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Department of Natural Science Disciplines

Соц.сети
Science-Research Center for Problems of Ecology and Biology

SRC PEB of Kostanay State Pedagogical Institute (KSPI) is the first research center established in KSPI. The center was established by order of the rector No. 12 dated September 20, 2004, on the initiative of Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor T.M. Bragina. with the active participation and support of the Head of the Department of Biology and Geography, Ph.D. Konysbayeva D.T. Teaching staff of the department and vice-rector (in those years) for science and international relations Ph.D. V.I. Zharkova.

SRC PEB united the intellectual resources of teachers and students of the department to conduct scientific research, deepen scientific cooperation and improve the quality of the educational process.

Rector of KSPI, Doctor of Geological Sciences, Professor K.M. Baimyrzaev supported this initiative by assigning several premises to the SIC PES - the SIC PES, the herbarium fund, the premises of student clubs.

First long-term program 2004 – 2010 was devoted to inventorying the diversity of flora and fauna of the region, holding and supporting scientific conferences, creating collection funds, and developing scientific ties.

From the first days, SRC PEB started active scientific and educational work. In September 2004, the first international two-week training seminar on the formation of bird fauna databases was held on the basis of the SRC PEBKSPI. It was attended by 9 countries, including 6 far abroad countries.

In the Kyzylkum desert. Planning for the creation of the Zhanadarya-Syrdarya State Natural Reserve. Summer 2011. In the center, Prof., Dr. Tatyana M. Bragina

A 4-day scientific expedition was carried out along the migratory routes of waterfowl in the territory of the Kostanay region. Based on the results of the training and expedition, organized by the SRC PEB, a number of publications were published in Japan, China, the USA, Iran, Russia and Kazakhstan.

With the assistance of the SRC PEB, agreements on scientific cooperation were concluded with the Institute of the Steppe of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Department of Zoology and Ichthyology of the KNU. Al-Farabi, the Laboratory of Insect Systematics of the Institute of Zoology of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Department of Geobotany of the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as with international projects in the field of biological diversity (study and conservation of the migration routes of the Siberian Siberian Crane, design and study of the Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve in Turgai region).

An important milestone in the development of the SRC PEB was the holding of the 1st International Conference "Biological Diversity of the Asian Steppes" on April 3-4, 2007, which was attended by 96 participants from 9 countries of near and far abroad (including Germany, Israel, USA, Finland). A 307-page volume of Proceedings of the Conference was prepared and published.

The 1st International Conference "Biological Diversity of the Asian Steppes" on April 3-4, 2007

The concluded contracts on scientific cooperation of the SRC PEB  were further developed. From 2003 to 2006 Professor Bragina T.M. led a major strategic project GEF / UNEP / WWF "Creation of ecological networks (ECONET) for the long-term conservation of biodiversity in Central Asia." Being the main coordinator for the countries of Central Asia and the national coordinator of the project, she proposed to the authorized environmental state bodies of Kazakhstan to initiate the inclusion in the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the concepts of the econet and its elements; development of a model steppe ecosystem in the Republic of Kazakhstan; completion of the expansion of the territory of the Naurzum Reserve as an element of the steppe ecosystem of the Republic of Kazakhstan; accelerating the process of granting UNESCO World Heritage status to the steppe reserves of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the creation of a large specially protected natural area (SPNA) in the Turgai region in dry and desert steppes.

Proposal of Prof., Dr. Tatyana M. Bragina on the creation of protected areas in Turgay was discussed at the interministerial meeting in August 2005 and was included in the state program for the development of protected areas for 2007-2009 under the name proposed by her State Nature Reserve "Altyn Dala". The task was to prepare a natural-scientific justification for the creation of a reserve and the further development of the steppe ecosystem, the study and restoration of steppe diversity, including the almost disappeared element of the steppes of Kazakhstan - wild ungulates.

In 2006, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and international environmental organizations launched a joint environmental initiative, also called Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative (ADCI). For two years it was headed by Professor T.M. Bragina. through the ADCI Implementation Mechanism – ACBK. During this time, a long-term Development Strategy for the Initiative was developed. In 2007, with the support of international environmental organizations, a comprehensive scientific expedition was prepared and carried out to survey the region (organizer and head of the complex scientific expedition, head of the project for the preparation of the ENO - Professor, Doctor of Biological Sciences Bragina T.M.; responsible for the section "Fauna and Fauna" Associate Professor of the Department, Ph.D. Bragin E.A.; third-party, including foreign experts). Sites of the reserve were selected, extensive scientific material was collected, lists of flora and fauna were compiled, the boundaries and zoning of the territory of the reserve were determined, cartographic materials were prepared. All this served as the basis for the preparation and defense of the project document, which received a positive assessment from the state republican expertise.

On the defense of the project of natural science substantiation of the creation of the Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve at the inter-ministerial Scientific and Technical Council. Astana, 2008. Project manager and head of the scientific complex expedition, Doctor of Biological Sciences. Tatyana M. Bragina

After carrying out land management works in 2012, the Altyn Dala State Nature Reservat was created on an area of 489,766 hectares. Currently, the SRC FES supports the development of scientific programs of the created reserve.

In 2007, the first admission of a foreign student was organized for undergraduate practice of a student of the Institute of Geoecology (Germany) on the basis of the SIC PES under the guidance of a GIS specialist from Germany, Stefan Zuter, and Professor T.M. Bragina. to support the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative (analysis of protected areas in the project area of the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative). A report was submitted to SRC PEB.

In 2007, the first student club of bird watchers in Kazakhstan was organized as part of the SRC PEB on the initiative and support of the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan, the Public Ecological Organization Naurzum and the Department of Biology and Geography of the KSPI.

In 2008, the first international grant project of KSPI, registered with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was launched on the basis of the SIC PES. It was prepared jointly with the US Air Force for the development of a Field Biological Station in the regional center of the Naurzum district, the region where the Naurzum Reserve is represented. With the assistance of the Public Ecological Organization Naurzum and SRC PEB, the building, previously acquired by US Aviation, was transferred from the balance of the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ASBK) to the balance of KSPI, previously acquired by US Aviation, for the organization of the Field Biological Station of the SRC PEB. In addition, funds were allocated to organize two field trips of the teaching staff of the Department of Biology and Geography to study the region and determine the directions for future research of students. In turn, KSPI ensured the safety of the station, repaired the building and secured the building and land.

In 2009, the student geographical club "Sayahat" of local history was created. Both clubs, headed by teachers of the department, play a big role in active student life, study of selected scientific areas, the formation of teachers of a new formation, constant career guidance, attracting the interest of school teachers and students to KSPI and further education within the institute. In the same year, a herbarium was identified on the basis of the premises of the herbarium fund of the SRC PEB, which was later transformed into a separate unit.

Members of the SRC PES expanded the geography of research. Major work was carried out in the southern region of the Republic - South Kazakhstan and Kyzylorda regions.

In the mountains of Karatau. In the center – Dr. T.M. Bragina, to the right Ph.D. E.A. Bragin, far right, Doctor of Geological Sciences. R.V. Bad. 2007

These are the Karatau mountains, the floodplain and old river of the Syr Darya, the Kyzylkum desert and adjacent territories. As a result, documents were developed for the organization of five new specially protected natural areas in the south of the Republic - the Turkestan State National Natural Park, the Zhanadarya-Syrdarya State Nature Reserve, the Syrdarya Complex Nature Reserve, the Kyzylkum State Nature Reserve of republican significance. Scientific expeditions and the preparation of the ENO for all these natural areas were organized on the initiative and direct participation of Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor T.M. Bragina. Doctor of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor E.A. Bragin participated in a number of expeditions and preparation of materials. The research materials also formed the basis for the creation of the Syrdarya-Turkestan State Regional Natural Park, created in 2012 in the floodplain of the Syrdarya River, the floodplain of the Arys River and the Boraldai Mountains.

Documents were prepared in the Kostanay region (Ph.D., Associate Professor Bragin E.A.) and the state nature reserve "Zharsor-Urkashskie sory" was created in the Kamystinsky district, proposed under the project of the World Wildlife Fund for the most important wetlands of the Northern Kazakhstan (project leader - Doctor of Biological Sciences Bragina).

In 2009-2012, within the framework of the SRC FES, an initiative international project was implemented to study the demography of birds of prey under the CDRF grant (Associate Professor, Ph.D. Bragin, SRC FES, Department of Biology and Geography and PhD T. Katzner, Associate Professor, West Virginia University , USA), registered with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. As a result of the project, a number of generalizing scientific papers were prepared in journals with a high impact factor. During the entire period of the project implementation, students of the department took part in the scientific work on the basis of the Field Biostation of the Research Center for Health and Safety. On the basis of close scientific cooperation, an agreement was concluded on the scientific community between KSPI and the University of West Virginia on the mobility of students and teachers.

Presentation of grant letters to students-winners of the Small Grants Program of SIC PEB KSPI/West Virginia University, USA. In the photo from right to left - Vice-Chancellor for Science and International Relations, Doctor of History, Abil E.A., PhD Todd Katzner (West Virginia University), Doctor of Biology, Professor Bragina T.M., Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor Bragin E.A., 2nd year student Venediktova D. 2012

In 2012, the 2nd International Conference "Biological Diversity of the Steppes" was prepared and held on the basis of the SIC PEB and the staff of the Department of Biology and Geography with the support of scientific and educational institutions, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the public association "OEO Naurzum", the Naurzum State Nature Reserve (June 5-6, 2012).

Well-known scientists from Great Britain, Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, Russia, the United States of America from more than 50 scientific organizations and institutions took part in the conference in the form of reports and / or publications.

During these years, for further development, the KSPI herbarium, together with the premises, was transferred to the employees of the botanical direction.

In 2011 - 2012 was developed and announced the First Small Grants Program of SIC PES KSPI/West Virginia University. Six students got the opportunity to carry out scientific research at the Field Biological Station in the summer of 2012. In 2013, the Second Small Grants Program was announced to support research and development on the basis of the Field Biostation of the SRC PES KSPI.

SRC PEBannually conducts scientific seminars based on the results of field research, master classes. Since 2007, on the initiative of the director of the Center Bragina T.M. an international scientific conference "Biological Diversity of the Asian Steppes" is being held. This conference is held every 5 years.

On February 26-28, 2014, the International Scientific and Practical Conference "SUCCESS IN THE FORMATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE NETWORK OF SPECIALLY PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS AND THE STUDY OF BIODIVERSITY" (on the occasion of the anniversary of Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor T.M. Bragina), organized on the initiative of the administration of KSPI, Research Center for Problems of Biology and Ecology of KSPI, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics together with interested institutions and organizations.

In 2015-2017, a full-scale project was carried out on grant funding by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. "Rare and endangered species of animals in the Kostanay region" ((No. 0115RK01367). Based on the results of scientific research, 4 monographs were prepared and published: "Methodological recommendations for the protection and promotion of the restoration of rare species of animals in the Kostanay region" (Bragina T.M., Bragin E. .A., Ilyashenko M.A., Ruleva M.M.), “Vertebrates of the Naurzum Reserve” (Bragin E.A., Bragina T.M.), “Natural conditions and fauna of the Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve” ( Bragina T.M., Bragin E.A.) and “Rare and endangered species of animals (invertebrates, vertebrates) of the Kostanay region” (Bragina T.M., Bragin E.A., Ilyashenko M.A., Ruleva M.M. ).

In 2018-2020, members of the SRC PEBtook part in the international project CPEA-LT-2016/10140. The program, supported by this project and funded by the Eurasian Program of the Norwegian Center for International Cooperation in Education (SIU), involved teachers from universities and scientific institutions from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Moldova, Ukraine. On February 1, 2019, a two-week international scientific internship took place, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Bragina T.M., Master of Biology, Bobrenko M.A. and Master of Biology, Senior Lecturer Ruleva M.M. The internship took place at the Museum of Natural History at the University of Oslo (Norway). The internship was carried out under the grant of the participant of the international project, Professor T.M. Bragina. on the development of innovative molecular genetic methods for studying insects.

Presentation of certificates on successful completion of the internship

Instruction on working in the laboratory

The intensive training course, which was conducted by Professor of the University of Oslo Gusarov V.I., included theoretical and practical parts, based on materials collected by the project participants. Collection materials were collected by the project participants within the framework of research topics by the Research Center for Biology and Ecology Problems of the KSPU. Participants received certificates for the development and processing of data from molecular genetic studies of insects.

In 2018-2021 members of the SRC FES KSPU took part in the interdisciplinary international scientific project "Innovations in the development of sustainable agricultural environmental management in a changing climate in the dry steppes of Kazakhstan and south-west Siberia (ReKKS)", a subproject of the SRC PEBKSPU / ReKKS project "Assessment of the impact of land use and climate change on communities of soil invertebrates (mesofauna)” (supervisor – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor T.M. Bragina). ReKKS project leader Prof. Dr. Georg Gutenberger, project coordinator O.B. Shibistova. Two universities of the Russian Federation, three organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan and 7 universities of Germany are participating in the project. The goal of the project is to improve knowledge and develop practical approaches and adaptation strategies for environmentally friendly and cost-effective agriculture in the dry steppe regions. An important aspect in this regard is the analysis of the response of soil invertebrate communities in response to climate change, soil type, and especially land use and soil management, research on which is being carried out by the project group of the SRC FES (Professor Bragina T.M., Professor Bragin E.A., Senior Lecturer Ruleva M.M., Senior Lecturer M.A. Bobrenko and 2nd-3rd year students of the Natural and Mathematical Faculty).

Conducting a refresher course "Current trends in the assessment of global and local changes of natural ecosystems and the teaching of biological and geographical cycle disciplines" (lecturer –Guggenberger, 2019)

Field trips with the participation of students to the Kostanay region. 2019

The ReKKS project is closely linked to the key tasks of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Commission for Ecosystem Management (CEM).  

Field trips of project participants. 2018, 2019

Leading scientists of SRC PES Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Bragina T.M. has over 400 scientific publications, Ph.D., Professor E.A. Bragin have more than 250 scientific publications, including works with a high impact factor in foreign and other scientific publications, as well as monographs, collective scientific works, completed research papers and scientific projects, implemented teaching aids and other publications. In 2007, Professor Bragina T.M. won the republican competition "The Best Teacher of the University", in 2017 in the competition "The Best Teacher of the University" the winner was Professor E.A. Bragin. Associate Professor Ph.D. Valyaeva E.A. has published about 50 scientific papers on zoological research and is actively involved in the public life of the department, work with students, training schoolchildren in the framework of professional orientation work and communication with schools. Professor T.M. Bragina and Professor E.A. were awarded departmental awards for success in the development of science and education in Kazakhstan. For success in environmental protection, Professor T.M. Bragin was awarded the state order "Kurmet".

Successes of young researchers SRC PES KSPI

Senior Lecturer, Master of Biology M.A. Bobrenko in 2008 defended her master's thesis on bats of Northern Kazakhstan (supervisor Professor T.M. Bragina). Every year he improves his qualifications both at the republican and international levels. In 2012, she completed the course “Improving Learning and Teaching in Higher Education” (England, Newcastle); in 2019 intensive course on molecular methods and data analysis (theory and practice) in the molecular laboratory (Norway, Oslo). In 2021 and early 2022, preference is given to courses in the field of environmental management. Since 2015, he has been participating in research projects. So, between 2015 and 2017. was a participant in the project "Rare and endangered animals of the Kostanay region and their current status" under the state grant of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From 2017 to 2019 member of the EU interstate project "Training the new generation of entomologists in DNA-based molecular and genomic methods" (Norway) international network (EntoMol). Since 2018, he has been a member of the group of the joint project of the Research Center for Environmental Protection and Economics KRU / REKKS (Germany, Russia, Kazakhstan): “Innovations in the development of sustainable agricultural environmental management techniques in a changing climate in the dry steppe regions of Kazakhstan and south-west Siberia (ReKKS)”. During the period of her scientific and pedagogical activity, she took part in the preparation of three textbooks, 2 monographs, as well as a number of scientific articles.

Senior Lecturer, Master of Biology M.M. Ruleva conducted biocomplex studies of steppes and deposits in two subzones of the steppe zone of the Kostanay region as part of the master's program (supervisor Professor T. Bragina). She has about 50 publications, including articles in publications included in the list of the Committee (4 articles), with a non-zero impact factor, including the co-author of an article included in the database of the information company Thomson Reuters (Web of Science), and also participated in the preparation 5 textbooks (co-authored with Dr. Bragina T.M. and Ph.D. Konysbayeva D.T.), one of which is recommended by RUMS, 2 monographs (co-authored with Bragina T.M., Bragin E.A., Ilyashenko M.A.). Hirsch index=1. Annually takes refresher courses. He continues to work on the study of the fauna of invertebrate animals of Northern Kazakhstan. At the department he supervises the work on the research activities of students, carries out work in communication with the school, participates in the organization of professional practices. Regularly takes part in the work of the republican and regional centers "Daryn" as a jury in hearing scientific papers and conducting competitions. In 2019, she was awarded the badge "For merits in the development of the university" (Certificate No. 72, 02.10.2019). In 2021, she participated in the project "Young Scientists of the CIS", has a badge.

Senior Lecturer, Master of Biology Demesenov B.M. until 2016, he worked at the SIC PEB and at the department. He completed his master's work on soil-terrestrial insect communities of the Ara-Karagay forest (supervisor Professor T.M. Bragina). He was engaged in the study of the fauna of invertebrate animals of Northern Kazakhstan. Currently she works at Binom-School Tanym in Nur-Sultan.

Master of Biology E. V. Chabanenko successfully defended her dissertation and received the degree of candidate of biological sciences (supervisor of the master's work, Professor, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Bragina T.M.), currently working at the Biological Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Novosibirsk).

All of them actively participated in the study of the diversity of the animal world of the Kostanay region on the basis of the SRC FES.

Students performing work on zoological and geographical topics use the collection funds and equipment of the SIC FES, and consultations of teachers. Among them there are many participants of scientific conferences; winner of the competition for young researchers of the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who received a gold medal (Andreeva Elena, scientific adviser, Doctor of Biological Sciences Bragina T.M.); winners of the competition of small grants, republican research work, participants of projects and scientific internships.

The winner of the competition for young researchers of the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Andreeva E. with the scientific adviser, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Bragina T.M. 2011

Maruarova A. took 3rd place in the Republican competition of student research papers. The work “Ecological and faunistic review of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) of the region of representation of the Naurzum Reserve” was carried out under the guidance of Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Bragina T.M.

1st year master student 7M01501-Biology Torybaev Zh.S. from the 1st year of undergraduate studies she has been working under the guidance of Bragina T.M. Currently has publications in scientific journals and conference proceedings (9 articles); diploma of the I degree in the Republican competition of research works of students (2019-2020). Participated in the following competitions: research competition "Student-2020" (Center for International Scientific Partnership "New Science"), research competition "Best Research Article - 2020" (Center for International Scientific Partnership "New Science"), Competition "Teacher 2021" (Center for International Scientific Partnership "New Science"). He took part in the All-Russian Student Olympiad "I am a professional" in 2020-2021 (directions: "Medical and preventive work", "Ecology", "Chemistry", "Pharmacy"). Association of Organizers of Student Olympiads “I am a professional”, January 21, 2021. Member of the working group of the international grant project Rekks, within the framework of cooperation between Kazakhstan, Russia, Germany on the topic: “Innovations in the sustainable use of resources for agriculture and adaptation to climatic conditions in the dry steppes of Kazakhstan in southwestern Siberia. Participated in the international project "The Best Young Scientist of the CIS" (International Center for Sports, Education and Science "GENIUS", 2021, Nur-sultan). Badge (No. 041), a letter of thanks. As well as the international project "Best Young Scientists -2021" (National Movement "Bobek2021", Nur-Sultan), badge (No. 307), diploma of the III degree.

Additional information and materials about SRC PEBand completed scientific projects are available on the websites: https://altyndala.kspi.kz and https://steppes.kspi.kz.