On January 22, 2026, a scientific-practical seminar titled “Environmental Problems of the Caspian Sea and Regional Challenges” was organized at Mingachevir State University. The event brought together representatives of the Mingachevir Water Utility Department, the No. 8 Regional Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, members of the academic staff of the University’s Faculty of Engineering, as well as students and graduate students.

Opening the seminar, the Head of the Department of Physics and Ecology, Tarana Yusibova, spoke about the strategic importance of the Caspian Sea for the region and emphasized that protecting its ecological balance is among the key environmental priorities. It was noted that factors such as declining water levels, pollution, and increasing anthropogenic pressure pose serious challenges to the sustainability of the Caspian ecosystem.

Following the opening remarks, an awareness-raising video titled “The Caspian Sea – Life and Ecosystem” was screened, after which presentations were delivered in accordance with the seminar program.

Head of the Analysis Department of Canal Systems at the Mingachevir Water Utility Department Tural Dursunov presented on “Water Resource Management in the Caspian Basin and Infrastructure Challenges”, while Ulker Pashayeva, advisor of the Environmental Regulation and Monitoring Sector of the No. 8 Regional Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, delivered a presentation on “Pollution Sources in the Caspian Sea and Modern Environmental Monitoring Approaches.”

MDU lecturers Gulmira Mammadova and Aysel Bayramova also addressed the participants with presentations titled “The Impact of Oil and Industrial Pollution on the Caspian Sea Ecosystem” and “Hydroecological Features of the Caspian Basin and Prospects for Sustainable Protection.”

During the seminar, the importance of preserving the Caspian Sea’s biodiversity, strengthening environmental monitoring in coastal areas, and reducing pollution entering water bodies was widely discussed. Experts emphasized that the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland water body, plays a vital role in maintaining regional ecological balance and supporting unique marine species.

Within the framework of the seminar, participants also watched a presentation demonstrating laboratory analyses conducted by students of the “Ecology” and “Ecology Engineering” programs. The presentation highlighted experiments carried out on water samples taken from the Kura River, including the determination of phosphate, nitrate, and ammonium indicators.

It should be noted that Mingachevir State University regularly organizes scientific discussions, educational seminars, and awareness initiatives dedicated to environmental protection, sustainable water resource management, and the promotion of ecological responsibility among young people. These initiatives contribute to strengthening scientific knowledge and encouraging practical solutions for the protection of natural resources.