Republican Scientific Conference on "Industrial Waste and the Environment in the Western Region" Held in Ganja
The conference was organized by the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ganja City Executive Authority, and the Institute of Ecology and Natural Resources under the Ministry.
Before the event, attendees visited an exhibition dedicated to the scientific achievements of the Institute of Ecology and Natural Resources.
The scientific forum, held in the main assembly hall of the Ganja Branch of ANAS, began with the performance of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan and a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the integrity of the homeland.
Participants first watched a film about the establishment and activities of the Institute of Ecology and Natural Resources. The film highlighted the institute's contributions to Azerbaijan's science, economy, and society over more than 40 years, including its evolution from the Ganja Scientific Center and Ganja Regional Scientific Center to its current status under the Ministry of Science and Education.
The conference was opened by Fuad Aliyev, Director of the Institute of Ecology and Natural Resources, a member of the Presidium of ANAS, and Chairman of the Ganja Branch. He welcomed the participants and guests, noting that the conference included scientists and researchers from various scientific research institutions and higher education institutions in Baku, Sumgayit, and Ganja. Academician Fuad Aliyev emphasized that thanks to the internal and external policies implemented by President Ilham Aliyev and a precise development strategy focused on the future, Azerbaijan has rapidly progressed, enhancing its international reputation. He cited the large-scale COP29 conference, hosted by Azerbaijan and dedicated to combating climate change, as evidence of this progress and highlighted the new responsibilities placed on scientists by the conference's calls to action.
Academician Aliyev expressed confidence that this prestigious scientific conference, focusing on mitigating the environmental impact of industrial waste, would yield beneficial outcomes, and noted that the conference materials would be published as a booklet.
Sanubar Gojayeva, a representative of the Ganja City Executive Authority, emphasized the alignment of this scientific event with the themes of the COP29 conference. She highlighted the continuous contributions of scientists to protecting the natural environment and human life. Gojayeva also mentioned that Ganja was the first city in Azerbaijan to join the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's "Green Cities" Program, focusing on waste management, urban greening, street lighting reconstruction, and public transportation renewal.
During the plenary session, Mahira Sharifova, Deputy Director of the Institute of Ecology and Natural Resources and Ph.D. in Chemistry, emphasized the importance of global cooperation in addressing ecological and related humanitarian challenges. She noted the significance of the conference in raising public awareness about crucial environmental issues.
Professor Tarana Mammadova from the Institute of Petrochemical Processes discussed the potential for recycling waste and using it as additional materials in various sectors, sharing insights from experiments conducted at her research institution.
Dr. Fizuli Nasirov from the same institute addressed the relevance and efficiency of scientific research, advocating for expanded opportunities for scientists, including young researchers.
Other speakers included Konul Gahramanova from the Institute of Additives Chemistry, Imran Qasimov and Aisha Suleymanova from the Institute of Bioresources (Ganja), and Ilaha Jafarova, Ph.D. in Technical Sciences from the Institute of Ecology and Natural Resources.
Ibrahim Jafarov, Director of the Institute of Plant Protection and Technical Crops under the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted the critical responsibilities faced by scientists in minimizing the impact of climate anomalies and ecological crises on natural resources and food security.
The conference continued with presentations in five thematic sections:
- Recycling of Chemical and Petrochemical Industry Waste
- Environmental Issues of Polymer Materials
- Polymer Composite Materials
- Obtaining Alternative Energy from Agro-Industrial Waste
- Ecology of Light Industry Waste
Discussions and exchanges of ideas took place around the presentations. Active participants received certificates for their detailed presentations on current issues.
Out of over 70 scientific papers submitted to the conference, 48 were accepted.