Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

An international conference marking the 85th birthday of Academician Jalal Aliyev opened in Baku on June 5.

The conference titled "Jalal Aliyev. Photosynthesis Research for Sustainable Development-2013", which was organized by the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) and International Society of Photosynthesis Research, featured discussions on various aspects of photosynthesis, including production of hydrogen and issues pertaining to artificial photosynthesis.

Addressing the conference, Academician Aliyev spoke about the attention paid to science in Azerbaijan.

He said that in the countries where the economy is constantly evolving, science is also well-developed.

Other speakers praised Aliyev's contribution to the development of biology in Azerbaijan.

Communications and Information Technologies Minister Ali Abbasov stressed the importance of conducting such a conference.

According to Abbasov, though Azerbaijan is a small country, it contributes to the solution of major problems.

"By using artificial photosynthesis as a new field, it will be possible to create areas of restored energy," the minister said.

"One of the main goals of Academician Jalal Aliyev is improvement of photosynthesis and cultivation of new sorts of wheat. Besides, the scientist has made a great contribution to the creation of bioinformatics science. He worked during his youth with such zeal and persistency, and likewise he contributes to the biological science today," Abbasov said.

ANAS President Akif Alizade said that holding such a conference dedicated to the pride of Azerbaijani science Jalal Aliyev inspires a sense of pride for everyone.

"The conduct of international events in our country has turned Baku into the capital of the region," Alizade said.

It was noted that reports to be delivered at the conference would be published in special editions of Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA), Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and PPB journals.

President Ilham Aliyev awarded Jalal Aliyev with the Sharaf (Honor) order on June 4. The order was conferred "for achievements in the development of science and active participation in the political life of Azerbaijan".

Jalal Aliyev was born on June 30, 1928 in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan Republic. He graduated in 1944 from the faculty of Natural Science of the Nakhchivan Teachers' Institute and in 1951 from the Biological Faculty of Azerbaijan State University (with distinction). As a third year student, in 1948, Aliyev began to work as a research assistant at the Department of Plant Physiology and then he chose this field of biology as a major for his future scientific activity.

Professor Aliyev's fifty years of dynamic researches have been devoted to the study of the theory of photosynthetic activity as a fundamental for productivity of crops, mainly wheat. The overall activity of these researches covers physiological, biophysical, biochemical and molecular-genetic bases of plant productivity and also the study of production processes in all levels of the structural and functional organization of plant organisms - from molecular to the whole plant and sowing.