, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 10/1992.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1699, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 10/1992.
I. Bluskov, Problem 1794, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 10/1992.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1695, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 9/1992.
I. Bluskov, Problem 1772, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 8/1992.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 3, Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 4/1992.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1664, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 6/1992.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1650, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 5/1992.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1647, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 5/1992.
I. Bluskov, Problem 1750, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 5/1992.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1620, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 3/1992.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1615, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 3/1992.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1609, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2/1992.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1594, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 1/1992.
I. Bluskov, Problem 1705, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 1/1992.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1584, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 10/1991.
I. Bluskov, Problem 1686, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 9/1991.
I. Bluskov, Solution to problem 1560, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 8/1991.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 1, Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 5-6/1991.
I. Bluskov, Problem 1664, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 7/1991.
I. Bluskov, Problem 1650, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 5/1991.
I. Bluskov, Problem 1620, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 2/1991.
I. Bluskov, Problem 1560, Crux mathematicorum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 6/1990.
I. Bluskov, Solution to Problem No 4, Education in Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 6/1989.
I. Bluskov, Solution to Problem No 3, Education in Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 6/1989.
I. Bluskov, Solution to Problem No 1, Education in Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 6/1989.
I. Bluskov, Solution to Problem No 2, Education in Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 4/1989.
I. Bluskov, Solution to Problem No 1, Education in Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 3/1989.
I. Bluskov, Problem 3216, Mathematics in School, Moscow, Russia, 3/1988.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 1, Education in Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 3/1988.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 1, Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 1/1988.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 3, Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 3/1986.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 1, Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 5/1985.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 3, Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2/1979.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 3, Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2/1975.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 1, Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 6/1974.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 5, Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2/1974.
I. Bluskov, Competition Problem No 1, Mathematics, Sofia, Bulgaria, 4/1973.

Other publications

I. Bluskov, The ultimate guide to systems for pick-5 lotteries, ISBN 9780968950272 (accepted for publication), 2012.
I. Bluskov, Combinatorial lottery systems (wheels) with guaranteed wins, Lotbook Publishing, 2012, 328 p., ISBN 9780991737406 (this is a third, updated, edition of my 2001 book with the same title; second edition in 2010).
I. Bluskov, Combinatorial systems (wheels) with guaranteed wins for pick-5 lotteries, Lotbook Publishing, 2011, 283 p., ISBN 9780968950289.
I. Bluskov, La guía escencial al sistema de lotería: sistemas de ruedas probadas
matemáticamente con ganancias garantizadas, Lotbook Publishing, 2010, 128 p., ISBN 9780968950241 (Spanish translation of the Ultimate Guide).
I. Bluskov, O guia básico para sistemas de loteria: sistemas de rodada matematicamente comprovados com ganhos garantidos, Lotbook Publishing, 2010, 128 p., ISBN 9780968950265 (Portuguese translation of the Ultimate Guide).
I. Bluskov, Das ultimative Handbuch zu Lotteriesystemen: mathematisch bewiesene Glücksradsystem-Spiele mit garantierten Gewinnen, Lotbook Publishing, 2010, 134 p., ISBN 9780968950258 (German translation of the Ultimate Guide).
I. Bluskov, Combinatorial lottery systems (wheels) with guaranteed wins, Lotbook Publishing, 2010, 325 p., ISBN 9780968950234 (this is a second, updated, edition of my 2001 book with the same title).
ロッタリー・システム必読ガイド
Rottari shisutemu hitsudoku gaido: sûgaku-teki ni shômeisareta hisshô sûji kumiawase shisutemu / Iriya Burusukobu hakase, Lotbook Publishing, 2009, 128 p., ISBN 9780968950227 (Japanese translation of the Ultimate Guide, the next book in this list; the first line is the title in Japanese characters; the transliteration is according to the CIP entry for the Library of Canada).
I. Bluskov, The Ultimate Guide to Lottery Systems, Lotbook Publishing, 2009, 128 p., ISBN 9780968950210.
I. Bluskov, Combinatorial Lottery Systems with Guaranteed Wins, Lotbook Publishing, 2001, 304 p., ISBN 0968950205.
Over 100 combinatorial systems published in "Sport-Toto", a weekly of the Bulgarian Lottery Corporation, and "Totoman", an independent weekly focused on lottery related issues .

Teaching Experience

Courses taught

Abstract Algebra (UNBC, 8 times)
Advanced Calculus (TU)
Algebra of Polynomials (MS)
Analytic Geometry (TU)
Business Mathematics (TU)
Calculus (TU)
Calculus II (UNBC, 17 times)
Calculus III (UNBC, 13 times)
Calculus for Mathematics and Physics Students (UVic)
Calculus for Social and Biological Sciences (UVic)
Coding Theory (UNBC, 2 times)
Combinatorics (MS, UNBC, 4 times)
Discrete Computational Mathematics (UNBC, 3 times)
Discrete Applied Mathematics - Networks and Algorithms (UNBC)
Finite mathematics (UNBC)
Geometry (MS)
Graphs and Applications (UNBC, 4 times)
Graph Theory (UNBC)
Linear Algebra (TU, 5 times; UNBC, 14 times)
Number Theory (MS, UNBC, 6 times)
Ordinary Differential Equations (TU)
Problem solving (MS, UNBC)

Courses assisted

Analysis (TU)
Calculus for Business and Social Sciences (SFU)
Calculus for Mathematics and Physics Students (SFU)
Coding Theory (SFU)
Combinatorics (UVic)
Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science Students (SFU)
Elementary Mathematics for Teachers (SFU)
Graph Theory (UVic)
Logic and Foundations (UVic)
Precalculus (SFU)
Series and Sequences (TU)

Other courses of expertise

Abstract Algebra
Finite Geometry
Design Theory

Appointments and activities related to teaching and education

Tutoring at the Centre for Distance Education (SFU) 1995/1996.
Marking of both Provincial and Scholarship Exams in B.C., 1996.
Preparation Session for participants in AHSME and AIME competitions (Lab Enhancement Program) 1998.
Preparation Sessions for participants (SFU team) in Putnam Exam 1996-1997.
Preparation Sessions for participants (UNBC team) in Putnam Exam 1998-present.
Program for Excellence in Mathematics (MS) 1981-1989 (a program of extracurricular activities focused on preparation for various regional and national mathematical competitions).
Selecting and editing problems and marking papers for various national math competitions, including Bulgarian Mathematics Olympiad 1981-1989.
Individual coaching of gifted students (including members of Bulgarian Mathematics Olympiad Team for the International Mathematical Olympiads) 1981-1989.
On the Editorial Board of Crux Mathematicorum, 1998-2009.
Participated in the marking of BCSSMC at UNBC (2013).
Participated in the Problems Committee for the BC Secondary School Mathematics Contest (BCSSMC) (2014-present).

Research

References

Dr. Katherine Heinrich, retired.
Dr. Douglas Stinson, NSERC / Certicom Industrial Research Chair in Cryptography, Department of Combinatorics and Optimization, University of Waterloo, fax: (519) 885-1208, phone: (519) 888-4567, ext. 5590, e-mail: dstinson AT uwaterloo.ca
Dr. John van Rees, Department of Computer Science, University of Manitoba, 545 Machray Hall, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2 Canada; fax: (204) 269-9178, phone: (204) 474-8683, e-mail: vanrees AT cs.umanitoba.ca
Dr. Gary MacGillivray, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Victoria, P.O.Box 3045, Victoria, B.C., V8W 3P4 Canada; fax: (250) 721-7437, phone: (250) 721-7448, e-mail: gmacgill AT math.uvic.ca
Dr. Vladimir Tonchev, Michigan Technological University, Department of Mathematical Sciences, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931-1295 USA; fax: (906) 487-3133, phone: (906) 487-3360, e-mail: tonchev AT mtu.edu