An international academic and technical conference entitled “Integration of science and practice as a mechanism of effective development of geological sector of Uzbekistan” took place August 18 at Tashkent’s Poytakht Business Center.

An international academic and technical conference entitled “Integration of science and practice as a mechanism of effective development of geological sector of Uzbekistan” took place August 18 at Tashkent’s Poytakht Business Center.

More than 200 domestic and foreign academics, specialists and experts of the field took part in the event organized by the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Geology and Mineral Resources as well as state enterprises “The Scientific Research Institute of Mineral Resources” and the “Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology”.

The Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan stipulates that the earth, its subsoil, water, flora and fauna, other natural resources are national wealth and subject to rational use. Normative-legislative base has been created to regulate the issues pertaining to geological prospecting and extraction of minerals.

“The wide-scale reforms carried out to enhance the integration of education, science and practice, consolidate the international cooperation along with other spheres facilitate steadfast development of geology, chemical and hydrocarbon sectors,” says Botir Abdullaev, acting director of the state enterprise “Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology”. “Today, particular significance is attached in Uzbekistan to the advancement of mineral-raw materials base, especially that of industrial importance, to the research of ore fields and the introduction of modern technologies to geological prospecting. This, in its turn, uplifts the responsibility of specialists of the sphere.”

Almost all the education institutions of our country are regarded simultaneously as scientific centers. Student and young researchers there are engaged in scientific research along with attaining undergraduate and graduate degrees. In particular, scholars of the National University of Uzbekistan in their research works on geology cooperate with leading scientific-research institutes, industrial enterprises of our country as well as prominent research institutions abroad. Fundamental and applied research on this front is carried out on the basis of around 20 government scholarships and corporate agreements.

The event participants got familiarized with the opportunities in the further expansion of Uzbekistan’s mineral and raw materials base. A special emphasis was placed on pressing issues in applied geology, scientific and academic-methodological observations during the search and assessment of deposits of strategic vital minerals. In their scientific-technical reports built on the upshots of geodynamic, metallogenic, biostratigraphic, tectonic, paleogeographical and other research works, the contributors to the conference outlined major dimensions in the evolution of world geological science.

“One of the urgent tasks faced by science and practice is the expansion of the mineral and raw materials base of precious metals, introduction of cutting-edge approaches to prospecting and discovery of deposits of minerals,” Bil Tuma, President of Canada-based AGT Systems, shares reflections. “The economic strategy adhered to by Uzbekistan from the first years of independence has been bearing its fruits also in the field of geology along with achievements in other spheres. The conference facilitates the study of accomplishments made in Uzbekistan and other countries of the world in the field of geology, the identification of prospective aspects of works on the discovery, study and evaluation of mineral deposits, the geological scrutiny of subsoil riches, hydrogeology, engineering-geology and geo-ecology research activities.”

The reports made at the conference included those reviewing the research works underway in Uzbekistan and abroad in the field of geology and mineral resources. The forum participants exchanged views on pressing issues in the sphere.

During panel sessions of the conference, the contributors discussed in detail the enhancement of cooperation science and practice in this field, elaboration and conduct of promising programs, further consolidation of partnership with leading foreign scientific research institutions, prospecting and evaluation of strategically important types of minerals, technological research for the elevation of effectiveness of geological prospecting works.