Tina Asatiani

Tina Asatiani was born on 12 March 1918 in Tbilisi in the family of professor Levan Georgievich Asatiani and Anna Volkova.^[1] Asatiani graduated from school with honors. In 1940, she graduated from the Physics Faculty of Tbilisi State University.^[2] In 1941, Asatiani entered postgraduate studies at the Leningrad Institute of Physics and Technology (Ioffe Institute of Physics and Technology) in the laboratory of Academician Abram Alikhanov.^[1]

During the blockade of Leningrad, Asatiani returned to Tbilisi, where she taught general physics at the Transport Institute. In 1942, when the Alikhanov brothers began organizing a station to study cosmic rays on Mount Aragats,^[3] Asatiani was invited there, and in 1943 she began work on a Ph.D. thesis devoted to studying large atmospheric showers. In 1945, Asatiani defended her thesis for a scientific degree as a candidate in physical and mathematical sciences at the Institute of Physical Problems of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.

In 1943, Asatiani married the physicist Arshaluys Dadayan (later the head of the department at Yerevan State University).^[1] Since 1944, she was the head of the μ-meson laboratory at the Physical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR (the Yerevan Physical Institute).^[4]

Since 1959, Asatiani has participated in the work of many international conferences and delivered reports in many countries worldwide (Japan, India, Canada, USA, England, Germany, France, and Austria).

Since 1968, she has lectured at Yerevan State University on high-energy physics.^[4] In 1970, Asatiani and Academician Artem Alikhanyan were awarded the Lenin Prize for their significant contribution to developing spark chamber methods.^[1]

In 1971, Asatiani defended her thesis for the Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences degree. In 1974, she was awarded the academic title of professor. In 1991, Asatiani was elected a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR, and in 1996, she became a full member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

After the Declaration of Independence of Armenia in 1991, Asatiani was engaged in social activities. She was the founder and honorary president of the Georgian charity community in Armenia "Iveria."

Asatiani also dealt with disabled people with spinal cord injuries and their psychological and labor rehabilitation. She wrote and implemented the program Computer and information technology training for people with back pain. According to its program, the British Embassy of Armenia organized a Physical Training Center in Yerevan for people with back pain. Asatiani was a member of the board of the Association of Spine Runners of Armenia "Veratsnund." On her initiative, the College for the Disabled and Orphans was organized in Spitak. In 2008, Asatiani published the book Memories.^[3]

Tina Asatiani died in Yerevan on July 20, 2011, at the age of 93. In 2013, a memorial plaque was installed in the house where Asatiani lived from 1950 to 2011 in her memory in Yerevan, Baghramyan Avenue, building 18a).^[5]