KazNU discussed sustainable urban development issues

International scientific-practical conference "Urban Sustainability: Challenges and Solutions", timed to the 90th anniversary of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, started in Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

The conference "Urban Sustainability: Challenges and Solutions" is a unique platform for exchanging experiences and research results in the field of theory and practice of sustainable development of urban areas taking into account modern challenges. The forum is also aimed at analyzing problematic issues of sustainable urban development and finding effective ways to solve them, rational, careful and safe use of natural resources.

The conference was dedicated to SDG 11: "Ensure openness, safety, resilience and environmental sustainability of cities and human settlements", which in fact became the basis for the formation of a new urban agenda.

The large-scale event brought together leading scholars and experts in geography, sustainable development and urban planning from different countries, including the UK, Russia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. Professors and doctoral students from leading academic institutions and research institutes were invited to participate as speakers.

They include: Veronika Nikolayevna Kholina - Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Regional Economics and Geography, Faculty of Economics, Patrice Lumumba RUDN (Moscow, Russian Federation), Myrlan Dyldaev - Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor, Director of the Institute of Natural Sciences and Tourism, Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev (Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic). Arabaev (Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic), Victor Fauser - Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Head of the Department of Socio-Economic Problems of FGBUN (Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic). Victor Fauser - Doctor of Economics, Professor, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Head of the Department of Socio-Economic Problems of the Institute of Socio-Economic and Energy Problems of the North, Komi Scientific Center, Ural RAS Division, Andrey Beshentsev - Doctor of Geography, Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Geo-Information Systems, Baikal Institute of Nature Management, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vlad Mikhnenko - PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Sustainable Urban Development, Oxford University (Oxford, Russia).

The participants of the conference were welcomed by Zhamila Aitzhanova, Member of the Board - Vice-Rector for Scientific and Innovative Activities. She emphasized the importance of the event, which was organized within the framework of the grant project of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Integrated geographical assessment of sustainable development of large cities of the Republic of Kazakhstan".

Gulnara Nurmukhamedovna Nyusupova, Doctor of Geography, Professor of the Department of Geography, Land Management and Cadastre, is the scientific director of the project. On her initiative in 2010 new specializations "Land Management" and "Cadastre" were opened at the Department, on which the educational process is successfully carried out at the Department. She manages 4 scientific projects on the line of grant financing of scientific researches of MES RK, is the owner of grants of MES RK "The best teacher of higher education institution" for 2007 and 2020. Gulnara Nurmuhamedovna was awarded with the medal of KazNU "Eren eңbegi ushin" for outstanding services to the university and special contribution to the development of science and education.  

The opening ceremony was also addressed by Representative of the National Commission on Women, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Managing Partner of the Kazakh-American University, entrepreneur, founder of the educational platform YASSA Alina Abdrakhmanova, Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC "Institute of Geography and Water Security" MNVO RK, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, Laureate of two State Prizes of the Republic of Kazakhstan Ahmetkal Medeu, Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Nature Management of KazNU named after Al-Farabi Aliya Aktymbayeva and others.

The two-day conference program includes plenary and breakout sessions, master classes, and an introduction to poster presentations. Participants will discuss topics related to socio-economic aspects of sustainable development, the use of GIS technologies to study urban processes, and demographic issues.

Press-service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University