Central Asian scientists intend to strengthen scientific cooperation

The international scientific and practical conference “Strengthening scientific cooperation for sustainable development of Central Asia”, dedicated to the International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development, was held by the Presidential Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan together with the UNESCO Regional Office.

The event is aimed at forming an international and interregional scientific partnership in the Central Asian region, promoting the expansion of research and the exchange of innovative ideas in the field of sustainable development.

As Bakytzhan Temirbolat, director of the Presidential Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noted, the head of state at the April meeting of the National Council for Science and Technology emphasized that domestic science should not exist in isolation from pressing issues of society. The state needs recommendations based on comprehensive scientific research. Science must meet government management halfway, creating strong expert and analytical centers capable of ensuring the effectiveness of decisions made.

And about. Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty, Amir Pirich, highlighted the importance of integrating the traditional knowledge of the indigenous peoples of Central Asia with modern scientific methods. He called for strengthening scientific infrastructure, investing in young researchers and developing international partnerships.

In turn, the President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Akhilbek Kurishbaev, made a proposal to conclude a memorandum between the National Academy of Sciences and UNESCO on the creation of research centers and laboratories in Kazakhstan. He expressed hope that such joint work on a systematic basis will help strengthen scientific cooperation for the sustainable development of Central Asia.

According to the director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KISS), Erkin Tukumov, the issue of deep interdisciplinary study of the Central Asian region requires further study. Currently, a special scientific school for the study of Central Asia is being created on the basis of KazISS, which will involve specialists from various fields: sociologists, political scientists, economists, climatologists and others.

During his speech, General Director of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan Erlan Batyrbekov spoke about the completion of a large, unique comprehensive environmental survey of the entire territory of the Semipalatinsk test site with an area of ​​more than 18 thousand square kilometers. Now the radiation situation in this area is fully known. Taking into account the research results obtained, today about eight thousand square kilometers still remain within the new boundaries of the test site, while about 10 thousand square kilometers. km can already be given to the national economy for use for various purposes, ranging from agricultural to the organization of production, and the extraction of natural resources.

Akromzhan Nematov, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, also shared his opinion. He believes that the implementation of sustainable development goals, both globally and in the region, could be facilitated by the adoption of an academic mobility program in Central Asia. This would make it possible to involve young specialists and experts, leading universities, research centers, technology parks and businesses in the process of developing regional cooperation. The Conference of Ministers of Education of the Countries of Central Asia could act as a platform for testing the implementation of such a program.

The result of the plenary session was the announcement of an appeal from the participants of the international conference, developed by research scientists directly during the event. The document reflects the current situation on the ethical aspects of science, recommendations on freedom and safety of research, as well as on the ethical aspects of research in Central Asia, as well as a number of recommendations.