On November 16, the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Azerbaijan hosted the “Aliyev Readings” organized by the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences of ANAS on the topic “Photosynthesis, environment, and plant productivity”, dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the outstanding scientist and social and political figure, academician Jalal Aliyev.

The event was attended by the President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbayli, Vice-President of ANAS, Academician Irada Huseynova, Advisor to ANAS, Academician Garib Mammadov, directors general of scientific institutions and organizations that are part of the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences of ANAS, members of the department, Employees of the Research Institute of Crop Husbandry of the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as Gyozo Garab, member of the Silk Road International Academy of Sciences, honorary professor at the HUN-REN Center for Biological Research in Szeged (Hungary), visiting professors, young scientists, students and other invited persons.

First, the event participants visited the graves of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Academician Jalal Aliyev on the First Alley of Honor and paid tribute by laying flowers at their monuments.

  President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbeyli, opening the event held at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, noted that Academician Jalal Aliyev had an unprecedented impact on the formation and development of new areas of biological science in our country. He mentioned the high achievements of the outstanding scientist in all areas of his activity and a serious attitude towards science, the social environment, and people.

Noting that such fields of science as bioinformatics, molecular biology and photosynthesis in our country are associated with the name of academician Jalal Aliyev, the President of ANAS emphasized that one of the important merits of the outstanding scientist was to increase the biological productivity of plants based on maximum combination of practical activities with modern achievements of science. “The scientific ideas and theories of academician Jalal Aliyev during his lifetime turned into wealth serving the people. Practical testing of important scientific achievements obtained under the leadership of Jalal Aliyev was carried out on large agricultural fields of Azerbaijan, and high crop yields were achieved."

Noting that academician Jalal Aliyev provided invaluable assistance in the activities of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, the Institute of Botany, and the Scientific Research Institute of Crop Husbandry of the Ministry of Agriculture, the head of ANAS said that students of the scientific school created by the great scientist successfully work in these institutions and serve the development of Azerbaijani science. He noted that one of the unique features of the personnel trained within the framework of Jalal Aliyev’s scientific school is that his students are qualified specialists in the fields in which they are engaged.

The President of ANAS emphasized that the outstanding scientist was distinguished by his strong character in the social and political sphere, was always faithful to our people, state, Heydar Aliyev, and provided important support to the Great Leader in saving our country from chaos during the transition period.

Noting that the scientist has a special role in the development of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Academician Isa Habibbeyli emphasized that as a member of the Presidium and Academician-Secretary of ANAS, Academician Jalal Aliyev was directly involved in making the necessary decisions for the development of our science.

At the end of his speech, Academician Isa Habibayli noted that the ideas of Academician Jalal Aliyev still live among his students today, and future personnel of Azerbaijani science are being trained in the light of the ideals of the outstanding scientist.

  Then the Vice-President of ANAS, Director General of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, academician Irada Huseynova made a speech on the topic “The contribution of academician Jalal Aliyev to the study of photosynthesis: from fundamental principles to the management of productive processes.” 

Covering the biography of the scientist, Academician Irada Huseynova said that the Honored Scientist, a full member of ANAS, a member of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ukrainian and Belarusian Agrarian Academies Jalal Aliyev, was born in Nakhchivan in 1928. From 1946  to 1951, he studied at the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Nakhchivan Pedagogical Institute and the Faculty of Biology of the Azerbaijan State University (now Baku State University), from which he graduated with honors. 

Irada Khanym noted that the scientist’s work on the topic “The influence of microelements on the development and productivity of wheat” and his doctoral dissertation on the topic “Photosynthetic activity of plants, nutrition with mineral elements and productivity” was devoted to solving serious scientific problems. She further added that the formation of a new scientific theory in the field of agrobiology and plant breeding in Azerbaijan is one of the important achievements of Academician Jalal Aliyev, and he created a new form of unity and integration of fundamental science and field research, which makes it possible to experimentally create and apply new varieties of intensive type.

Academician Irada Huseynova emphasized that the inheritance of valuable traits of photosynthesis and the study of heredity in general, the identification of donor characteristics of genotypes, and, most importantly, the comprehensive implementation of targeted breeding work to create varieties close to “ideal” are closely related to his name. Huseynova added that on the initiative of Jalal Aliyev, new fields of biology were developed in our country - molecular biology, molecular genetics, gene and cellular biotechnology, mathematical biology, computer biology and bioinformatics and that today his students work in leading universities in the world.

In addition, international conferences initiated and organized by academician Jalal Aliyev were mentioned, and it was emphasized that the scientific school created by the scientist today lives and is developed by his students.

  Later, Professor Gyozo Garab gave a speech dedicated to academician Jalal Aliyev on the topic “The fascinating world of photosynthesis, on which all life on Earth and the future of humanity depend.”

  After the opening ceremony, the event continued with discussions.