On the Eve of the New Year, 30 December 2016, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with leading representatives of the nation’s scientific circles with participation of members of government, heads of ministries and agencies, public and civil organizations, members of the Academy of Sciences and chiefs of the country’s leading higher education institutions.
Today it is evident that new historical period, new era of development in all spheres of life has come, be it politics, economics, social and humanitarian spheres, and, of course, science. After all, there is the closest and indissoluble connection between science and life: the more science serves for life, the more life enriches science. Based on the prerogatives voiced by the head of state, science and those, who engaged in it, will be given a special attention.
One of the participants of the meeting – the member of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan Edvard Rtveladze has kindly agreed to talk with us about the further development of our country’s science.
Edward Vasilyevich, as the head of state noted at the meeting with representatives of science, the time requires to raise advancement of all sectors of society and science to a new level, because without that, it is difficult to solve urgent tasks facing society. Comprehensive support for science and scholars is one of the priority objectives of the government. This idea was reflected in the decree to further improve and promote the activities of the academicians of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, which was adopted under the curtain of 2016. How has this initiative been apprehended?
First of all, I would like to sincerely thank the leader of the country for the care and support of science, academicians, which have been manifested by Shavkat Miromonovich fr om the first steps in his tenure in the high office of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This initiative was warmly apprehended and fully supported by the scientific community of our country.
In line with the decree, measures on further advancement and strengthening of the country’s scientific potential, enhancing the role of science in the social and economic development, full support of the activities of academics will be taken. The importance of further deepening of the integration of science, education and industry was especially underlined. Today there is a clear need for further advancement of scientific cooperation with leading international institutions, universities, research centers and academies of sciences. I consider fundamentally true the task of creation of the best conditions in our country for our compatriots, who have received education and a degree in the leading foreign educational and scientific institutions, all-round stimulation of their scientific work.
At the meeting with the head of the country it was voiced that there are many scientists with high potential in our country who have received international recognition, and they have to create their own schools.
It really is a very important message. For example, speaking about Uzbek scientific schools of historians, archaeologists, art historians, created by Ya.Gulyamov, M.Masson, G.Pugachenkova, he said they have always been characterized by a high scientific level and broad international recognition. In the years of independence, they were not only continued, but also greatly enriched by new scientific themes that of course have been developed before, but very weakly and superficially. Concerning the significant achievements of historical science of Uzbekistan, I would like to mention the history of statehood developed and yet published by a team of scientists of the institutes of history, art history together with scientists from other scientific institutions of the country. Among them – “Essays on the history of the state of Uzbekistan”, the first volume of “History of Uzbek statehood”, “Khorezm in the history of the statehood of Uzbekistan.” For the first time thanks to the independence a fundamental work “History of Uzbekistan. The era of Amir Temur and Temurids” has been created, which gives a comprehensive description of political, social and cultural life, role of Amir Temur in the world history.
The further advancement of scientific cooperation with leading international institutions, universities, research centers and academies of sciences became one of the meeting’s theses. What is being done in the sphere of international scientific cooperation, in fact, is it not wrong if I say that achievements of local archaeologists are a significant contribution not only to the domestic, but also to the world historical fund?
Uzbekistan’s scientists have gained great scientific baggage that needs to be developed. It is necessary to improve educating high-potential staff, ensure the continuity of the process of training of the scientific staff and highly qualified specialists, bring a new world-class scientific pleiad. Excavation research in the Obi-Rahmat grotto, Upper Paleolithic parks, ancient agricultural settlement Jar-Kutan, fortress Kampirtepa built by Alexander the Great, hellenistic fortress Uzundar, Buddhist monuments Karatepa and Fayaztepa, portrait gallery Akshikhan-kala and many others long ago have been included in the “golden fund” of world of science. Not by chance is deep interest and direct participation of scientists from America, Australia, Poland, Czech Republic, France, Japan, Russia, among whom I particularly singled out a recently deceased Kyudzo Kato – a sincere friend of Uzbekistan. These achievements of historical science and disciplines related with it are obvious. The contribution of art science, in particular the development of the history of art culture and contemporary art of independence era, is also weighty.
However, creation of generalizing works, in particular on the history of statehood, the history of cities, transcontinental roads, culture and arts, archeology, historiography with the mandatory translation into several languages of the world, must be continued. This will make them available to foreign scientists and the general public.
The President pointed out that the development of the country and society in accordance with modern requirements is difficult to be imagined without the science. The development of science itself depends on fundamental researches. It is through them we learn new knowledge and form theories, create a solid foundation for advanced applied research and innovation developments. What, in your opinion, are further tasks in this direction?
In this regard, it is important to note the attention of head of state on this issue. Looking ahead, it should be emphasized that without government support the it’s further fruitful development is impossible: knowing the world and international experience, I think this factor is one of the fundamental in addressing these issues. The experience of many countries shows, for example, that there academic institutions operate on a budgetary basis, whereas in most countries in America and Europe grants, allocated today also in our country, are only an additional source of funding, intended for laboratory and field studies. Of course, now a lot of questions have become imminent, which, of course, will be resolved in the paragraphs of the Decree of the President of Uzbekistan “On measures to further improve and promote the activities of the academicians of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan.
Science has a very important place in the development of all sectors of the economy, in this case, the state relies primarily on scientists, the integration of science and industry today, as never before, is very imperative. Do we need to strengthen this process?
In my opinion, today all the conditions for this integration are created. It is very important to support the president’s initiative by consolidating efforts of experts from different sectors, scientists, experts and other interested parties, as it is often made in foreign countries.
Can you cite an example?
Yes, this practice is already beginning to be used in our country. Here is a very illustrative example. In Tashkent on the initiative of the Information Agency Uzbekistan Today, NAEMM, Zamon Press Info Publishing House, “Darakchi” Publishing House an ambitious and unrivalled project “Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in the collections of the world” is carried out. It should be emphasized that this project is carried out thanks to the personal attention of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to issues of careful preservation, enrichment and increasing the historical, cultural and intellectual heritage of the Uzbek people, as well as education of the younger generation on the basis of universal and national values and traditions. It is also important to note that all these themes are elevated to the rank of state policy and are indicated in Action Strategy on further development of Uzbekistan, initiated by the head of state for the next five years.
Tell us more about the project, what is unprecedented?
Together with our Russian colleagues from the State Museum of Oriental Art, the Russian Ethnographic Museum, the State Tretyakov Gallery and the Russian National Library we have already prepared four volumes of richly illustrated books-albums devoted to items found on the territory of modern Uzbekistan and stored now in the collections of various museums and individuals’ collections.
Masterpieces created by ancient and modern masters throughout the ages, epochs and civilizations, will fully reflect the unique heritage of material and artistic culture of Uzbekistan. It is important to note that the publication is designed not only for the representatives of the research community, but also on the broad domestic and foreign audience, the younger generation interested in the rich cultural heritage of Uzbekistan.
Readers of these albums will be able to expand their understanding of the rich culture and art of Uzbekistan having familiarized with specially filmed documentary, which will be attached to the book-album in CD. In the future we also plan to publish other museums of Russia, as well as the United States, England, Germany, Sweden, France, wh ere for various reasons the objects of the rich historical and cultural heritage of Uzbekistan are held.
Undoubtedly, this project deserves a lot of attention and will be a significant contribution to the advancement of historical science of Uzbekistan, as well as the further promotion of its national cultural heritage.
In short, I am sure that initiatives of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will raise advancement of science in Uzbekistan to a new level.
