Project implementation period: September 27, 2023 - September 26, 2026

 Al-Farabi KazNU as part of the implementation of the UN SDG goal #13 (Taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts) serving as a connecting university in the NATO-funded project NATO MYP G6094 titled "Mitigation of climate change through advanced phytotechnologies for military lands (MilClimATech)" for 2023-2026 years.

An online meeting was held with the participation of the main executor of the project, Professor of the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem Dr. Valentina Pidlisnyuk, as well as Dr. Andrey Hertz from the V. Hnatyuk Ternopil National Pedagogical University (TNPU) in Ukraine.

Leading institutions:  

• NATO country - Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Usti nad Labem (UJEP), the Czech Republic, NPD - Prof. Valentina Pidlisnyuk    
• NATO partner country - Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University (TVHNPU), PPD - Dr. Andriy Hertz.   

The meeting between Dean of the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology of Al-Farabi KazNU Kurmanbaeva M.S. and Professor of Shaanxi University of Technology and Science (Xi'an, China) Jian Zha took place from September 25 to September 28, 2023. 

Third-year bachelor students of the specialty "Genetics" and their adviser Aizhan Izbasarovna Zhusupova, attended the master class "Spectrum of Oncomine panels for NGS in diagnostics and personalized therapy in oncology", conducted by TreeGene together with the official representative of the largest manufacturer of laboratory equipment and reagents ThermoFisher Scientific - Zalma Ltd.

Abidkulova Karime, the 2nd year PhD student, major in Geobotany-8D05108, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology of Kazakh National University. al-Farabi, had received the opportunity to spend the fall semester studying at the University of Debrecen (Hungary) under the Erusmus+ program. This program was successfully won in 2023 by the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Debrecen and the Department of Biodiversity and Bioresources of KazNU. al-Farabi (head of department, doctor of biological sciences, prof. Kurmanbayeva M.S.). Thanks to this program, doctoral student Abidkulova K.T. undergoes training in the discipline of Plant molecular taxonomy (theoretical and practical course) and the research work in the laboratory of Dr. Gabor Shramko. She has also got the opportunity to take part in a one-day field trip with Professor Attila Molnár and his doctoral students to the Tokaj region (Ciscarpathian) as part of a program to study various species of the family Lycopodiaceae, invasive species, and a hybrid from the genus Galatella.

Chair of biodiversity and bioresources 

www.kaznu.kz

In accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals, the international conference "Problems of desertification of the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and issues of their solution" was held at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

On September 22, 2023, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology held an international scientific and practical conference within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals "Problems of desertification of the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and issues of their solution" dedicated to the 80^th anniversary of the Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate professor Ametov Abibulla Ametovich. Chairman of the Board - Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Zhanseit Kanseitovich Tuimebayev congratulated on his 80^th anniversary and awarded Ametov A.A. with the silver medal of Al-Farabi. The event was actively attended by speakers from Turkey, Russia and a number of cities of Kazakhstan, in particular from Astana, Aktobe, Aktau, Shymkent and Turkestan. Issues of biodiversity conservation, reduction of natural pastures and desertification of the territory of Kazakhstan were discussed. The General Director of the Main Botanical Garden and the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction G.T.Sitpayeva made a welcoming speech and noted the merits of Abibulla Ametovich in the field of botany, and also the staff of the Institute congratulated Ametov A.A. on the anniversary. Issues of desertification and ways to solve it were proposed, topical issues of increasing the number of geobotanics and preparation of passports of natural pasture lands were discussed. Congratulations were sent by the heads of a number of universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The library exhibition of the author was organized at the international conference, the textbook "Plant Systematics" in III volumes was presented. Scientists from different organizations made plenary presentations, young scientists, students and master students reported on their scientific work in sectional parts. Young scientists from Almaty, Astana and Aktau took I, II and III places and were awarded diplomas. Textbooks of Abibulla Ametovich for schoolchildren and textbooks for university students are popular and valuable for all regions of the republic. As a result of the international conference, issues of desertification and ways to solve it were proposed, topical issues of increasing the number of geobotanics and preparing passports of natural pasture lands were discussed.

Chair of biodiversity and bioresources 

www.kaznu.kz

On September 12, negotiations were held with the management of ENSAIA University regarding the extension of the Double Degree Program in BioWare (Master's) between ENSAIA University and Biotechnology (Master's) at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Annually, six master's students undergo training as part of the Abai-Vern program at ENSAIA. They undertake a one-year education in the city of Nancy and also complete their practical training in leading scientific institutions and production enterprises in France.

From September 8, 2023, to September 16, 2023, a business trip was undertaken by Dr. Sc., Professor Savitskaya I.S. and Ph.D., Associate Professor Kistaubaeva A.S. to the Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Agronomie et des Industries Alimentaires, Nancy, France.

The purpose of the business trip was as follows: to conduct collaborative scientific research as outlined in the project schedule of AR09259491, titled "Biotechnology Utilizing Polysaccharide Matrix with Probiotic Biofilms for the Production of Combined Dairy Products.

The results obtained from the collaborative research would be incorporated into a publication in a journal with an impact factor of at least 80 percentile. Metagenomic studies of intestinal flora were conducted.

From September 7 to 14, 2023, scientists from the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (TIB CAS) visited the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (TIB) is a major research center equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for high-throughput screening, systems biotechnology, fermentation process optimization, experimental testing and genome synthesis. The Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology joined the Biotechnology Industry Alliance on April 14, 2021, and is a member of the COMSATS Joint Center for Industrial Biotechnology (CCIB), which includes universities and research institutes from 27 countries.

During the webinar, the achievements of biotechnology in obtaining varieties of agricultural crops with high yield and nutritional value were announced, as well as scientific research in this direction was presented. Students fully realized that they would be able to realize their professional qualities, improve their skills and achieve career growth in economically promising areas of biotechnology.

Advisor: Doktyrbay G.

https://cloud.mail.ru/stock/4C2iGEKzH8x9PjY2rqXoJfyD

On September 8, a webinar by first-year doctoral students Taskuzhina Aisha and Kenzhebekova Roza was held online on the Zoom platform, dedicated to eliminating hunger, ensuring food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agricultural development.

During the webinar, doctoral students presented reports and talked about the potential of their research to solve the above problems.

Kenzhebekova Roza is studying potato viruses and viroids, and Taskuzhina Aisha is studying the genetic potential and phytopathological status of wild apple trees.

Their work is of great practical value for modern agriculture; it will increase the yield of local potato varieties and create new varieties of apple trees that are resistant to unfavorable conditions.

Both doctoral students conduct their research under the guidance of the head of the laboratory of molecular biology of the Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, PhD Dilyara Aleksandrovna Gritsenko.