Guest lecturer from Samarkand State University
This week GRÓ LRT had the honour to welcome three guests from Samarkand State University in Uzbekistan: Dr Toshpulot Rajabov, Director of the Institute of Agrobiotechnology and Food Security and a fellow in 2009; Professor Mamadiyar Khayitov, Soil Scientist and Agrochemist and Head of Department of Fruit and Vegetable Science; and Dr Holmurod Jalov, Specialist in Bryology and Head of Department of Botany.
Dr Toshpulot Rajabov gave lectures on Tuesday and Wednesday on rangelands of Uzbekistan, their ecological characteristics, grazing history, current conditions, and management challenges. Dr Rajabov is the first international guest lecturer at GRÓ LRT who is also an alumnus of the GRÓ LRT six-month training programme, but he graduated from the programme in 2009.
The visit from Samarkand State University follows GRÓ LRT’s visit to Uzbekistan in October last year, during which collaborative efforts between the university and GRÓ LRT were discussed. These discussions have been advanced this week in meetings with our guests and faculty members at the Agricultural University of Iceland, as well as specialists from the Land and Forest Iceland Institute.
During their stay, we have taken our guest to the Sagnagarður Visitor Centre of the Land and Forest Iceland Institute in Gunnarsholt, where the land degradation history of Iceland and the measures taken to halt soil erosion and restore ecosystems, is displayed in pictures, artifacts and text. Furthermore, we have taken our guest to some sites in South Iceland to observe ongoing restoration projects implemented by state agencies, farmers and the public.
The visit from Samarkand State University of Uzbekistan is a part of GRÓ LRT and Samarkand State University Erasmus+ Mobility Project, running from 2023-2025. GRÓ LRT and Samarkand State University have been working together since 2009 when its first candidate, Toshpulot Rajabov, attended GRÓ LRT six-month training programme. We are honoured to have Dr Rajabov as our guest lecturer this year and look forward to continuing our collaboration with Samarkand State University.
