30-50s of the XX century
The Kostanay Teachers’ Institute began developing its academic and pedagogical foundation on September 1, 1939. Initially, the institute consisted of only two faculties, one of which was the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Geography.
In the same year, the Department of Natural Sciences and Geography was established. Its first Head was Moisey Borisovich Grender, who, at the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, was among the first thirty faculty members and students of the institute to be drafted into military service. During the first year of enrollment, 66 students were admitted to the Natural Sciences and Geography program.
In the 1940–1941 academic year, the department was headed by Franz Karlovich Stashevsky, the first faculty member of the institute to earn the academic degree of Candidate of Geographical Sciences.
In the post-war period, beginning in 1945, the department was led by Maria Mefodyevna Kan.
Since 1950, the Department of Natural Sciences was headed by Georgy Nikolayevich Tarasenkov. During this period, the department employed four faculty members holding academic degrees.
From the earliest stages of its development, the department was distinguished by its strong academic potential and the high professional qualifications of its teaching staff.
60-70s of the XX century
Following the reorganization of the Kostanay Teachers’ Institute into the Kostanay Pedagogical Institute in 1955, a new stage in the development of the faculty began.
In 1958, the Faculty of Biology with Fundamentals of Agriculture was established, and the Department of Biology was formed simultaneously. The department was headed by Olga Grigoryevna Artyushenko, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences and Associate Professor, who earned her academic degree in 1963. During the 1962–1963 academic year, up to 50 full-time students were admitted annually to the program “Biology with Fundamentals of Agriculture.”
Beginning in 1967, the faculty’s academic profile changed, and the training of teachers in the specialty “Biology with an Additional Specialization in Chemistry” was introduced.
In 1968, the Department of Chemistry was established. Its first Head was Arkady Mikhailovich Kurishko, Associate Professor and Candidate of Chemical Sciences. In 1970, the department was headed by Nadezhda Sergeyevna Kudryavtseva, Candidate of Chemical Sciences.
In the autumn of 1968, the Department of Zoology was created on the basis of the Department of Agricultural Production Fundamentals. Its first Head was Vladimir Pavlovich Yershov, Associate Professor.
Between 1972 and 1973, the faculty significantly strengthened its academic staff through the addition of lecturers who had successfully defended their Candidate of Sciences dissertations, including:
- Nina Pavlovna Filimonova (Gaidenko)
- Stanislav Nikolayevich Masterov
- Lyudmila Yakovlevna Shevchenko
- Zinaida Yefimovna Derevtsova
By the end of the 1970s, the faculty comprised three academic departments, and student enrollment had reached 300 students.
The Dean of the Faculty was M.A. Masyukova, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences and Associate Professor.
The Department of Botany was headed by Pavel Grigoryevich Pugachev, Candidate of Biological Sciences and Associate Professor. Its faculty included Associate Professors Asya Anatolyevna Titova, Nina Alexandrovna Ivanova, A.I. Zhurkovsky, and others.
The Department of Zoology and Human and Animal Physiology was headed by L.Ya. Shevchenko. Faculty members included A.I. Kovrigin, V.V. Lobkov (Candidate of Medical Sciences), L.N. Zavelitskaya, and others.
Since 1975, the Department of Chemistry was headed by Zauresh Esmukhanovna Utina, Candidate of Chemical Sciences. Over the years, the department’s faculty included L.M. Sleptsova, N.S. Kudryavtseva, M.Kh. Sagimbayev, and other distinguished specialists.
80-90s of the XX century
The faculty continued its development throughout the following decades. Its material and technical resources were significantly expanded, the faculty moved into a new academic building, and the range of educational programs increased.
With the development of the specialty “Biology with Fundamentals of Agriculture,” the Department of Agricultural Fundamentals was established in the early 1980s and headed by R.G. Gabdullin, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences. In 1989, the department was merged with the Department of Botany under the leadership of Nelli Tigranovna Lalayan, Candidate of Biological Sciences and Associate Professor. At that time, the department included eight Candidates of Sciences and five young lecturers pursuing postgraduate studies.
In the early 1990s, the Department of Chemistry included Candidates of Chemical Sciences K.A. Abdykalykova, V.V. Vazhev, N.M. Snegovskikh, L.A. Pak, Z.E. Utina, and K.G. Khanapin, as well as Senior Lecturer N.V. Vazheva.
During the same period, the Department of Zoology and Human and Animal Physiology was headed by N.P. Gaidenko. Its faculty included Senior Lecturers Z.E. Derevtsova and N.A. Malanina, as well as Lecturers S.A. Vostrikova, O.R. Belan, and S.A. Iskuzhinova.
In 1992, following the transformation of the Kostanay Pedagogical Institute into Kostanay State University, a major restructuring of the academic departments took place.
The Department of Botany was divided into two independent departments:
- Department of Botany, headed by N.T. Lalayan;
- Department of Ecology, Plant Physiology and Microbiology, headed by Professor P.G. Pugachev.
The Department of Chemistry was also reorganized into two separate departments:
- Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, headed by Professor Z.E. Utina;
- Department of Physical and Organic Chemistry, headed by Associate Professor V.V. Vazhev.
The Department of Botany continued to employ Associate Professors A.A. Titova and M.A. Masyukova, Senior Lecturers V.N. Starodubtsev, L.Ya. Starodubtseva, G.I. Danilchenko, and Lecturer Yu.V. Perezhogin.
The Department of Ecology, Plant Physiology and Microbiology included Associate Professors N.A. Ivanova, V.F. Solomina, L.L. Gaiduchenko, and Senior Lecturers L.M. Muzychko and S.A. Vostrikova.
During 1993–1994, the academic potential of the faculty continued to strengthen. In 1993, O.V. Borodulina and E.A. Valyayeva successfully defended their Candidate of Sciences dissertations.
In 1994, Professor Pavel Grigoryevich Pugachev defended his doctoral dissertation entitled “Pine Forests of the Turgay Depression,” becoming the first faculty member to earn a doctoral degree within the faculty.
In the same year, N.V. Vazheva successfully defended her Candidate of Sciences dissertation, while A.K. Rakhimbayeva completed her postgraduate studies.
In 1999, in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s policy of consolidating academic departments, the three biology-related departments were merged into a single Department of Biology, headed by N.T. Lalayan. Likewise, the chemistry-related departments were consolidated into a unified Department of Chemistry, headed by Z.E. Utina.
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Ershov Vladimir PhD Biological sciences, associate professor Head of Department from 1968 to the 70s. |
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Masyukova Maria Candidate of Agricultural sciences, associate professor Head of Department from 1972 to 1977 |
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Pugachev Pavel Doctor of Biological sciences, professor Head of Department from 1975 to 1984 |
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Gaidenko Nina PhD Biological sciences, associate professor Head of Department from 1990 to 1995 |
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Valyaeva Elena PhD, Biological sciences Head of Department from 1995 to the 99s |
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Lalayan Nellie PhD, Biological sciences Head of Department from 1999 to the 2001s |
Modern stage
In February 2004, in accordance with a decision of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the teacher education programs were separated from A. Baitursynov Kostanay State University, forming the basis for the establishment of the Kostanay State Pedagogical Institute (KSPI).
According to the resolution of the Academic Council of KSPI dated May 27, 2008, “On the Renaming of the Department” (Minutes No. 5), the Department of Biology of the Faculty of Natural Sciences was reorganized into the Department of Biology and Geography (Order No. 24 dated May 29, 2008).
Beginning in 2004, the educational program “Geography” was introduced, significantly expanding the department’s academic profile and educational offerings.
Until 2016, the department was headed by D.T. Konysbayeva, Candidate of Biological Sciences and Associate Professor.
In accordance with the resolution of the Academic Council of KSPI dated August 28, 2013, “On Amendments to the Institute Structure” (Minutes No. 1), a structural reorganization was carried out. As a result, the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Biology and Geography were merged to form the Department of Natural Sciences.
The department was headed by:
- Zh.T. Suyundikova, Master of Biology, during the 2016–2017 academic year;
- G.B. Ruchkina, Candidate of Biological Sciences and Associate Professor, during the 2017–2018 academic year.
From September 1, 2018, to August 31, 2020, the duties of Head of the Department were performed by G.K. Baubekova, Master of Pedagogical Education.
As part of efforts to optimize the university’s management structure, enhance the specialization of academic institutes, and improve the quality of education, the Department of Natural Sciences was established on September 1, 2021, within the U. Sultangazin Pedagogical Institute.
During the 2020–2021 academic year, the department was headed by Ch.A. Tauakelov and V.V. Koval.
Since 2022, the Head of the Department has been G.K. Baubekova.
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Konysbayeva Damilya PhD, Biological sciences Head of Department from 2001 to the 2016s |
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Suyundikova Zhanar Master of biology Head of Department from 2016 to the 2017s |
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Ruchkina GaliyaPhD Biological sciences Head of Department from 2017 to the 2018s |