University of Oulu researchers advance sustainable water management in Uzbekistan

The delegation, led by Professor Ali Torabi Haghighi and including Postdoctoral Researcher Aziza Baubekova and Doctoral Researcher Matin Rafipour Langeroudi, visited the Lower Amu Darya and Aral Sea region, where they observed water management practices, irrigation systems, ecosystem restoration efforts, and the long-term environmental impacts of water scarcity. The programme also included a short course on integrated Water-Energy-Food Nexus modelling at Central Asian Green University, Tashkent.

The visit concluded with participation in the international forum “Innovative Education Forms for Economic Growth and Human Capital Development” at Samarkand Agro-innovation and Research University. University of Oulu researchers contributed to discussions on future skills, foresight methods, sustainability transitions, and the management of Central Asia's environmental resources.

“The visit offered a unique opportunity to observe water management challenges and solutions firsthand in the Amu Darya Basin and Aral Sea region. At the same time, it strengthened our collaboration with local universities and stakeholders, creating new opportunities for research, education and knowledge exchange,” says Postdoctoral Researcher Aziza Baubekova.

The visit strengthened the University of Oulu’s partnerships with research and education organizations across Central Asia, creating new opportunities for collaborative research, education, and capacity building in sustainable water and environmental resource management.