​​​​​​​Meeting with an International Expert on Water Security and Climate Change Adaptation

At the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, a meeting was held between the academic staff of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and Prof. Will Ingram, an interdisciplinary researcher from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) specializing in rural water security and climate change adaptation.

Prof. Ingram holds an academic background in physical sciences but has focused in recent years on the social dimensions of sustainable water supply, the resilience of rural communities to climate impacts, and cultural connections to natural water sources. His research spans several African countries, including Tanzania, Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Burkina Faso, Zambia, and South Africa, and he is now keen to expand scientific collaboration to Central Asian countries.

During the meeting, the following topics were discussed:

• opportunities for knowledge exchange on water resource management in mountainous and arid regions;
• prospects for studying spring-shed systems and their role in building community resilience in the mountains of Central Asia;
• the socio-cultural influence of rural water points for nomadic and semi-nomadic communities;
• potential participation in projects related to the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (2026).

Both sides expressed strong interest in developing international scientific collaboration, conducting joint research, and initiating new projects aimed at enhancing the resilience of rural regions to climate change.

This initiative aligns with KazNU’s strategic priorities in climate science, sustainable natural resource management, and the integration of international expertise into its educational and research agenda.