The international scientific symposium entitled “Environmental, Biological, and Medical Aspects of Urban Planning: A Sustainable and Healthy Urban Environment” held at the Institute of Molecular Biology of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan as part of the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” continued with a plenary session.

The plenary session, moderated by Doctor of Biological Sciences Karim Gasimov, featured presentations on the impact of urban planning on the environment, biodiversity, and human health; environmental challenges facing modern cities; biosafety; and strategies for preventing risks arising in urban environments.

The first speaker at the session was Professor Ayşe Baran of Mardin Artuklu University in Türkiye. Joining the session via the Zoom platform, she delivered a presentation entitled “The Use of Metallic Nanomaterials in Urban Architecture.” Her presentation highlighted the potential applications, advantages, and future prospects of metallic nanomaterials in modern architecture.

Head of the Department of Botany at Baku State University, Doctor of Biological Sciences and Professor Elshad Gurbanov delivered a presentation entitled “The Impact of Urban Planning on Biodiversity and Sustainable Development” in which he discussed the challenges posed by rapidly expanding cities to natural ecosystems and biological diversity. It was mentioned that the expansion of urban areas can lead to landscape degradation, the loss of natural habitats, environmental pollution, and a decline in biodiversity. In this regard, developing urban planning projects based on ecological principles, protecting natural resources, and expanding green spaces are essential prerequisites for sustainable urban development.

Corresponding Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Panah Muradov delivered a presentation entitled “Modern Urban Planning and Biosafety Issues” at the plenary session. The scientist provided an overview of the history and forms of human settlement, the factors behind the emergence of the first cities, modern types of cities, and the stages of urbanization. The presentation also addressed the interrelationship between biodiversity and urbanization, highlighting the environmental challenges facing modern cities and issues related to biosafety.

The next presentation was  delivered by Corresponding Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Oktay Gasimov, focused on “Biological and Environmental Stress Factors in the Urban Environment: Lung Cancer Risks and Preventive Approaches.” The presentation was delivered by a staff member of the Institute of Molecular Biology of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Matanat Bakhishova. The presentation examined biological and environmental stress factors affecting human health in urban environments, the risks they pose, and preventive approaches. The presentation also covered the development of an integrated model for urban health, the role of forests and green belts in urban planning, and the main risk factors for lung cancer.

The final presentation of the plenary session was delivered by PhD in Physics and Associate Professor Elman Yusifov on “Sustainable Development of Biodiversity in the Baku Megalopolis in the Context of the Ecological City Concept.” The presentation provided information on the biodiversity, flora and fauna of the Absheron Peninsula, including rare and endangered species. The importance of preserving nature’s ecosystem services and maintaining natural components within the urban environment was emphasized as essential to ensure the sustainability of urban ecosystems.

The session focused on a wide range of issues, including molecular-genetic and systemic approaches to the urban environment and human health, environmental risks, environmental fragmentation, pollution, and noise, urban biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability, green infrastructure and bioadaptive architecture, healthy and sustainable urban models, urban stress and mental health issues, infectious and non-communicable diseases associated with urban environments and preventive approaches to urban planning.

The event also examined innovative and regulatory solutions for creating environmentally safe cities, the impact of urban planning on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, and biosafety issues in modern urban planning.

An extensive exchange of views on the presentations took place during the plenary session. The discussions were attended by Academician Irada Huseynova, Corresponding Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Panah Muradov, Doctor of Biological Sciences Karim Gasimov, and other scientists and experts.

The international scientific symposium entitled “Environmental, Biological, and Medical Aspects of Urban Planning: A Sustainable and Healthy Urban Environment” continued throughout the day with section sessions covering various areas of research.