Baku hosting Festival of Science 2014
By Nigar Orujova
The science festival, which is underway in Azerbaijan for the first time, is highly important for the country, President of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences Akif Alizadeh said at the opening ceremony of the "Baku Festival of Science 2014" on November 10.
Azerbaijan’s capital Baku is hosting the first science festival in its history on November 10-11.
He said, it is quite remarkable that the opening of the festival fell on November 10 which is marked as the World Science Day for Peace and Development.
"It is a pleasant coincidence. I believe that the festival will be a successful and interesting one for all," he added.
Speaking about the successes of Azerbaijan in the sphere of science, Alizadeh noted that the recent invitation by Ukrainian scientists of their Azerbaijani counterparts to participate in a collaborative research in Antarctica demonstrates the successes of Azerbaijani scientists in the international arena.
The ANAS president emphasized that development of science in the modern time requires financial support, and urged ministries and business people of the country to support the development of the scientific spheres in Azerbaijan.
He said, Azerbaijan will work to resolve the social problems of young scientists.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Communication and High Technology Minister Ali Abbasov said that development of science and education depends not only on the National Academy of Sciences and the Education Ministry, but also on the society.
He said, the Azerbaijani society should first feel the need for knowledge, otherwise it would be impossible to attract the young people to the science sector.
Such events are very important for the development of science in the country, Abbasov noted.
"Holding such festivals, attracting ordinary people to them and their wide coverage is a very important step," he added.
Abbasov said that currently the private sector needs skilled and educated workforces.
"Trillions of dollars are spent on science in the world, 70-80 percent of which come from the private sector. Today Azerbaijani state largely invests in the development of science. The country pays great attention to the development of innovative entrepreneurship. It also requires knowledge, appropriate conditions and capital," he stressed.
In accordance with the protocol signed between the Ministry and ANAS, close cooperation has been established between departments, which covers various areas, he noted.
He also informed the participants about the Technopark created jointly with ANAS.
"Today we are not quite satisfied with the achievements in this area. However, in accordance with the concept of "Azerbaijan 2020: Vision of the future", we will implement these works completely. A lot must be done for the development and popularization of science in Azerbaijan," he summarized.
Addressing the event, Deputy Education Minister Firudin Gurbanov said there were only 17 universities, in the first years of independence in Azerbaijan but today the figure stands at 55.
“In addition, in comparison with the 90s of the last century, the number of those wishing to continue their studies in doctoral and postgraduate studies has increased in Azerbaijan,” he added.
To raise the quality of education in Azerbaijan, more young people should be involved in science, and this festival provides an excellent opportunity for them, Gurbanov noted.
In recent years, scientists have made great achievements in Azerbaijan and a material-technical base has been formed, he added. "The combination of science and education is a priority of the state policy."
Azerbaijan to bring up Nobel Prize winners
“If an appropriate environment is created for the development of science in Azerbaijan, then our scientists will be awarded with the Nobel Prize,” Rector of Baku State University ,MP Abel Maharramov said at the opening ceremony.
To date, only two people from two billion Muslim world have managed to get the Nobel Prize, namely, one scholar from Egypt, the other - from Pakistan, he added. In addition, one of them works in the US, and another in the UK.
"If an appropriate scientific environment is set up, the number of receivers of the Nobel Prize will increase in the Muslim world. In the future, it can be given to our students, as there are great capacities in Azerbaijan," he said.
Magerramov noted that the main objective of the festival held in Baku is to attract young people to science. To turn students into specialists meeting the requirements of society, Azerbaijan should create an appropriate ground for them, he said.
"Investments in science worldwide for two or three years would bring in double or even triple profits. Those costs, invested in education, are profitable but much later and sometimes they do not bring in any profit at all. For example, today we teach physics, but when the same specialist is sent to production, he sees that integration plays a major role among the innovative and educational subjects. Today the universities of the world are reducing the number of lectures in the classroom. World practice shows that if a student works in a scientific laboratory, not in the audience, he or she can grow as a specialist, that meets the requirements of the society,” the rector underlined.
The program of the festival includes an exhibition displaying the discoveries of scientists of the country, as well as interesting lectures, and excursions to museums.
A number of events will also be held as part of the program called " In science campus", in various institutes of ANAS, the Central Scientific Library, the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, Baku State Uniiversity, Azerbaijan Medical University and other scientific and educational institutions.
The festival will also organize trips for visitors to museums like the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan and the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography. The event is open for public.