Application deadline: May 15, 2025
II Samarkand Summer School Innovations for Sustainable Land Use and Nature Conservation
General information
16 – 21 June 2025
Samarkand State University, Uzbekistan
Innovative technologies in the fields of nature conservation, sustainable land management and food security are becoming increasingly important, but have not yet been widely adopted in Central Asia. However, there is a wide range of possible applications. For example, a geographic information system (GIS) helps users monitor, visualize, analyze and understand, among other things, species populations and distribution, land use and change, agricultural production or the progress of conservation efforts.
This is why the II International Interdisciplinary Samarkand Summer School 2025 will promote the application of GIS and other innovative technologies in the field of nature conservation and sustainable land use in Central Asia.
The summer school was organized jointly by the Institute of Agrobiotechnology and Food Security of the Samarkand State University (SamSU), the University of Rostock (Germany) and the Michael Succow Foundation (Germany) within the framework of the Regional Program “Integrated Land Use Taking into Account Climate Change in Central Asia ” (ILUCA), implemented by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).
The school will be held from June 16 to 21, 2025 at the Institute of Agrobiotechnology and Food Security of Samarkand State University (SamSU).
Program
The summer school will provide an opportunity for Master’s students and young professionals to learn about the functions, structure and basic principles of using GIS methods. Particular attention will be paid to the use of open-source GIS for nature conservation and sustainable land management. Participants will also gain knowledge about other innovative technologies such as Google Earth, which provides access to remote sensing data, and GNSS-based field data collection for nature conservation and sustainable land management.
In addition, various meetings with practitioners working in this field are planned, which will facilitate further discussions and provide insight into possible areas of GIS application. The technical program is complemented by a cultural part with excursions to Samarkand and its historical part – the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Crossroads of Cultures”.
Participants will receive a certificate of successful completion of the Summer School.
Key Trainers
Dr. Görres Grenzdorfer, Senior Researcher, Department of Geodesy and Geoinformatics, University of Rostock, Germany
Dr. Toshpulot Rajabov, Director of the Institute of Agrobiotechnology and Food Security, Samarkand State University, Uzbekistan
Alexander Steiger, MSc, Researcher, Department of Geodesy and Geoinformatics, University of Rostock, Germany
Dr. Rakhmatulla Igamberdiev, Nordic Business Academy, Germany
Target group and requirements
The Summer School is open to participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The Summer School invites young professionals studying or working in the fields of ecology, agriculture, social sciences, development studies or geography who are interested in nature conservation issues.
The minimum qualification required to participate is a Bachelor’s degree. Applications from undergraduate students will not be considered.
The maximum number of participants in the Summer School is 25 people.
Knowledge of English or Russian and basic computer skills are mandatory for participation. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop to the Summer School.
Payment
There is no fee for participation in the Summer School. Participants’ expenses are covered by the organizers and include transportation, accommodation, and meals. Travel expenses will be reimbursed during the Summer School. Participants will be accommodated on the campus of the Institute of Agrobiotechnology and Food Security of Samarkand State University.
Accepted participants must arrange their own health insurance.
Submitting an application
The application must include the following documents:
- A motivation letter (1-2 pages) in English or Russian indicating the field of study or work and its connection with the topic of the Summer School, an explanation of the reasons for interest in participating in the Summer School;
- Resume (CV) in English or Russian;
Applications must be submitted by 15 May 2025 by e-mail to [email protected] as a single PDF file with the subject line “Samarkand Summer School 2025”.
Applicants accepted to participate in the competition will be informed by 20 May 2025 .
Additional information and contacts
Michael Succow Foundation (Germany) Rustam Murzakhanov
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +49 3834 83542 28
Further information about the ILUCA project: