Unique laboratories are starting to work

At the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, several events were held in honor of the 90th anniversary of KazNU. The international scientific forum titled "Modern Trends in the Sustainable Development of Biological Sciences", indexed in the Scopus bibliographic database, took place at the Farabi Scientific Library.

For the first time, 28 scientists from 15 countries participated. In total, around 200 scientists from 104 institutions (online) took part. This year, faculty members published nearly 200 articles in high-ranking scientific journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. Biology, as a natural science, requires specialized laboratories and classrooms for the study of materials and subjects, which must meet modern standards. With the start of the new academic year, the Mahambet Jumaliev Auditorium was opened at the Department of Biodiversity and Bioresources.

With the sponsorship of the Department of Biotechnology, two foyers were renovated, transforming them into modern coworking spaces for microbiologists and virologists. These foyers became a convenient place for students to discuss scientific ideas and share innovations. Additionally, the department’s sponsors funded the renovation of two new laboratories. The department is now preparing to open scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and industrial biotechnology laboratories. These unique laboratories will soon begin operations.

One of the most significant events for the Department of Biotechnology was the opening of a new international Chinese-German-Kazakh Applied Microbiology Laboratory. This unique collaboration brings together scientists from three countries to address pressing issues in microbiology and biotechnology. The new laboratory will serve as a platform for experience exchange, joint project implementation, and the training of highly qualified specialists at the international level.

One of the most important areas of biology is genetics, and to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Molecular Biology and Genetics Department and the 90th anniversary of the university, an international roundtable titled “Genetics: History, Present, and Future” was held. The roundtable discussed the history, current achievements, and development prospects of genetics and molecular biology, as well as modern advancements in the field and their applications.

On the 50th anniversary of the Department of Biophysics, Biomedicine, and Neurosciences, the Biophysics Laboratory named after its founder, scientist Professor V.M. Inyushin, was opened. Under the leadership of Professor Almira Kustybaeva, the Cognitive Neuroscience Center at KazNU was reorganized into the Brain Institute, opening new broad perspectives for the development of neuroscience in Kazakhstan. For the first time in Kazakhstan, fundamental and applied research on the brain will be conducted at this center.

This year, the faculty opened four dissertation councils for the specialties "Biology", "Geobotany", "Neuroscience", "Biomedicine", and "Virology". This has provided an additional boost to the development of biological sciences in Kazakhstan.

Damira YUSAЕVA,
Senior Lecturer of the Department of

Biodiversity and Bioresources, cand.sc