Presentations at the forum

Bioinformatics, artificial intelligence and scientific potential in Azerbaijan: new opportunities and strategic priorities

I work as a data scientist at the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California. My work is built on annotation of genomes of various microorganisms – especially unicellular organisms such as fungi and algae. For this purpose I use computation-based sequence analysis methods, which is part of the scientific field of bioinformatics.

Whereas bioinformatics was previously directed mainly at analysis of genome (DNA) and protein sequences, in recent years multi-omic approaches such as single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics have also entered this field. It is worth noting that because Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory is funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE), research on human and animal genomes is not conducted here. Research is limited to organisms that can contribute to solving energy and environmental problems.

Development potential of bioinformatics in Azerbaijan

The field of bioinformatics in Azerbaijan is still at a development stage and the number of laboratories working in this field is very small. However, in recent years the falling cost of genetic sequencing and availability of reference genomes for many organisms have created new opportunities in this field.

Development of bioinformatics in Azerbaijan in the direction of re-sequencing agriculturally important plant species can serve goals such as determining genetic diversity, salt and heat tolerance, increasing productivity and improving food quality.

Moreover, Azerbaijan's flora and fauna are very rich and some species are unique to this geography. Bioinformatics can play an important role in sequencing marker genes of these endemic species, cataloguing them and protecting biodiversity.

In the medical field bioinformatics enables genetic counselling to be conducted. This is important especially for determining carrier status of genetic diseases such as beta-thalassemia and providing advance information to couples preparing for marriage about risks.

Impact of artificial intelligence on bioinformatics

In recent years, including in bioinformatics, application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methods is rapidly increasing in many scientific fields. I participated in July 2024 in the ISMB conference in Montreal, a prestigious international event in bioinformatics. More than half of presentations and posters related to application of artificial intelligence in biology.

Although some of these methods are linked to short-term trends or inflated expectations, deep scientific achievements such as the AlphaFold programme have created a revolutionary turn in bioinformatics. AlphaFold's accurate prediction of protein structures caused a great leap in structural biology.

An international competition on forecasting protein function held within the conference involved more than 2,000 laboratories. The best results were obtained by teams from China and Russia. Interestingly, the winning Russian team was not composed of biologists or bioinformaticians at all – this group was Sberbank's artificial intelligence team. This fact proves how rapidly artificial intelligence is strengthening its position in solving biological problems.

Artificial intelligence and scientific research: US and global priorities

The US Department of Energy has launched the FASST (Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence for Science, Security, and Technology) initiative in artificial intelligence. The aim is to increase activity of national laboratories in AI. The US Congress is investing billions of dollars in this field, while budget cuts are observed in many other areas.

Young researchers and students also show increasing interest in AI and ML fields. Students coming for internships to the Berkeley laboratory are more interested in CRISPR technology and AI applications. This trend shows that AI will be one of the main scientific priorities of the future.

Artificial intelligence education in Azerbaijan: prospects and opportunities

Azerbaijan is a country with a strong mathematical tradition and talented scholars both within the country and abroad work in this field. Using this potential, specialised courses teaching deep learning and machine learning on mathematical and statistical foundations can be organised.

Availability worldwide of free, high-quality online AI courses creates accessible opportunities for everyone interested in this field.

It should be noted that creation of large language models (LLMs) from scratch requires powerful computing resources and supercomputers – accessible only to giant companies such as Google, Meta and OpenAI. Therefore Azerbaijan's attention should be directed towards use of existing AI tools at scientific and technological application level.

Result

Azerbaijan's scientific heritage, strong mathematical base and intellectual potential show the importance of a strategic approach and investment in artificial intelligence, machine learning and bioinformatics. Development of these fields can strengthen the country's scientific and technological independence, accelerate integration into the global scientific community and form a competitive knowledge ecosystem for future generations.

This presentation provides information on teaching and scientific services the World Association of Azerbaijani Scientists (WAAS) can offer online. The Association's goal is to bring Azerbaijani scholars together and ensure exchange of knowledge, and to increase Azerbaijan's scientific potential by applying modern teaching approaches. Services that can be offered online can help achieve this goal.

Building the Association's website

The Association's website can serve as the main communication and information centre. Information about the Association's mission, vision and values can be presented on the site. Among other functions of the site, placement of information about events and projects and sharing of online resources is possible. Articles, video tutorials and other useful materials can be presented here.

Databank of our intellectuals

The Association can create a databank of our intellectuals to collect scholars' information and establish contact with them. The following information can be collected in this database:

• Personal details: name, surname, contact information, address, etc.
• Education: specialisation, degrees obtained, educational institutions, academic achievements.
• Work experience: previous employers, roles and achievements.
• Skills: technical and language proficiency, teamwork and leadership skills.
• Achievements and certificates: certificates and training courses completed.
• Community activities: volunteering experience and participation in public organisations.
• Hobbies: reading, sport and personal interests.
• Internet resources: articles, books and lectures.

This information can be used to support scientific cooperation and teaching activities offered by the Association.

Online teaching centres (virtual university)

The Association can offer teaching materials in various fields through online teaching centres. In these centres lessons and lectures can be conducted by professors and teaching staff. Faculties and departments can also be formed to expand the teaching process.

Experimental laboratories and lecture halls can be organised as part of a virtual university. These platforms can give students the opportunity to follow practical lessons and apply their knowledge. By providing links to international online teaching platforms, the teaching process can be integrated at global level.

Teaching programmes and textbooks

The Association can prepare teaching programmes and textbooks in Azerbaijani and in foreign languages in various fields. In particular, translation of bestseller literature into foreign languages and distribution of textbooks and teaching materials in paper, electronic and audio formats through the Amazon platform can be ensured.

Centres by field of science

WAAS can offer centres in various fields of science. These centres can cover modern as well as traditional fields of science. For example:

• Traditional fields of science: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, medical sciences, etc.
• Modern fields of science: nanotechnologies, quantum physics, biomedical sciences, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, etc.

Moreover, activities can be carried out in interdisciplinary fields, for example systems biology, materials science, space sciences, etc.

Multimedia centres

Multimedia centres can be organised to popularise science. Through these centres podcasts, video lectures and cartoons can be presented. Scientific lectures, laboratory experiments and biographies of scholars can be widely disseminated through these platforms.

Competitions and contests

The Association can organise competitions and contests. For example:

• Programming, cybersecurity, data technologies, etc.
• Music, visual arts, etc.
• Intellectual games covering a range of topics

Tibbi ocaqlar

The Association can conduct teaching activity through medical centres on healthy lifestyle, popular medical knowledge and modern medical research.

Activity on social networks

The Association can be active on social networks and on platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube to maintain contact with members.

Thus, through services the World Association of Azerbaijani Scientists can offer online, it can contribute to international recognition of Azerbaijani scholars and to innovations in scientific fields. These services can be an important step towards improving the quality of teaching and strengthening scientific cooperation. Our goal is not only to share information but also to contribute to the development of scientific cooperation and teaching.

Annotasiya

In a modern knowledge-based economy, organisations' competitiveness and sustainable development depend directly on effective management of intellectual assets. Strategic knowledge management (KM) is a set of systematic processes covering identification, acquisition, retention, sharing and use of knowledge. This article examines the decisive role of strategic KM in organisational development, presents its main advantages and proposes a structured framework for its application. Analyses were conducted on the basis of available statistical data and practical examples; the importance of KM for continuous learning and resilience is emphasised.

Introduction

Transition to knowledge-based economic systems has turned intellectual capital into the key to success in organisations. Knowledge is no longer merely a support tool but the main strategic asset of production, innovation and competitiveness. Nevertheless, many organisations face serious difficulties in processes of effective management and transfer of knowledge: time spent searching for information, unstructured environments, weak knowledge-sharing culture, etc.

In such conditions strategic KM plays an important role in increasing operational efficiency, reducing errors, accelerating project implementation and ensuring protection of critical knowledge.

The necessity of KM in modern organisations

Empirical studies show that the following main problems have increased the need for KM:

• 74% of employees have difficulty accessing relevant organisational knowledge.
• serious knowledge gaps exist in 67% of financial services organisations.
• Workers spend approximately 35% of their weekly working time searching for information.
• a knowledge-sharing culture has not formed in 60% of organisations.

These deficiencies cause financial loss, project delays and employee dissatisfaction. Strategic KM not only prevents these problems but also forms a culture of innovation and continuous learning.

Benefits of strategic KM for organisations

Organisations applying strategic KM obtain the following important advantages:

• Reduction in errors
• Projects implemented up to 30% faster
• Average revenue increase of 40%
• 25% reduction in onboarding time for new employees
• Improved quality in decision-making and risk management

Objectives and targets of the KM strategy

An effective KM strategy responds to the organisation's following core needs:

• Collection and retention of critical knowledge
• Reuse of past experience
• Promotion of continuous learning and development
• Effective risk management

Preparation and implementation of the strategy

Implementation of strategic KM covers the following stages:

Learning models and knowledge transfer mechanisms

Effective knowledge transfer is implemented through the following approaches:

• Formal training and e-learning modules
• On-the-job experience and training programmes
• Mentoring and coaching approaches
• Digital solutions: knowledge portals, document databases, expert catalogues

These mechanisms enable protection and wide use in the organisation of both tacit and explicit knowledge.

Result

Strategic knowledge management is not an additional functional area for an organisation but the main driving force of internal efficiency, innovation and resilience. Although there is no single model for every organisation, through development of purposeful strategies, leadership support and stakeholder participation, KM can become a strong competitive advantage. Organisations that accept KM as a strategic priority occupy leading positions in the knowledge economy by building a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

References

• Axero Solutions (2023). The State of Knowledge Management in Organizations.
• McKinsey & Company (2023). The Value of Knowledge in Business Performance.
• Rezolve.ai (2023). Knowledge Gaps and Their Impact on Financial Services.
• Procedureflow (2023). Knowledge Management Efficiency Studies.
• The Conference Board (2022). Best Practices in Knowledge Transfer and Learning Curves.

The desire to study regional features of Siberian and Eastern Siberian toponymy and to ensure preservation of the toponymic-linguistic heritage covering the broad geography of Central Asia led to my book “On the Toponymy of Central and Eastern Siberia”. For some this topic may seem purely scientific – how relevant is it to us Azerbaijanis, our culture and our history?

Even if the topic is approached impartially and with minimal toponymic knowledge, it is clearly visible that in the geographical names of Siberia, especially south of the watershed of the Angara and Podkamennaya Tunguska rivers, Turkic-origin names first sparsely and then intensively predominate further south. In the Krasnoyarsk region these names already constitute more than half of place names; in the Khakassia and Minusinsk basin they constitute almost 100%. Why? Because over the last few millennia Turkic languages have been the main means of communication among peoples living in these areas – Southern Siberia, the Sayan, Altai mountain and forest-steppe zones. In this region, Turkic languages, including Yakut and Dolgan, shaped the linguistic composition of the population spread as far as the islands of the Arctic Ocean.

This heritage is not limited to the Orkhon-Yenisey monuments in Central and Eastern Siberia. It is also proved by household items, works of art, archaeological finds and, above all, linguistic traces – toponyms, i.e. geographical names that have kept our ancestors' spoken language alive to this day – of ancient Turkic tribes living in a huge geography from the Pacific Ocean to the Carpathian Mountains and the Black Sea.

However, in different periods of history, after invaders entered these lands they destroyed the previous population and then began systematically to change their spiritual traces – geographical names. They changed the names of cities, villages, mountains, rivers and lakes and tried to break the people's spiritual ties to these lands. Calling this process toponymic genocide is entirely fair. Because this is an act of erasing cultural memory, one of the most dangerous ideological forms of nationalism.

Another distinctive aspect of Turkic-origin geographical names in Siberia is that they are based not on personal names but on nature, geographical features and sincere wonder felt by humans towards the land. These names reflect not leaders or rulers but concrete natural phenomena such as the colour of rivers, the shape of mountains, vegetation, animals, weather conditions, etc. Siberian Turkic toponymy is an embodiment of the selfless love and eternal loyalty of Turkic peoples to their native land.

Geographical names are part of modern civilisation. They are the collective memory of societies, carriers of cultural identity. Through toponyms we connect to the past, to our ancestors and to our history. Ancient geographical names are the sources of our memory. No one has the right to destroy these sources for accidental winds, fashion-driven changes or temporary administrative convenience.

Therefore I propose that ancient geographical names be granted status as examples of humanity's intangible cultural heritage. These names must be protected, studied and passed to future generations as they are.

Expert opinion: “Dear Eldar, how good that you have raised an important issue that is not only scientific but also of humanitarian significance. This is very important for all of us. I congratulate you on your new book devoted to Siberian toponymy. I am sure this work will be a valuable contribution to Turkology.” – Tofiq Davud oglu Malikli, Doctor of Philological Sciences, professor, orientalist, literary scholar, translator, writer, Honoured Scientist of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The modern Azerbaijani state is the embodiment of the independent and sovereign will of the Azerbaijani people. There have been very honourable pages in the history of the Azerbaijani people. The Republic period comes first among honourable pages in our history. Since the modern Republic of Azerbaijan declares itself successor to the Azerbaijan Republic established in 1918, comprehensive study of our Republic history is of special importance.

It must be noted with satisfaction that considerable work has been done in our independence period in the field of studying Republic history. It is again encouraging that these studies and, generally, all work relating to our Republic history especially attracts and is followed with interest by the young generation.

Republication of the newspaper “Azerbaijan”, with dictionary, notes and commentary and an index added, in the modern alphabet is of special importance for studying the Republic period, one of the most important parts of the great and honourable history of our people and statehood. I must note that this great work, carried out under the initiative and patronage of ADA University, is not a simple transliteration of the newspaper “Azerbaijan” but a sufficiently serious scholarly work that, although progressing relatively slowly in terms of time, continues to be implemented with sufficient success.

To use the words of our respected Rector Hafiz muallim: “Making the newspaper accessible to the modern reader is very important for studying the rich page of our history that is the Republic period.”

Transliteration of the newspaper “Azerbaijan”, whose first issue was published in Ganja on 15 September 1918 and last in Baku on 27 April 1920, is planned for publication in 20 volumes. Volume 11 of these volumes has recently left the press and been made available to readers.

Following the history of any period sequentially and systematically from a daily newspaper causes your ideas and worldview about that period to form in a completely different way. This differs to some extent from learning the history of the period from outside, from other sources. Reading the newspaper “Azerbaijan” sequentially, you feel yourself inside the whirl of events in the period when the paper was printed and breathe the atmosphere of the period as a whole. You gain the opportunity to be aware of many different aspects and fine details of political, public, military and literary-cultural life.

Although more than a hundred years have passed since publication of the newspaper “Azerbaijan”, articles, news and commentary there continue to retain their relevance today. It is very important for learning the sources of problems in the region and the unchanged geopolitical balance over a hundred years. The struggle of great powers over Azerbaijan, located where East and West meet, is as clearly visible now as it was in that period.

If we need to show by examples:

The Karabakh issue – the liberation of Karabakh from occupation by our victorious Army in 2020–2023 – is one of the greatest heroic chapters in our history. Armenian claims to Karabakh began shortly after the establishment of the Azerbaijan Republic. On the one hand, uprisings by Armenians in Karabakh with Armenia's support; on the other, massacres committed in Karabakh and Zangezur by armed Armenian detachments from Anatolia were repeated in similar fashion after the restoration of our independence in 1991. The genocide they committed in March 1918 was repeated in Khojaly and in other areas of ours in 1992. In this regard, it is enough to become acquainted with materials on the pages of the newspaper “Azerbaijan” to know the history of crimes Armenians have committed in the South Caucasus for more than a century and not to forget them in our national memory. The writings of Uzeyir Hajibeyli and Khalil Ibrahim on Karabakh and Armenian intrigue are very important for understanding the issue.

The name Azerbaijan – after the proclamation of the Azerbaijan Republic, the Qajar state objected to the new country's name and a number of articles were published in the neighbouring country's press. The Qajar government even gave a negative response to the memorandum Mammad Amin Rasulzade submitted in Istanbul regarding recognition and stated that they did not recognise a state named Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, this position is still being put forward in one form or another by our southern neighbour, distorting the historical past. To know the source of some issues since the Treaty of Turkmenchay and to interpret correctly the history of Azerbaijan–Iran relations, it is necessary to look at materials in the newspaper “Azerbaijan”.

The issue of parliamentarianism – to study the history of Azerbaijani statehood, to research the activity of the first democratic parliament opened in the Muslim East, to compare democratic innovations over a hundred years – it is very important to read the stenograms published in the newspaper “Azerbaijan”. As today, a hundred years ago, it is important to read these writings to show that the rights of national and religious minorities were protected in Azerbaijan and that all citizens of the country had equal rights. When we look at the stenograms we clearly see that Azerbaijan was a bright example to the world in that period.

Azerbaijan–Türkiye relations – when we look at appeals by state figures, editors' articles and poets' poems in the newspaper “Azerbaijan”, the strength of friendship and brotherhood between Ottoman Türkiye and the Azerbaijan Republic is clearly visible. Attitude towards the officers and soldiers of the Caucasus Islamic Army is especially one of high respect. These writings in the newspaper “Azerbaijan” are very important for us to learn the path from the Batumi agreement to the Shusha declaration and to understand the historical philosophy of relations.

Dear forum participants!

I am very glad to greet everyone here on Azerbaijani soil, in the capital of our historical homeland!

I graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. By specialisation I am an economist. I defended a candidate's dissertation on the economy of Türkiye. This topic interests me very deeply. Nevertheless, the scope of my scientific interests has expanded to include journalism, advertising and public relations. I am also Deputy Dean of the Faculty of International Journalism and head of the Advertising and Public Relations Department at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

Education and science expenditure

First of all, I would like to remind you of education expenditure in our countries.

State expenditure on education (percentage of Gross Domestic Product):

World Bank data, 2024. URL: www.worldbank.org

I chose Germany because it has developed and is advanced in education and science.

Analysing these figures we can say that state spending on education in Azerbaijan and Russia has still not reached the level of developed countries. Investment must be made in education; our future depends on it.

I can give information about expenditure on science and innovation. In developed countries expenditure on science amounts to 2% of Gross Domestic Product or more. Yes, of course, there are developed countries that do not spend so much on science and lag considerably behind global scientific achievements.

World Bank data, 2024. URL: www.worldbank.org

Expenditure on science and education is investment in the future. Expenditure must be increased; true, return will not be immediate, but it will certainly come.

Soft Power/Smart Power

We all know well that both science and education are instruments of soft power. We attract foreign students to study in the country and send our citizens abroad to study at foreign universities. All of this will show its effect in the future and benefit both sending and receiving countries. This lays the foundation for future cooperation between countries, strengthening ties and building a better world. Barriers to future cooperation are being removed. Traditionally, Russia and Azerbaijan cooperate in education. Whereas if previously this trend favoured the flow of students from Azerbaijan to Russia, now an opportunity has arisen for students – Russian citizens – to study in Azerbaijan. For example, my university (Moscow State Institute of International Relations) now sends me to Azerbaijan – to ADA University – to participate in an internship programme. This is truly interesting. New horizons are opening for students.

A few additional examples. Generally, I like numbers; they give objective assessment. Currently 78 students who are citizens of Azerbaijan study at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. In an institution where a total of 8,400 people (bachelor's and master's) study, 12% of students are foreigners.

In my view, in the difficult period we are in now it is not worth cutting ties in education, science and, of course, culture. These ties can be a bridge for restoration of relations between countries in the future.

Languages

The more languages a modern person knows, the easier it is to live in a globalising world. Language is the wealth of every people. Today 255 million people speak Russian. Of them, 148 million consider it their native language. I found no separate statistical data on the Azerbaijani language; I can only estimate that 10 million Azerbaijanis live in Russia (but it is not a fact that all know their native language); the number of Azerbaijanis living in Iran is not exact. But there are statistics on Turkic-speaking peoples living in Russia, totalling 90 million in all.

Of course, the language must also be spread outside your country. For example, in Moscow, Russia, there is a secondary school with an Azerbaijani ethnocultural component. At the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, for example, they teach Azerbaijani; we have specialists who know Azerbaijani.

There are nearly 300 schools in Azerbaijan where teaching is in Russian and you can also choose Russian-language universities and programmes. This is a significant achievement; this fact is always noted at a high level and both sides take pride in these figures. Today the main thing is not to lose the successes we have achieved.

Joint projects in education

We have successfully implemented projects. Currently in Azerbaijan the branch of Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Baku branch of Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow State Institute of International Relations and ADA University operate a joint MBA programme in finance.

Generally, Azerbaijan and Russia are still young states and in world university rankings only a small number of universities from both countries are represented. These are mainly technical universities or faculties; it is quite difficult for humanitarian universities such as Moscow State Institute of International Relations and ADA to prove themselves.

RAGT (Russian Azerbaijani Youth Organisation)

I would especially like to note work with young people. The Azerbaijani Youth Organisation – RAGT – was created in Russia 15 years ago; the abbreviation is very symbolic. We see great success in uniting Azerbaijani youth in Russia: regular meetings are held, public events are organised and a positive image of Azerbaijan is promoted among Russian citizens who are not ethnically Azerbaijani. Graduates of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations stood at the beginning of this organisation's creation. This is wonderful!

Regarding Russia's activity in Azerbaijan, there are several platforms where Russian-speaking youth or ethnic Russian citizens of Azerbaijan can gather so as not to break ties with their historical homeland. This is truly wonderful and gives another reason for pride.

Problems and prospects

There is no need to stop cooperation in science and education in the current difficult circumstances. We must understand that science and education give hope for a bright future for our youth. Only educated youth can achieve high results and improve the country further. Expenditure on science and education is investment in the future.

Annotasiya

The presentation addresses the transition to green energy as an important indicator of the formation of an ecological civilisation. The article analyses climate change in an energy context and determines the mutual ratio of natural and technogenic factors in this complex dynamic process. Attention is drawn to the geophysical, ecological and socio-economic consequences created by climate change; the role of international agreements in this field and the current level of management of climate change are assessed. The necessity of preserving natural climate-regulation mechanisms is substantiated and humanity's transition to a new energy model is emphasised as dependent on climate conditions. Use of solar, wind and hydrogen energy

Specific features are examined in the context of the Azerbaijan model.

Keywords: climate, climate change, natural climate regulation, technogenic impact, greenhouse gases, control mechanisms, world energy, green energy, ecological civilisation, Azerbaijan model.

Introduction

In recent centuries scientific and technical progress has had an important impact on humanity's social and economic development. Yet today it becomes clear that some consequences of this development are directed both against the biosphere and against humans themselves. Since the mid-20th century the scale of technogenic impact on the natural environment has reached such a level that humanity has begun seriously to think about its own existence and what legacy it will leave to future generations.

Climate change, degradation of the biosphere, anthropological crisis, spread of new viruses and social consequences of artificial intelligence are among the global problems of the modern period. Growth of population and demand and irregular application of technological innovations have caused disruption of important ecological parameters of the biosphere.

The way out of this situation is reconsideration of purely utilitarian attitude towards nature. Complete protection of the natural environment is impossible, but contradictions in human–nature relations can be regulated by changing the direction and essence of human activity.

Ecological civilisation and scientific-technical paradigms

Today it becomes clear that without fundamental changes in the methodology of human activity it will not be possible to prevent ecological and anthropological catastrophes. Humanity's strategic way out is green transformation in all fields and formation of an ecological civilisation.

Transformation of technogenic civilisation into ecological civilisation is not merely technological change but also transition to a new stage in spiritual, ethical and philosophical terms. In this context the link between epistemology and ethics, the unity of knowledge and responsibility, is of special importance.

Taking into account that the historical process is determined by both objective and subjective factors, the necessity arises to plan humanity's future development in accordance with the laws of the biosphere.

Energy, society and climate nexus

Energy is one of the main pillars of modern society's activity. The green energy revolution has the potential to reshape not only the energy sector but all cultural and social systems.

There are two main objectives here:

• Minimising the use of fossil fuels.
• Development of renewable energy sources such as hydrogen, solar, wind and hydroelectric power.

The level of energy production and consumption is an indicator of society's civil and economic development. Therefore every change in this field has wide-scale effects. Although use of traditional resources such as oil, gas and coal continues, humanity is already in the transition phase to the renewable energy era.

Azerbaijan's green energy model

Azerbaijan demonstrates strategic leadership in this field. Its sunny and windy climate, state policy supporting the energy transition and technological investments are among the main factors making this transition possible. Parallel and complementary potential in wind and solar energy serves to ensure energy security and stability.

Since 2020 large-scale construction of wind and solar power plants demonstrates in practical activity Azerbaijan's ambition in this field.

Azerbaijan's hosting of the COP29 conference is an indicator of the country's role and standing in global ecological policy. This event is also of strategic importance for transfer of advanced technologies to the country and promotion of ecological innovations.

Results and recommendations

Reconciliation of society with biosphere processes is the main challenge facing humanity. The important steps for building an ecological civilisation are these:

• Expansion of international cooperation;
• Application of biosphere-compatible technologies;
• Reducing the use of hydrocarbon fuels;
• Development of hydrogen, solar and wind energy;
• Sustainable environmental education and formation of eco-culture.

These changes require not only technical but also cultural and spiritual transformation. Nature dictates its laws – humanity must learn to live under these conditions.

REFERENCES

• Ilham Aliyev. Speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Khizi-Absheron Wind Power Plant. 13.01.2022. //https://president.az/az/articles/view/55816/videos
• Mamedov N.M. Harmonization of the biosphere and technosphere as a global problem of modern times. // Philosophical Aspects of Globalization: A Multidisciplinary Inquiry. Brill Rodopi, Leiden, Boston. 2022. – p. 196–210.
• Mammadov N.M., Mammadaliyeva S.Y. Ecology and technology. Baku: “Sada”. 1999. – 96 pp. Vol. 5, No. 1. – 2024. //https:// ecopoiesis.ru
• Ван Ж., Фан М., Ван Ц. Экологическая цивилизация, органическое процессуальное мышление и будущее Китая в глобальном контексте // Экопоэзис: экогуманитарные теория и практика. –
• Гусейнов А. А. Мораль и наука: характер их связи // Вопросы философии. – № 9. 2022. – 14–24 с.
• Мамедалиев Ю. Г. Проблема водорода в Азербайджане. //За нефтяную технику. № 34. – 1934.
• Мамедов Н. М. Становление экологической цивилизации – смысл исторического процесса. // Век глобализации. № 4. – 2024.
• Мамедов Н. М. Экология и устойчивое развитие. Москва: МГАДА, 2013. – 365 с.
• На пути к экологической цивилизации: экогуманитарная перспектива. Под редакцией А. И. Копытина и др. Москва: Когито-Центр, 2024. – 454 с.
• Сидорович Владимир. Мировая энергетическая революция. Как возобновляемые источники энергии изменят наш мир. –Москва: «Альпина Паблишер». 2015.–208 с.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Over the last decades the global economy has been living through an uninterrupted and rapidly changing transformation period. These changes continue at an increasingly faster pace.

The main reason for these rapid changes has been the development of technology. The emergence of personal computers in the late 1980s and later the internet gave great impetus to this process. The internet not only connected the world with the press of a few buttons but also fundamentally changed almost every aspect of our daily lives.

The impact of the internet has spread to every field from manufacturing to services, from healthcare to finance. Today the world economy is governed by the principle of value creation based on knowledge and talent and intellectual capital is already preferred over traditional material resources.

In a knowledge economy, specialists with special skills occupy a stronger position in the labour market. Development of microchip production, software engineering and computer science has given us new opportunities and new challenges.

Revolutionary innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, quantum computers, 5G networks, autonomous vehicles, Big Data and FinTech will accelerate these changes further.

In the life sciences, the discovery of stem cells in Toronto in 1961 and the deciphering of DNA – the genetic code of life – turned medical science from an “art” into an exact science. Discoveries in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and computer science led to fields such as regenerative medicine and personalised medicine. These advances not only improve human health but also significantly extend lifespan. At the same time, increased longevity creates new problems for societies – provision for older generations will be one of the main challenges facing governments.

Countries must adapt to these rapid changes and pursue flexible policies. The global economy has already undergone deep integration and today no country can develop in complete independence. This mutual dependence creates both opportunities and difficulties for international trade and diplomatic relations.

One of the biggest problems countries face today is provision of talent and skilled personnel. Finding and training the right specialists for new technologies is the key to success of every economy. If a mismatch arises between demand and supply in the market, this can cause serious obstacles to national economic development.

Today talent has globalised and knows no borders – just like capital! States and companies engage in serious competition to attract and retain the brightest minds, because the future will belong to economies based on human capital and innovation.

At the same time the lifespan of knowledge and skills is shortening. Because of rapid innovations in technology, a person who receives university or vocational education may find only a few years later that what they learned has become obsolete. This shows how important continuous education and professional development are. University and college diplomas are only a beginning – constant learning and improvement in the real world is essential.

Companies seek specialists with analytical thinking and agility. Shortage of such qualified personnel negatively affects companies' development, their financial indicators and, consequently, the national economy.

Although unemployment is high in many countries of the world, companies find it difficult to find specialists with the necessary skills. To solve this they try to attract talented people from all over the world. Governments adapt to this process by changing immigration rules and creating conditions for highly qualified personnel to remain in the country.

For example, Canada creates opportunities for international students to work in Canada after graduation and gain Canadian work experience. They can later apply for permanent residence and citizenship.

A strong and competitive knowledge economy can rely only on a highly qualified workforce that constantly improves itself. In a rapidly changing world it is increasingly difficult for older workers to keep pace with technological innovations, which requires governments to revisit policy on education and skills development.

Future global economic leadership will depend on the following factors:

• Investment in education and continuous skills development;
• Flexible policies to attract and retain talented people;
• Efficient immigration rules and an open-door policy for the workforce;
• Encouragement of foreign investment;
• Protection of intellectual property.

One successful example of this strategy is Amazon company's consideration of Toronto as its second headquarters location outside the USA. One of the main factors in the company's decision was the broad talent and personnel potential available in Ontario province.

Ontario province has 16 million inhabitants and 850 billion dollars GDP. Every year 50,000 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) specialists graduate here. To meet industry's growing demand in artificial intelligence, Ontario universities train 1,000 master's graduates annually.

Canada's history of innovation is rich in great inventions – the telephone, smartphone, electric light bulb, insulin, pacemaker, meningitis-C vaccine, discovery of stem cells, high-precision electron microscope and IMAX technology are only a few of the values this country has produced.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This development continues in Canada and worldwide. There will be countries that invest in future people, knowledge and innovation.

Thank you! Goodbye!

Ladies and gentlemen! Distinguished scholars!

Welcome to the First Forum of Azerbaijani Scientists Living Abroad!

As a member of the Board of Directors of the World Association of Azerbaijani Scientists (WAAS) and as representative for the EU, especially Northern European countries, on my own behalf and on behalf of our association I express my gratitude to the head of state, President Ilham Aliyev, who created these conditions for us. It is precisely on the basis of President Ilham Aliyev's wise policy and instructions that purposeful activity is being carried out today for the more organised development of the diaspora. I express my deep gratitude to the leadership of the State Committee on Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, headed by Mr Fuad Muradov, to the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, headed by Mr Emin Amrullayev, and also to the Forum Organising Committee and to the Chair of WAAS, world-renowned professor and fellow mathematician Mesud Afandiyev for their support of this forum.

Approximately two years ago, at a meeting organised in Istanbul with the initiative and support of the State Committee, we united around a concept and set out on a sacred path. I am confident that valuable and experienced scholars in this newly formed organisation will prepare and implement fruitful projects in science and education for our great homeland Azerbaijan. This is clear from the Charter drafted by WAAS and the ambitions put forward from the beginning.

I have lived in the Kingdom of Sweden since 2000 and from the first year received confirmation of the academic education I received in my homeland, proudly conducting scientific and pedagogical activity as a scholar in the Swedish science and education system and representing Azerbaijan. Since 2007, Azerbaijani students have studied in Europe, including Sweden, thanks to the ERASMUS+ programme and cooperation among the European Commission, EACEA, EU staff and the Azerbaijani state. Continuation of education for Azerbaijani students and scholars at European higher education institutions within various programmes is a very significant event.

Dear forum participants! As you know, EU–Azerbaijan relations are based on the EU–Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in force since 1999. Negotiations on a new and improved framework agreement intended to reflect the broad spectrum of EU–Azerbaijan cooperation, strengthen political dialogue in key sectors and increase trade are at an advanced stage. For more than 30 years, students and staff have moved between European universities under the ERASMUS programme. Since 2015, ERASMUS+ has also allowed short-term mobility to Europe for students, researchers and staff from other parts of the world. This bilateral mobility enables students to study at a foreign university for 3–12 months and obtain credits recognised as part of their degree at the sending institution. Internships have also been possible since 2018. Grants are also provided for staff mobility of 5–60 days. Azerbaijani students and doctoral candidates, as well as the New ERASMUS+ programme for 2014–2020 in education, training, youth and sport, have helped define international higher education standards. This is both an indicator of our country's great potential and a sign of new potential opening up for Azerbaijan!

More than 2,000 university students and education workers from Azerbaijan gained the opportunity to study or teach in Europe under the ERASMUS+ exchange programme between 2015 and 2020, and 62 Azerbaijani students received scholarships for master's study during the period mentioned. ERASMUS+ provides support for internships and work placements abroad for bachelor's, master's and doctoral students, including recent graduates (within one year of completing university). Between 2014 and 2020, nearly 4,000 young people and youth organisation workers from Azerbaijan participated in joint ERASMUS+ and youth projects (exchange, training, policy discussion, volunteering).

When it comes to education, I am proud to say that every year a large number of talented young Azerbaijanis study at Swedish universities, including through grants awarded by the Swedish Institute. The Swedish Alumni – Sweden–Azerbaijan Students and Graduates Network is already active and, like the Young European Ambassadors at EU level, plays an important role in bringing Sweden and Azerbaijan closer together in every respect. Programme-country institutions cooperate bilaterally with universities in Eastern Partnership countries and apply on behalf of their partners. Azerbaijan has participated in ERASMUS Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMDs) funded by the European Union, covering tuition, travel and living allowances for master's students from around the world. Azerbaijan has also participated in ERASMUS+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) projects lasting from two to three years, aimed at modernising and reforming higher education institutions, developing new curricula, improving governance and building links between higher education institutions and enterprises. They can also cooperate with national government bodies to prepare the ground for higher education reforms and address policy topics and issues.

Higher education in Sweden draws on long experience: Uppsala University, where Anders Celsius, inventor of the temperature scale you all know, also worked, was founded in 1477, and academic education has been active since the 17th century. The biologist Carl von Linné and other champions of the spirit of the Enlightenment transformed the education system through the creation of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the establishment of a chair in economics and special emphasis on the natural sciences. These forces were also behind the government that first appointed an education commission in a long series of efforts to reform the Swedish education system in 1745. In the 19th century the state began to finance universities and thus assumed responsibility for their governance. In the 19th century there were two universities, in Uppsala and Lund. Their activities were first regulated by the university statute of 1852, thereby transferring jurisdiction over universities from them to the state. Women were admitted to university education in 1873: Ellen Fries became the first woman physician in history in 1883.

Karolinska Institutet was founded in 1810; in 1861 it was granted the right to award the medical licentiate degree (med.lic) and in 1906 the right to award doctoral degrees. During this period the university and hospital merged, making Karolinska Institutet the first university hospital in Europe. Several universities were created in the 19th century: Stockholm University, Gothenburg University, Chalmers and KTH. In the early 20th century Umeå University, Luleå University, Karlstad University, Jönköping University, Örebro University, Mid Sweden University in Sundsvall, Södertörn University College, University of Borås and many others, business schools, agricultural schools and the Military Academy were established.

For this reason, cooperation with Swedish universities and benefiting from their experience is purposeful for us. When Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) planned in January 2022 to apply to the ERASMUS+ KA2 Capacity Building in Higher Education project, I was pleased that, at UNEC's request, I played a direct role in establishing cooperation between UNEC and KTH (Royal Institute of Technology) in Sweden, where I was then working, and in concluding a very large and comprehensive cooperation agreement. The project's aim is to increase academic staff potential in renewable energy sources (RES) and energy efficiency and to update existing curricula. As an energy country, Azerbaijan depends heavily on traditional energy sources, yet research shows that the country has large untapped RES potential. The main goal is to stimulate local human capital in RES and strengthen government–academia–industry cooperation through the project. In 2022, within the ERASMUS KA2 project, UNEC sought a partner university from an EU member state to join our proposal. They researched and found information about KTH (Royal Institute of Technology). They saw that KTH participates in the master's programme in Renewable Energy offered by KTH and four other European universities. The faculty of the School of Industrial Engineering and Management, Department of Energy Technology, is engaged in teaching and research in renewable resources.

Dear forum participants! I believe that thanks to the WAAS concept such examples, projects and successes of ours will be more numerous and more effective in the future.

Scientific research forms the foundation for building knowledge that underlies continuous development of society. To achieve the global goals set out in AGENDA 2030 for sustainable development, in our view research plays a central role (USA. About the Sustainable Development Goals. 2019.).

From an international perspective Sweden has for several years invested large resources in research and development. In 2017 total expenditure on scientific research and development in Sweden amounted to 3.3 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This means Sweden exceeds the EU's 3 percent target and is one of the OECD countries with the highest expenditure on scientific research and development relative to GDP.

Sweden is a country with a high proportion of researchers among the population. Together with other Scandinavian countries, approximately 0.75 percent of Sweden's population work as researchers. This can be compared with countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Germany, where the corresponding figure is between 0.4 and 0.5 percent. Sweden also ranks highly in the proportion of scientific publications per capita.

In 2015–2017 approximately 1.6 published scientific articles per thousand inhabitants fell in Sweden. With this indicator Sweden ranks behind only Denmark and Switzerland but ahead of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the USA and Germany. Sweden is also characterised by great trust in knowledge and research, which is an important condition for research's ability to solve public problems. Conditions are therefore good for Sweden to be a leading research country internationally.

Distinguished scientists! Sweden's research system presents problems and ways forward for the research system of the future. Research is the starting point for knowledge that is fundamental to society's development, business competitiveness and meeting the social challenges the world faces. To achieve the goals we set, all research must maintain high quality, which means we must prioritise excellence. Whether strengthening the quality of Swedish research or creating the conditions for new leaps in knowledge, the integrity and freedom of the individual researcher is essential. At the same time, increasing transparency and having a basic consensus on good research practice are very important to maintain society's high trust in research and researchers.

The main goal of Sweden's research policy for a long time has been for Sweden to be one of the world's leading research and innovation countries and a leading knowledge nation. Today, with our state's support and call, the Republic of Azerbaijan shares the same goal! And we must participate closely in this work with all our strength! Of course, the starting point for both countries is that high-quality research, innovation and higher education substantially contribute to society's development and prosperity and to business competitiveness, and respond to the public challenges we face in Sweden, Azerbaijan and globally.

For many years Sweden has invested heavily in research and development with broad science and research expenditure relative to GDP. In international comparison Sweden also stands out for a high proportion of researchers and a high proportion of scientific publications per capita, and is a country with high trust in research. Based on these guiding principles, the Swedish Research Council has identified twelve points especially important for a world-class Swedish research system. My aim in voicing these points to you is to emphasise that they are also relevant for Azerbaijan.

1. Research driven by researcher initiative and free researchers: Free researchers and curiosity-driven research form the foundation of new knowledge, innovation and society's development. Support for free research must be strengthened to create conditions for society's long-term development and distributed on the basis of research quality assessed by experts in national or international competitions.

2. External funding and base funding: External funding is required to ensure development of Swedish research quality. The main purpose of base funding should be to provide the best researchers with better, longer-term and stable conditions. The interaction between base allocations and government external funding envisages a clear division of roles and a clear picture of how different funds are used.

3. Research infrastructure: Advanced research infrastructure is in many cases a prerequisite for conducting the highest-quality research. To improve access to research infrastructure, the Swedish Research Council must receive increased resources to maintain and strengthen its responsible role in prioritising, coordinating and funding research infrastructure.

4. Outstanding research environments: Good and creative research environments are an important factor for conducting high-quality research and linking research, education and the rest of society. Primary responsibility for creating a research environment lies with universities; external funding is an important complement. Universities should cooperate more broadly to create the best conditions for a strong research and teaching environment.

5. Strategic research initiatives: Strategic research initiatives are an important complement to curiosity-driven research. The government must create a new strategic research council tasked with proposing fields for strategic research efforts to the Swedish Research Council.

6. Evaluation and quality assurance: Evaluation of research results drives quality. For Swedish research to achieve the highest scientific quality, all research must be reviewed by experts. Evaluations by educational institutions and national actors must be conducted so that they complement one another.

7. Internationalisation: Participation of researchers in international cooperation and contexts at Swedish universities is very important for quality and development of Swedish research. Sweden must develop joint national strategies for internationalisation covering both education and research.

8. Career paths and mobility: Long-term quality development of Swedish research requires a functioning and clear system of career paths within universities and colleges. For this, more resources must be directed towards a recruitment system that takes into account finance, research, teaching services and mobility and is based on human dignity.

9. Gender equality: Quality of research is strengthened by an equal research system. To achieve this, responsibility of higher education institutions for promoting gender equality must be developed and, for example, reporting through tracking how base grants are distributed by gender.

10. Ethics in research, good research practice and misconduct: Ethics in research is the cornerstone of research conduct, quality and trustworthiness. Ethical review of research must function satisfactorily and similarly across all scientific fields and in international cooperation. A national code of conduct for good research practice should be created and awareness and knowledge regarding research ethics strengthened.

11. Open access: Transition to open access requires dialogue among actors in the research system at both national and international levels. Transition to open access in scientific publications must be implemented with attention to quality in publications and taking into account researchers' mandates. Success in transition to open access for research data requires a national strategy and increased resources.

12. Research communication: Need for scientifically grounded knowledge and understanding of the scientific process is increasing. Work on research communications must be strengthened and coordinated so that researchers, universities and research funders can complement one another. In addition, new infrastructures for transfer of knowledge that make it easier for researchers to communicate their research must be developed.

Of course, knowledge and research form the foundation for ensuring good economic development, future prosperity and sustainable well-being for our knowledge and research community. However! Nevertheless, we live in a period when the importance of knowledge and research is increasingly questioned – when the existence of so-called “alternative” facts is a recurring topic in social debate, and access to knowledge and information is personalised! This, in turn, affects society's trust in knowledge and science. To increase awareness of the role of research and what role it may play in the future, it is more important today than ever that research be conducted in open cooperation with the rest of society. Research conducted to answer this and to create a solid knowledge base for society's development must be characterised by high quality.

I wish you all success in the course of the forum and thank you for your attention!

Over a long historical period, because Azerbaijani history was connected with the Arab-Islamic world, it is possible to find numerous sources relating to Azerbaijan in the famous and ancient libraries of Egypt, one of the centres of Islamic culture, in archives of centres of Islamic scholarship and especially in the library of Al-Azhar University, considered the world's oldest centre of Islamic learning.

It should be noted that in the Soviet period the necessary conditions were not created for Azerbaijani scholars to work more closely with these sources; ideological restrictions were imposed. In many cases information relating to Azerbaijani history, literature and art was delivered to Azerbaijan through Moscow and then Leningrad schools of oriental studies, where distortions on a political-ideological basis were allowed and restrictions applied.

It should be borne in mind that renewed study of sources relating to Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis in Arabic sources will reveal names and facts unknown to Azerbaijani history and literature, and new references may be discovered to new works by Azerbaijani scholars about whom only superficial information exists regarding their creativity.

During my study at Al-Azhar University I began research in that field with the aim of uncovering in Arabic sources some historical truths relating to Azerbaijan and thereby contributing to renewed study of pages of Azerbaijani history that remained obscure to us. Within more than 25 years of this activity I succeeded in uncovering new facts about our glorious history and eminent personalities that will give every Azerbaijani a sense of pride, by consulting thousands of different sources.

The great 9th-century Arab scholar and literary critic Abdullah ibn Muslim ibn Qutayba writes in “Poetry and Poets”, quoting Abu Yaqzan al-Juwayri: “All poets among the mawali (non-Arabs who accepted Islam) living in the city of Medina are of Azerbaijani origin” (1).

The 11th-century Arab scholar Abu Tahir al-Silafi, comparing Azerbaijan with Andalusia, writes: The place of the country of Azerbaijan in the East in science and literature is like the place of Andalusia in the West. The populations of these two countries are very eager to learn science (2).

The 13th-century Arab scholar Imam al-Jazari writes about Marand, Azerbaijan: “Azerbaijan has produced genius scholars in every field of science” (3).

The other medieval Arab thinker Imam al-Samani wrote in “Al-Ansab” (Genealogies): “Azerbaijan is a land that has produced scholars from ancient times to this day” (4).

Arab scholar Ibn Ashur in his commentary “Al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir” (Editing and illumination) indicated in the sixteenth verse of surah “Al-Jathiyah” of the Holy Quran that the rug described in paradise is connected with Azerbaijan. According to his commentary, that verse states that paradise is spread with Azerbaijani rugs.

It should be noted that Ibn Ashur is a scholar held in special respect and esteem among Quranic exegetes. Commenting on the sixteenth verse of surah “Al-Jathiyah”, the author writes that “zarābiy” here is the plural of “zarbiyya”, meaning “embroidered”, “carpet woven from soft wool” or “rug”. Writing that wealthy people with high material status spread such rugs for decoration and to sit on, Ibn Ashur concludes that the word “zarbiyya” in its inverted Arabic form refers to Azerbaijan from the Bukhara countries. Thus the scholar who writes that the word “Zurbiyya” with the hard “z” phoneme refers to “Azribiyya” notes that deletion of the letter “a” is a widely spread phonetic rule in Arabic to facilitate pronunciation (5).

Everyone agrees with Ibn Ashur's commentary, which brings consistent evidence from the phonetic structure and grammar of Arabic. On the other hand, if we consider that Azerbaijan's ancient carpet-weaving art gained fame in the world and that these traditions have survived to the present day, we see the foundation of a logical connection here. Of course, raising any possibility through Ibn Ashur's commentary that the verse in question relates to Azerbaijan may be of special significance.

The geographer al-Qazwini, who lived in the 13th–14th centuries, narrates in “Asar al-Bilad wa-Akhbar al-Ibad” (Monuments of regions and news of servants) the tradition that the name Azerbaijan is mentioned in a hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when speaking of Mount Savalan (6).

Qazvini, writing in the same source about Ganja, ancient city of Azerbaijan, mentions the great Azerbaijani poet Abu Muhammad Nizami (Nizami Ganjavi). The scholar, speaking of Ganja's geography, history and main occupation of its inhabitants, writes that Abu Muhammad Nizami was a great and wise poet and that he had works such as “Khosrow and Shirin”, “Layla and Majnun”, “Treasury of Secrets” and “Seven Beauties”, and notes that Nizami died in approximately 590 AH (7).

The great 13th-century Arab geographer Muhammad ibn Abd al-Munim al-Himyari wrote in “Al-Rawd al-Mitar fi Khabar al-Aqtar” (The fragrant garden giving news of the regions) that when Caliph Abu Bakr wanted to appoint Umar as caliph after him, he mentioned the name of Azerbaijan wool. Moreover, when giving information about Azerbaijan, Himyari especially noted that Azerbaijanis were devoted to science and achieved fame in various fields of knowledge (8).

Another interesting fact not found in sources relating to Azerbaijan is the view expressed in Arabic historical sources that Sultan Saladin Ayyubi, who rendered important services in preventing the Crusades and liberating Muslim lands from occupation, was from Azerbaijan. The encyclopaedic Arab scholar Ibn Khallikan, who lived in the early 16th century, writes in “Wafayat al-A'yan wa-Anba Abna al-Zaman” (Deaths of eminent persons and news of the sons of the age) that according to all historical sources, Sultan Saladin Ayyubi and the Ayyubid family are from the city of Dvin, located in western Azerbaijan, near the land of the Georgians (9).

Also the historian Ibn al-Athir (10), who lived in the second half of the 13th century, Imam al-Dhahabi (11), who lived and wrote in the 14th century, Taghribirdi in the early 15th century and others are of the opinion that Saladin Ayyubi was from Azerbaijan (12).

REFERENCES

• Abu Muhammad ‘Abd Allah ibn Muslim ibn Qutayba – “Al-Shi‘r wa al-Shu‘ara” (Poetry and poets). Dar al-Ma‘arif (House of Knowledge) publishing house, Cairo: 577
• Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Muqri al-Tilmisani – “Nafh al-Tib min Ghusn al-Andalus al-Ratib” (Fragrant scent from the fresh branch of al-Andalus), Dar Sadir publishing house, Beirut: 3/224
• ‘Ali ibn Mahmud al-Shaybani al-Jazari – “Al-Lubab fi Tahdhib al-Ansab” (Selected work on the correct arrangement of genealogies), Dar Sadir, Beirut. 3/198
• Abd al-Karim ibn Muhammad al-Tamimi al-Sam‘ani – “Al-Ansab” (Genealogies), Dar al-Jinan, Centre for Cultural Services and Studies publishing house: 5/261
• Muhammad al-Tahir ibn ‘Ashur al-Tunisi – “Al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir” (Editing and illumination), Arab History Foundation, Beirut. 30/268
• Zakariyya ibn Mahmud al-Qazwini – “Athar al-Bilad wa Akhbar al-Ibad” (Monuments of the lands and news of the servants), Dar Sadir publishing house, Beirut: 284
• Zakariyya ibn Mahmud al-Qazwini – “Athar al-Bilad wa Akhbar al-Ibad” (Monuments of the lands and news of the servants), Dar Sadir publishing house, Beirut: 523
• Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Mu’min al-Himyari – “Al-Rawd al-Mi‘tar fi Khabar al-Aqtar” (The fragrant garden of news from the lands), Nasir Cultural Foundation, Beirut. 1/20.
• Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khallikan – “Wafiyyat al-A‘yan wa Anba’ Abna’ al-Zaman” (Deaths of eminent men and news of the sons of the age), Dar al-Thaqafa (House of Culture) publishing house, Lebanon. 1/259
• Ibn al-Athir ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Shaybani – “Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh” (The complete work on history), Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyya (Scientific Books House) publishing house, Beirut. 10/16
• Mahmud ibn Ahmad al-Dhahabi – “Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala” (Lives of eminent figures), Al-Risala Foundation. 21/278
• Yusuf ibn Taghribirdi al-Atabaki – “Maradd al-Latafa” (The return of elegance), Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyya (Egyptian Books House) publishing house, Cairo, 1997. 2/3

Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye in science and education has continued for years as a link of strategic importance that has strengthened. Historical, cultural and linguistic closeness of both countries has given impetus to development of cooperation in this field. Current directions and main aspects of this cooperation are presented below:

1. Agreements and protocols

High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council: This council established in 2011 between Azerbaijan and Türkiye creates a platform to strengthen educational and scientific cooperation between the two countries. Concrete steps have been taken within various agreements to promote student exchange, research projects and joint programmes.

Agreements between YÖK (Council of Higher Education of Türkiye) and the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan: Within these agreements student and teacher exchange, joint scientific research and programmes are implemented between universities.

2. Inter-university cooperation

Joint Education Programmes: Student and teacher exchange programmes operate between many universities of Azerbaijan and Türkiye. These programmes enable students to study in both countries, complete internships and receive teaching aligned with academic standards of both countries.

Union of Turkic World Universities: This union was created to promote cooperation in education among Turkic states, including Azerbaijan and Türkiye. Various seminars, conferences and joint projects are organised within the union.

3. Student exchange and scholarships

Scholarships in Türkiye for Azerbaijani students: Every year thousands of Azerbaijani students are admitted for bachelor's, master's and doctoral study in various fields in Türkiye. The Turkish government offers various scholarships and financial support to Azerbaijani students.

ERASMUS+ programme: Within this programme student exchange and short-term study opportunities are provided between universities of Azerbaijan and Türkiye. ERASMUS+ gives Azerbaijani students the opportunity to study in European countries and Türkiye plays an active role in this programme.

4. Scientific research and innovation cooperation

Joint research projects: Scholars of Azerbaijan and Türkiye implement joint research projects in various fields, especially energy, engineering, technology and the humanities.

Technoparks and innovation centres: Cooperation has been established between technoparks and innovation centres operating in Türkiye and Azerbaijan. Start-ups and innovative projects are supported within this cooperation.

5. Culture and language ties

Türkiye Turkish language and culture institutes: These institutes are engaged in teaching and promoting Turkish language and culture in Azerbaijan. At the same time centres operating in the field of Turkish language and literature exist in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani language and culture centres in Türkiye: These centres are engaged in teaching and promoting Azerbaijani language and culture in Türkiye, organise cultural events and support strengthening of cultural ties between the two countries.

6. Future prospects

Expansion of academic and scientific cooperation between the two countries: Renewal and expansion of cooperation agreements between the ministries of education of Azerbaijan and Türkiye is planned. Launch of new joint research projects and implementation of new education programmes are expected.

Digital education platforms and online courses: With use of modern technologies, online courses and virtual education programmes between universities of both countries are promoted.

Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye in science and education forms the foundation of strong ties that will continue in the future between the two brother countries. This cooperation will contribute to better education for the young generation and scientific development of both countries.

Scientific cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye is a promising field thanks to very strong cultural ties and a shared historical past. However, certain difficulties and problems may arise in this field. The main problems are these:

• Financial and resource shortfalls: failure to provide adequate financial support for the implementation of scientific projects can limit cooperation. Cooperation between the two countries should be supported with greater funding.
• Bureaucratic barriers: the complexity of bureaucratic processes such as visas and residence permits in academic cooperation can complicate researcher exchange and affect research timelines.
• Infrastructure and technological gaps: although Türkiye has taken major steps in recent years to develop research infrastructure, necessary infrastructure and technological capacity in some fields may still be insufficient. Similar infrastructure problems may also arise in Azerbaijan.
• Language and communication barriers: although Turkish and Azerbaijani are closely related languages, academic writing and terminological differences can complicate communication. Joint projects may encounter language-alignment problems. Attention to this is essential.
• Absence of strategic planning: long-term strategic plans and objectives in certain research fields between the two countries may not be fully defined, and this can adversely affect the sustainability of scientific cooperation.
• Harmonisation of academic standards: academic standards and criteria may differ in the two countries. This mismatch can create problems in joint research projects or publications.

Such problems can be eliminated through stronger coordination, alignment of policy and definition of common goals. When cooperation potential between the two countries is assessed, scientific cooperation can be developed further by solving existing problems.

At the same time Azerbaijani-origin scholars living in Türkiye have made important contributions in various scientific fields. These scholars have conducted noteworthy research especially in engineering, medicine, social sciences and physics at academic centres and research institutes.

1. Publications and international cooperation

Azerbaijani-origin scholars in Türkiye have published many scientific articles in international journals and presented at various conferences. These publications have strengthened scientific cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye and increased recognition of both countries in the academic world.

Moreover, these scholars have participated in international research projects and played an important role in integration into global scientific networks and exchange of knowledge.

2. Educational and academic contributions

Azerbaijani scholars working at universities in Türkiye contribute to training a new generation of scholars by lecturing to students and conducting scientific work. These scholars also contribute to development of scientific research by implementing projects at various research centres and laboratories.

Azerbaijani-origin scholars living in Türkiye continue to make valuable contributions to science and humanity by further strengthening firm cultural and academic ties between the two countries.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me to greet participants of today's forum, a very significant event in the life of Azerbaijan's scientific community, and to express my gratitude to our scholars and organisers who put forward the initiative to hold this event of such great importance.

I would like to speak about the role of modern mathematics in industrial revolutions.

Our country is increasingly integrating into the world economic system with its rich resources, personnel potential and successful foreign policy and is currently experiencing the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Head of state Mr Ilham Aliyev attaches very great importance to this process. Concrete tasks have been set before the government for society and our economy to be ready for these challenges.

Let us briefly recall industrial revolutions. The First Industrial Revolution is characterised by the steam engine, the Second by railways and the telegraph, the Third by digitalisation of communication and industrial processes. These revolutions caused serious qualitative changes in separate economic, technological and social systems.

Currently the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) is taking place, characterised by artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), emergence of cyber-physical systems and their increasing impact on people's lives.

The Fifth Industrial Revolution is also expected in the near future. To use the European Union's expression, industrial values will then be aligned with human values.

Currently worldwide the presence and participation of cyber-physical systems is rapidly increasing. A modern automobile can be given as an example. Here cyber means algorithms, data analysis, decision-making; physical expression means mechanical parts, coordinates, energy.

The system's software specification (here: “Let the car's speed be regulated within a given range”) controls the mechanical parts to fulfil it.

The most important task facing modern research is development of guaranteed algorithms for cyber-physical systems.

• Inputs: the system model and required specifications.
• Result: the control program or guarantee (“The system meets requirements safely with at least 99.9% probability”) that governs the system.

Obtaining these algorithms and guarantees is also important from a legal standpoint: when can a self-driving car be released for use?

Riyazi metodlar

The physical component of systems is modelled through differential equations → classical research field

Algorithms required for Industry 4.0

• Verilən: diferensial tənlik, xassə (“t-nin bütün qiymətləri üçün 2x(t) + 3y(t) > 1”)
• Result: does the solution of the given equation satisfy the given property?

Results achieved over the last decade

• Creating these algorithms requires results in number theory and Diophantine approximation worthy of the Fields Medal! (For example, Baker's theorem.)
• This connection works in both directions: if we can synthesise algorithms that ensure the correctness and safety of certain cyber-physical systems, we will achieve advances in number theory. (For example, the solution of Skolem's problem, an effective version of the “p-adic subspace” theorem).

My field of research

Theory of computer science, application of modern number theory to cyber-physical systems, creation of fast algorithms for these systems

Brief summary: Actual algorithmic problems of cyber-physical systems are closely linked to actual problems of number theory.

Dear forum participants!

Dear guests!

First I greet representatives and guests of the Forum of Azerbaijani Scientists Living Abroad and wish every participant success.

My presentation is on “Global cultural ties, world-level recognition and promotion of Azerbaijani culture and rich musical history”.

Azerbaijan is a country with an ancient culture. Looking at history, the culture and folklore of this country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia go back centuries.

Our rich music, ashug art, mughams, oral folk literature, creation of the first opera in the East – all of these belong to the Azerbaijani people.

In recent periods the global work of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation – recognition of our mugham worldwide, inclusion of our historical monuments and musical instruments in UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list – is among very important and commendable work. The work of the Ministry of Culture, the State Diaspora Committee and the Foundation in promoting Azerbaijani culture is undeniable.

Despite these successes in recent years, digitisation of information is needed both to increase global cultural ties further and to deliver Azerbaijan's cultural riches to the world.

Based on my 25 years of experience as a musicologist and composer, as founder and artistic director of the “Bridge of Sound” organisation and the “Harmony of Sound” International Music Festival, I would like to propose the following strategy for world-level recognition of Azerbaijani culture:

1. Creation of the digital platform

I believe that, first of all, creation of a unified digital platform enabling promotion of Azerbaijani culture is essential. This platform will bring together information about the history, traditions and music of Azerbaijani culture and enrich it with new resources.

Let all necessary information about Azerbaijani culture be collected on this platform for obtaining knowledge.

In my view, the platform should be multilingual and ensure presentation of works of art and musical works in digital format.

2. Promotion and publication of the digital platform

After the platform begins operating, the next stage is promotion of these resources abroad. In music, publication abroad of works by Azerbaijani composers, translation or production on CD, etc. The aim is to make information about Azerbaijani culture accessible to foreign audiences.

3. Establishment of international partnerships

After a digital platform is established, it is very important to build mutual links with universities, institutes, foundations and other organisations. The aim of these partnerships is to establish cultural ties between our countries. It would be purposeful to hold seminars and workshops on Azerbaijani culture and to organise short-term grant programmes to make these exchanges more accessible. It is also very important to organise mutual links and programmes between Karabakh University and foreign educational institutions, and to organise symposiums and conferences. Ensuring master classes by Azerbaijani musicians living and working abroad at Karabakh University would also be purposeful.

At the same time it is important to strengthen Azerbaijan's relations with international legal organisations in the field of copyright. In Germany there is an international copyright organisation called GEMA that protects authors' rights. I would note that as the first Azerbaijani woman composer I have been a full member of GEMA since 2007. I am also a full member of the Azerbaijan Composers' Union since 1999.

Establishment of international partnerships is also among the most important issues, within a cooperation programme with foreign and local CD labels and foreign and local publishers, for world publication of scholarly books, textbooks and works by Azerbaijani composers.

4. International projects and festivals with foreign musicians

Organising international projects and festivals with foreign musicians is very important for the world-level recognition of Azerbaijani music. Through these projects, integration of our musical culture with others and delivery of unique Azerbaijani music and culture to global audiences become possible. The “Bridge of Sound” orchestra and the “Harmony of Sound” festival, created at my initiative, are successful examples serving this purpose. Of course, this work requires great energy, strength and effort. Based on my own experience, I would note that there is great interest abroad in Azerbaijani music. During the 20 years I have worked in Germany, I have been organiser and author of the idea behind various international events, festivals and projects. The idea of implementing these projects has been warmly received by the State Committee on Diaspora Affairs and the Diaspora Foundation of Azerbaijan and by Germany's Ministry of Culture.

Preserving, promoting and passing on Azerbaijan's rich musical heritage to future generations is the civic duty of each of us. By working together in this direction we can achieve great accomplishments and successes both in science and in culture. I, for my part, am ready to apply abroad the experience, knowledge and skills I have gathered for the flourishing of victorious Azerbaijan in my own country.

Thank you for your attention!

There is a saying: “You cannot enter the same river twice!” This proverb carries deep meaning and, in general, substantiates the necessity of using mathematical models in forecasting environmental patterns and assessing the impact of human interventions.

It is known that until the late 1960s the field of human–biosphere relations and study of general processes occurring in the biosphere remained simply outside the centre of attention. Such cases are sufficiently characteristic of science: points the researcher considers most important in the work seen are as a rule not of the same importance to others, because the researcher's angle of view is, as a rule, not excepted to differ from the viewpoint of readers.

When any scholar begins to work on problems relating to links between evolution of the biosphere and its development processes and processes of human society, they immediately feel they have touched the most sacred of sacred things and are on the verge of seeing something previously entirely inaccessible to them.

Research related to modelling biosphere processes is becoming increasingly attractive year by year. At the same time, study of the biosphere as a unified system (noosphere) encompassing human society together with inanimate and organic nature, and their mutual relations with the cosmos, requires reliable cooperation among high-level like-minded specialists who fully understand and share the aims of such research. Therefore such work requires the collective efforts of a large unified theoretical and practical research team. Each team member must understand the overall aim of the project while contributing individually and be able to act in synchrony with other team members.

As is known, in 2023 approximately only 12–13% of world energy was obtained from renewable sources. This includes energy from sources such as solar, wind, water and biomass that participate in natural recycling processes and are considered sustainable. Exact percentage figures may vary slightly depending on the source and methodology used for calculations. At the same time, demand for energy is rising rapidly. Global per capita energy consumption, approximately 7.7 gigajoules in 1969, had risen to approximately 82 gigajoules by 2023, i.e. a growth factor of 82/7.7 ≈ 10.6 over that period. Thus, global per capita energy consumption in 2023 was approximately 10.6 times that in 1969. By 2024, renewable sources, including solar, wind, water and biomass, together with nuclear energy account for approximately 22–23% of total annual world energy consumption.

In the late 1960s scholars tried to determine how many people our planet could support at the then level of technological development and under conditions of natural recycling of materials. Despite the very high degree of uncertainty for accurate assessment, some calculations gave a figure of approximately 500 million!

The reasoning then was as follows: It was observed that only ten percent of the energy people use comes from renewable sources, i.e. participates in natural recycling processes. The remaining ninety percent comes from the store of remains of previous biospheres or from deposits of radioactive materials formed at the Earth's “birth”. From this it was concluded that to preserve the Earth's non-renewable reserves, not to disrupt its natural recycling process and to live in harmony with nature like all other living organisms, humanity must either seriously curb its appetite, or create new technological means to satisfy this appetite, or reduce its present population to approximately one eighth!

According to other calculations, annual world energy consumption in 2019 had increased nearly threefold from 62,949 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 1969 to 173,340 TWh. Therefore, if we use the ratio noted above, it turns out that in the 2020s, to live in harmony with nature, humanity must either seriously curb its appetite, or create new technological means to satisfy this appetite, or reduce its population from the approximately 8,000,000,000 existing in 2023 to about 8,000,000,000 / 3 ≈ 2,666,666,666, i.e. reduce it to approximately 2.7 billion!

Which of the three variants shown above can be considered more acceptable for us? Of course, creation of new technological means to satisfy our appetite!

In the 1970s the expression “global problems” began to be used increasingly in the language of scientists and politicians, and several eye-catching works devoted to these problems appeared. The International Institute of Life Sciences, created by the famous histologist Professor Maurice Marois, began work on problems of this kind and the Club of Rome was created.

Among works devoted to that field, Professor Jay Forrester's truly pioneering work “World Dynamics” was notable. There Forrester tried to investigate through a model consisting of only five variables the processes he regarded as fundamental in the economy, demography and increasing environmental pollution and their mutual relations on a planetary scale. Many of the functional dependencies used in “World Dynamics” seemed to be taken out of thin air and could not withstand even the most good-natured criticism. At the same time, although the scientific depth of the work was not entirely satisfactory, the author's courage in trying to include human activity in a comprehensive description of processes occurring in the biosphere, thanks to the methods used there, was astonishing. Unfortunately, the work says nothing about alternative approaches or, in general, about numerical analysis of complex dynamic systems.

Meanwhile global problems, i.e. planetary-scale problems, began to occupy a place among the concerns of international organisations, especially UNESCO. In 1971 the first conference on global problems was held in Venice at the initiative of UNESCO official Professor Fortini. The main event of the conference was the presentation “The Limits of Growth” by Dennis Medouz, Forrester's graduate student. The subsequently published book version became a bestseller and was published in large print runs.

Already at that time there was a great need for appropriate computer models. Wide promotion of them was important so that the general public would be informed that our modern way of life itself carries many dangers. As many people as possible had to heed the warning that an approaching catastrophe could occur without warning and that it would not be possible to change the course of a ship heading into the maelstrom at the last moment.

Therefore it was difficult to give Medouz's work genuine scientific status. It resembled an example that could be used for student demonstrations in university lecture halls. The main flaw in Medouz's (and his teacher Forrester's) approach was that he took his approach far too seriously for investigating the actual dynamics of what happens on our planet and thought that this was in fact sufficient to solve the problem. Medouz could not understand the reasons for many doubts. For example, he considered the phenomenon of exponential growth observable after loss of equilibrium (homeostasis) to be a new discovery.

In fact, the problem is more complex and difficult than other scholars modelling planetary development using Medouz and Forrester's technique calculated. For a correct solution it was understood to be important to have a more reliable description both of processes occurring within nature and of those interactively linked with nature.

As a first step, creation of computer models simulating mutual interaction of oceans, atmosphere and biota and taking into account human economic activity in various individual scenarios could be proposed. And although at the level of improvisation, the need was felt to prepare a plan for such a computer simulation.

Important work has been done in this direction over the last few decades and we are now witnesses to annual global summits and conferences on climate change. The most recent was held in Dubai, UAE, from 30 November to 12 December 2023.

To accelerate the transition to clean energy, nearly 200 countries were represented at COP 28 by delegates, business and finance leaders and civil society representatives. The US President's special envoy at the time noted at the conference: “Today is an exceptional day. We have officially returned to the Paris Agreement – this is part of renewed global climate change efforts. No country can fight this struggle alone.” He stated that productive years and successful meetings in the future were eagerly awaited.

In the spirit of all noted above, we observe that the conference “Transition to a ‘new green economic model’: global challenges, opportunities and perspectives” held in Baku on 10–12 October 2022 and the international scientific conference on “National ecological priorities and global economic threats: new challenges, opportunities and perspectives” held at Ganja State University on 15–16 December 2023 within the Year of Heydar Aliyev made an important contribution to the development of Azerbaijani industry in this direction.

Canada can provide substantial support for Azerbaijan's progress on the path to a “green economy”. What should be done first in this field is important:

Renewable energy projects

Canada has significant experience in renewable energy technologies, including hydroelectric, wind and solar power. Oil- and gas-rich Azerbaijan can benefit from Canadian technologies and know-how to diversify its energy complex. Joint cooperation can be organised in renewable energy projects such as solar farms and wind power installations.

Energy efficiency technologies

Canada is known for its advances in energy efficiency technologies and sustainable construction practices. These technologies can be used to increase energy efficiency in Azerbaijan's industrial sector and buildings.

Texnologiya transferi

Canada is a leader in developing and implementing green technologies for aluminium production. This includes innovations in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy efficiency. Canada can transfer its technology and advanced practices in this field to Azerbaijan, including advanced smelting technologies using cleaner energy sources and more efficient processes.

Research and innovation

Creation of research partnerships between Canadian and Azerbaijani universities and research institutes can give impetus to innovation in green technologies. Joint research on clean energy approaches, efficient use of waste and sustainable agriculture can lead to new advances and applications.

Training and skills enhancement

Canada can offer training programmes and seminars to Azerbaijani specialists on green technologies and sustainable practices. This may include transfer of knowledge on carbon management, environmental impact assessment and green business practices.

Environmental management and protection

Both countries can cooperate in projects on biodiversity conservation, sustainable management of natural resources and combating pollution. Joint initiatives can cover nature conservation projects and strategies to reduce impacts of climate change.

Green finance and investment

Canada has a developed green finance sector and advanced practice in financing sustainable projects. Azerbaijan can benefit from Canadian experience in structuring green bonds for ecological projects and attracting investment. Joint efforts can be directed towards developing financial instruments and investment strategies for green projects.

Exchange of experiences in policy development

Exchange of best practices and policy frameworks can be useful for promoting green industries. Canada's environmental laws and regulations and experience in applying green policies can help Azerbaijan prepare and implement similar policies to promote sustainable industrial practices.

Sustainable transport

Canada is advancing in development of electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Azerbaijan can cooperate with Canadian companies to develop and apply sustainable transport technologies, including electric vehicle infrastructure and public transit systems.

By focusing on these fields Canada and Azerbaijan can develop a strong green economy, create new opportunities for sustainable development and solve ecological problems together.

In March 2024 a panel conference on “Uniting for COP 29: Our World – Your Responsibility – Our Future” was held at the University of Toronto. Potential application opportunities of our research in the field of climate change were especially emphasised at this conference.

President Ilham Aliyev stated in an interview with the Euronews television channel on 2 March 2024 during the 10th meeting of ministers of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council and the 2nd meeting of ministers of the Green Energy Advisory Council: “Azerbaijan has been able to rid itself of the ‘oil curse’. COP 29 is part of our common ‘green’ agenda and sense of responsibility, because a country rich in fossil fuels should be among the leading countries in the process of transition to ‘green energy’.”

We hope WAAS will play a worthy role in uniting the efforts of all organisations and institutions engaged in preserving ecological balance worldwide and especially in the Republic of Azerbaijan around a unified academic platform. Organising application in Azerbaijan of obtained scientific research results will make important contributions to development of a “green industry” in our republic.