The "Environmental Challenges in Central Asia" symposium organized by the China & Central Asia Studies Center (CCASC) was held on February 7, 2023, at the KIMEP University campus in Almaty. The symposium followed a structured format, starting with welcome remarks from Caroline Savage, the Consul General of the United States in Almaty, and Dr. Gerald Pech, the Dean of the College of Social Sciences at KIMEP University.
Following the opening remarks, the audience had the opportunity to engage with three esteemed scholars. Dr. Jennifer Turner, Director of the Wilson Center's China Environment Forum, shared her insights on the challenges of water scarcity and energy demand in China. Dr. Kristopher White, an Associate Professor at KIMEP University, discussed the relationship between China and Kazakhstan in the context of transboundary wildlife resource management, focusing on the case of Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia). Dr. Larissa Kogutenko, the coordinator of the Water and Climate program at the Kazakh-German University's Center for Natural Resources and Sustainability, presented her research on climate change and its effects on water resources and ecosystems in Central Asia. Each presentation was followed by engaging discussions and questions from the participants.
After the lunch and coffee break, the afternoon session continued with three more informative presentations. Dr. Rafis Abazov, a Professor and Director of the International Institute for Green and Sustainable Development, explored the sustainable development goals and the green campus project, showcasing the case of KazNARU's knowledge transfer from academia to organizations. Following Dr. Abazov, Mr. Yernazar Kumar, a PhD candidate at KIMEP University, presented his research on environmental awareness aspects in Kazakhstan, utilizing models such as EAS, EEV, and EAI. The final presentation of the symposium was delivered by Mrs. Ekaterina Gorshkova, a coordinator at the Environmental Lab in Kazakh-German University. Mrs. Gorshkova shared her experiences in leading projects that utilize NEXUS and IWRM approaches and establishing collaborations with environmental NGOs. Her presentation focused on the sustainable lifestyle initiatives implemented at DKU (Kazakh-German University).
The "Environmental Challenges in Central Asia" symposium was a pilot initiative organized by China & Central Asia Studies Center (CCASC) at KIMEP University and generously supported by the American Councils for International Education as well as the US Consulate General in Almaty. If you are interested in watching any of the presentations, a playlist containing the individual video recordings can be found on CCASC’s YouTube channel, providing an opportunity to delve deeper into the valuable insights shared by the scholars during the symposium.