On March 1, at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, Acting President of ANAS, academician Arif Hashimov met with general directors, executive directors and scientific secretaries of scientific institutions of the Divison of Biological and Medical Sciences (DBMS) of the Academy.

Opening the event, academician Arif Hashimov said that the Division of Biological and Medical Sciences is one of the most important departments of the Academy in terms of priority of scientific directions, number of scientific institutions, quantitative and qualitative indicators of scientific research and human resources. According to the academician, due to a number of social, economic, demographic, environmental and anthropogenic processes taking place globally in the world today, biological and medical sciences have become the most priority areas of science.

He also said that the coronavirus pandemic has created a number of new socio-economic, geopolitical, spiritual and psychological realities and updated the biological and medical sciences at all levels, recreating the concept of justice. This actualizes the interdisciplinary interaction of natural and humanitarian and social sciences at a new level on a global scale.

Academician Arif Hashimov spoke about the current problems of development of biology, medicine and agricultural sciences in Azerbaijan, the complex application of molecular biology, molecular genetics, bioinformatics, system biology and other technologies to life processes. He also spoke about global climate change, the problem of food security, and the development of agricultural sciences to address this problem.

The speaker noted that the implementation of reconstruction work in the liberated territories is one of the main priorities of state policy, and in this regard, the scientific institutions and organizations of the Division of Biological and Medical Sciences have a special responsibility: «monitoring of the biogeoecological situation in the region, a comprehensive study of the biocenoses and biodiversity of the liberated territories in comparison with the pre-occupation situation, conducting research on the introduction and reintroduction of rare and endangered plants in the territory of Karabakh, including the reproduction of plants by biotechnological methods in order to restore the gene pool, the development of scientific foundations for restoration agriculture in the liberated territories, the creation and use of more productive varieties of plants and animal species in accordance with the relevant soil and climatic conditions».

At the end of his speech, academician A. Hashimov wished the employees success in fulfilling the tasks facing the enterprises of the Division in terms of the challenges of the world and the socio-economic needs of the country.

Speaking later, Vice-President of ANAS, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Division of Biological and Medical Sciences, academician Irada Huseynova said that today the students of academician Jalal Aliyev work in the institutions of the Division and DBMS employees have rich scientific potential. She noted that the XXI century is the century of biology, life sciences, biotechnology, which puts a serious responsibility on the scientific institutions and scientists of DBMS. Academician Irada Huseynova said that today the country's leadership pays great attention to our science and stressed the need to work hard to achieve the goals set by President Ilham Aliyev.

Noting that a number of reforms have been implemented in the institutions of the Division and special attention is paid to the training of young people, the academician said that 15 out of 25 doctoral students of ANAS studying abroad are employees of the OBMS.

Touching upon the work done to conduct scientific research in the liberated territories of Karabakh, the chairman of the Scientific Council said that a program was developed to restore the infrastructure of the Karabakh Scientific Research Base of the Institute of Genetic Resources, an international conference was held on the topic “Biodiversity, land and water resources of Karabakh: past, present and future ". She also said that the correspondent member of ANAS Alovsat Guliyev has taken part in the meetings of the relevant profile commission on drinking water supply of the cities of Shusha and Aghdam in recent months. The Chairman of the Academic Council of the Branch also said that the scientists of the OBMS conducted important research within the framework of the "Action Plan for 2020-2022 to ensure the efficient use of water resources" and on the problem of falling water levels in the Kura River.

Giving information about the preparation of the third edition of the "Red Book" for publication, academician Irada Huseynova said that the Institutes of Botany, Dendrology, Zoology, Central Botanical Garden, Nakhchivan and Ganja departments of ANAS continue their activities with the participation of specialists from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

Taking into account the new realities created by the coronavirus pandemic, the speaker said that the vaccines created in the world have already yielded positive results, and the vaccine, developed by the corresponding member of ANAS Tarlan Mamedov is included in the list of the World Health Organization. She said that in connection with this, the Academy plans to conduct a scientific seminar with the participation of specialists from ANAS, the Ministry of Health, TABIB and the Azerbaijan Medical University.

She also said that there are two international laboratories at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies and one international laboratory at the Institute of Genetic Resources to conduct research on the IV Industrial Revolution and its requirements.

In addition, she spoke about the cleaning of contaminated soils, longevity, healthy aging, food security, biosafety, the study of bioresources of the Caspian Sea, etc., and reported on important research in the field.

 At the meeting, the General Director of the Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, Corresponding Member of ANAS Alovsat Guliyev, General Director of the Institute of Genetic Resources, Corresponding Member of ANAS Zeynal Akperov, General Director of the Institute of Dendrology, Corresponding Member of ANAS Tofig Mammadov, General Director of the Institute of Microbiology, Corresponding Member of ANAS Panah Muradov, General Director of the Institute of Botany, Professor Sayyara Ibadullayeva, General Director of the Institute of Physiology, Professor Ulduz Gashimova, Acting Director General of the Institute of Zoology, PhD in Agrarian Sciences, Associate Professor Aladdin Eyvazov and General Director of the Central Botanical Garden Natig Allahverdiyev also spoke and voiced their proposals in the areas of rational use of groundwater, protection of the balance when drilling artesian wells, food security of the republic, creation of new varieties of wheat, preparation of the flora of Azerbaijan for publication in their native language, the effective use of medicinal plants, the impact of climate change on biodiversity, the problems of aging research, biosecurity, the reuse of wastewater, the effective use of snake and scorpion venoms, etc.

In conclusion, Academician Arif Hashimov emphasized the importance of maintaining the scientific potential of the Division, wishing success to the DBMS staff, noting that some of the proposals voiced at the event will be included in the draft "Strategies for the development of Azerbaijani science."