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A student scientific-practical conference entitled " Contemporary Issues in Biodiversity Conservation and Ways to Solve Them" was held at the initiative of the Chair of Biology, Chemistry and Their Teaching Methods of Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU).
Let us remind that in 2026, Armenia will host the next Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), also known as COP17, which is an important milestone in global efforts for biodiversity preservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
The conference was attended by specialists in the field, lecturers, teachers, students, and schoolchildren.
Samvel Pipoyan, Head of the Chair of Biology, Chemistry and Their Teaching Methods, said that ASPU is the first ever university in Armenia to organize a scientific event dedicated to biodiversity.
The course "Current Issues in Biodiversity" is included in the curriculum of Master’s programs. The conference held ahead of COP17 aims to fill the gap in ecological education and present people the processes and issues taking place in the world and in Armenia.
Mariam Ispiryan, ASPU Vice-Rector for Education and Science, emphasized the importance of the initiative and assured the attendees that they have a lot to learn from young researchers: this is the path to development. She also emphasized the importance of university-school collaboration and added that today, more than ever, our country needs strong schools and a well-established educational system; ASPU’s role and activity is enormous in that context. “I assure you that more meetings will be organized in this format. Student conferences should be an important platform for discussions. Be proactive and participate in the important mission of developing science. Participation in COP17 is also important,” the ASPU official said.
She voiced hope that the steps taken by the University to develop the research direction will yield positive results.
The conference participants were also welcomed by Naira Safaryan, Vice-Rector for Education Processes at ASPU. The latter wished them fruitful and effective work. She emphasized the importance of the student conference and considered it noteworthy that the conference was also attended by former graduates, teachers, and, most importantly, schoolchildren. “ASPU’s initiatives are aimed at strengthening schools, mrrting scientific interests of schoolchildren and modern needs of teachers, as well as developing the research component of future teachers," she said
In their reports, participants of the student scientific-practical conference addressed the Convention on Biological Diversity and its significance in nature conservation, the main principles and problems of conservation, the natural and anthropogenic factors affecting modern biodiversity, and the main issues of its conservation in Armenia. In addition, future biologists also presented the results of their research on interactions of species in ecosystems, Lake Sevan and its protection, factors affecting plant species in Armenia, environmental pollution, consequences of global climate change, etc. Reference was also made to the role of environmental education in preserving biodiversity.
The speakers stressed that biodiversity in Armenia is facing serious problems. They emphasized the importance of taking preventive measures, underlined its important role and their participation in the process to ensure that future generations are not deprived of vital resources and the natural environment.
Summing up the conference, Professor Pipoyan said that though the sphere is regulated by a corresponding law, eco-education is not implemented at the proper level in our country. He hopes that the conference will deepen the knowledge of the environment, and that future teachers, emphasizing the importance of raising the aforesaid issues, will also address them in the teaching process.
The reports were followed by a heated discussion. The participants received certificates at the end of the conference.
