He was an activist of the independent association "Ecoglasnost" in 1989. Author of "Charter '89 for the preservation of Bulgarian natural heritage". Co-founder of the association "Wilderness Fund" and the Green Party, 1989. Participant in the National Round Table, 1990. Member of the National Coordination Council of the Union of Democratic Forces (1990-1991). Member of the VII Grand National Assembly. He authored scientific works in the field of mathematics, linguistics and toponymy, which have been applied in particular in designing the Streamlined System for the Romanization of Bulgarian. Ivanov suggests using his approach to Cyrillic transliteration also for other alphabets, notably Russian. Participant in several Antarctic expeditions and author of the first Bulgarian topographic map of Antarctica. Leader of the topographic survey Tangra 2004/05, noted by Discovery Channel as a timeline event in Antarctic exploration.