Guest Lecture: Geoheritage as a Strategic Resource: The Geological Memory of the Earth and Its Significance for Science, the Economy, and Sustainable Development
The School of Mining and Geosciences at Nazarbayev University invites students, faculty, and researchers to attend a guest lecture by Saida A. Nigmatova, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, paleontologist, stratigrapher, Deputy Director of the K.I. Satpayev Institute of Geological Sciences, and Chair of the National UNESCO Geoparks Committee in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The lecture will be held at 16:30 in Block 6, 3rd floor, Room 6302.
The talk will focus on geoheritage as a unique record of the Earth’s geological memory and its growing importance not only for science, but also for the economy, sustainable development, geotourism, and environmental decision-making. Special attention will be given to UNESCO Geoparks as a practical model for balancing conservation, education, and local development.
Drawing on examples from Central Asia, including the emerging Aral Geopark, the lecture will highlight how geoheritage can support the transformation of post-crisis regions and strengthen their long-term development potential.
Speaker Biography
Saida A. Nigmatova is a Kazakh geologist and Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences specializing in stratigraphy, paleobotany, and geoarchaeology. She is one of the founders of geoarchaeological research in Kazakhstan, author of more than 120 scientific publications, and an active contributor to international projects in geology and sustainable territorial development. Since 2021, she has served as Chair of the National UNESCO Geoparks Committee in Kazakhstan.