On November 20, the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of ANAS held an event “Science and education: let’s protect the past, create the future” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Baku State University (BSU), which is an important contribution to the development of higher education and science in the country. The guests were acquainted with the activities of the Education Department of the Institute and the poster prepared on the theme "We are proud to be BSU graduates".

The event began with the Azerbaijani anthem. The vice-president of ANAS, director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, academician Irada Huseynova welcomed the guests and noted that the creation of BSU was a great event in the life of Azerbaijani people and spoke about the history of the university. The academician noted that the creation of BSU-the national wealth of Azerbaijani people was one of the most important events in the memory of history. ANAS and BSU should work closely with each other for further development of our country. The triangle of science-education-innovation must be constantly evolving and relations should be strengthened. She said that she was also a graduate of BSU's chemistry faculty and noted that 95% of the Institute's researchers were BSU graduates. That’s why the 100^th anniversary of BSU is very important for IMBB.

Rector of BSU Elchin Babayev spoke about the importance of President Ilham Aliyev's order on holding the 100th anniversary of Baku State University and noted that the anniversary events of this university were widely celebrated both in Azerbaijan and abroad. He said that the graduates of BSU with their knowledge and skills worthily represented Azerbaijan abroad and increased its prestige. The continuing of this tradition is entrusted to today’s youth. Cooperation between IMBB and BSU for years, doing a practice of bachelor’s and master students of BSU in IMBB are samples to the integration of science and education. BSU anniversary is the anniversary of Azerbaijan as a whole. Approximately 175.000 students graduated from BSU over its 100-year history. The first rector of BSU Vasiliy İvanoviç Razumovskiy said that a fire flared between East and West, this fire illuminates with its brilliance and its sparks are graduates. Today BSU plays an important role in the socio-political life of the country. National leader Heyder Aliyev was a graduate of BSU. The founder of IMBB, academician Jalal Aliyev was also a graduate of BSU.

Later world-renowned scientist, head of the laboratory of Computational structural biology of the Institute of Molecular biology-MRC in Cambridge, graduate of BSU’s applied mathematics faculty, professor Garib Murshudov said that the university had an impact on the development of society in all directions.

Correspondent members of ANAS Ibrahim Azizov, Elshad Gurbanov, doctors of biological sciences Saftar Suleymanov, Yashar Feyziyev, Hasan Babayev, Head of Education Department PhD Samira Rustamova, Head of General Department Aynura Mirzayeva, deputy director on general affairs Natig Allahverdiyev made a speech, congratulated all the graduates, and spoke about contributions of BSU to the Azerbaijani science and education. At the end of the event, a slide show prepared from graduates’ pictures at the university was demonstrated.