Academic exchange with Kazakhstan in the field of agricultural sciences

The Institute of Plant Genetic Resources in Sadovo welcomed scientists from Kazakhstan, funded by the "Bolashak" program, for a three-month specialization. The scientific team and regular PhD students of IPGR attended the Bulgarian-Kazakh seminar held in Sadovo.

IPGR welcomed Prof. Dr. Gulnar Mirzabaeva and the young scientist Erlan Abdrazakov, a PhD student at the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU) in Almaty, for an internship from June 10, 2024, to August 22, 2024. The goal is to exchange experience in the field of plant genetic resources and selection, as well as to develop scientific cooperation. The scientists are funded by the Center for International Programs under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which administers the presidential scholarship "Bolashak". The program supports academic specializations for Kazakh scientists in partner scientific organizations in more than 20 countries worldwide.

Prof. Dr. Gulnar Mirzabaeva and PhD student Erlan Abdrazakov are conducting their internship according to an approved curriculum, and will familiarize themselves with the work of all scientists at IPGR. Working visits to other institutes of the Agricultural Academy are also planned. The specialization period will provide an opportunity to discuss future joint work and continue academic exchange between the two scientific institutions.

The Kazakh scientists were welcomed by the Director of IPGR, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Katya Uzundzhalieva, who introduced them to the scientific directions of the Institute with a short presentation. Prof. Dr. Gulnar Mirzabaeva, who has more than 40 years of experience as a lecturer in the Department of "Agronomy, Selection and Biotechnology" at KazNARU, presented her scientific work "Innovative Technologies for Barley Production in Kazakhstan's Agriculture". Erlan Abdrazakov presented the topic of his doctoral dissertation "Peculiarities of Growing Oilseed Flax as a Cover Crop under Drip Irrigation Conditions". The young scientist's experimental work has already been completed, and the defense is scheduled for December 2024. The "Bolashak" specialization abroad is a mandatory part of the educational program required for the award of the scientific degree "Doctor" in Kazakhstan.