Interdisciplinary Research in the Sustainable Development Paradigm
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University hosted a guest lecture by the USAID Regional Project on Water Resources and Environment on the topic “Interdisciplinary studies of the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus in the sustainable development paradigm.”
The event was organized by Al-Farabi KazNU, the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, the Ban Ki-moon Institute for Sustainable Development and the USAID Regional Water and Environment Project.
The event was attended by young scientists, master's students, doctoral students, practitioners from Central Asian countries specializing in various fields of nature management (hydrology, geography, recreational geography, land management and cadastre, meteorology, ecology, etc.), social development, and diplomacy. The main goal of the event was to increase the research potential and subsequent strengthening of the interdisciplinary approach to scientific research and practical solutions in the field of the WEFE Nexus, aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 4 - quality education; SDG 6 - Clean water and sanitation; SDG 7 - Affordable and clean energy; SDG 8 - decent work and economic growth; SDG 12 - Responsible consumption and production; SDG 15 - Life on land; SDG 17 - partnership for sustainable development.
The opening speech was given by the Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences A.S. Aktymbayeva, representative of the USAID Regional Project on Water Resources and Environment Marhabo Yodalieva.
The research agenda in the paradigm of sustainable development was presented by research in the field of water resources protection in Central Asia by A.A. Rysmagambetova, PhD, Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation and International Relations of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences and Zh.S. Issaeva, director of the Ban Ki-moon Institute for Sustainable Development.
Moderator Aliya Tankibaeva, PhD, MPA, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Geography and Nature Management, presented the educational components of the event, which are aimed at a consistent presentation of the conceptual foundations of the WEFE Nexus approach; updating the interdisciplinary methods and research areas of the WEFE Nexus in the paradigm of sustainable development; analysis of disciplinary issues from the perspective of interdisciplinary scientific and practical tasks of the WEFE Nexus; study of areas of practical application of R&D, taking into account the intersectoral and international nature of the tasks and solutions necessary for a sustainable WEFE Nexus; water diplomacy and Nexus simulation.
As part of the event, a brainstorming session on the creation and updating of an interdisciplinary research project in the field of WEFE Nexus, as well as practical work on Nexus simulation were organized for the participants.
At the end of the event, the participants presented their results on Nexus simulation and were awarded certificates.
Press-service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
