DKU Center for Natural Resources and Sustainability

A proposal has been put forward to designate March 26 as the International Day of the Aral Sea, as well as the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers.

The initiative was announced in Astana during the meeting of the Heads of State of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and the Regional Ecological Summit RES 2026.

This once again demonstrates that the future of the Aral region is no longer discussed only within scientific and environmental circles, but has become part of the broader international sustainability agenda.

Over the past decades, the Aral Sea has become one of the world’s most striking examples of environmental degradation.

— the sea has lost nearly 90% of its volume
— more than 54,000 km² have turned into salt desert
— up to 80 million tons of salt and dust are carried from the dried seabed every year
— communities across the region continue to experience the consequences of environmental decline and deteriorating water quality

At the same time, the region remains an important space for research, international collaboration, and the development of practical solutions.

These issues are at the core of the 8th Aral Summer School 2026.

This year, the programme will bring together young researchers, educators, specialists, and practitioners working in sustainable development, water management, ecology, education, and science communication.

Participants will:
— attend lectures and workshops with international experts
— take part in field research in the Aral Sea region
— explore environmental and social challenges through practice-based learning
— work with approaches in education for sustainable development (ESD) and science communication
— develop their own educational materials and case studies

📍August 14–22, 2026
📍Almaty + Aral Sea region
⏳ Application deadline: June 15, 2026

Applications can be submitted via the following link:

https://forms.gle/bj9Q6MoGKsV6Qmpu6

Why join the Aral Summer School?

The Aral Summer School is more than lectures and a study trip to the Aral Sea region. It is an opportunity to gain practical experience, build international connections, and develop skills that can be applied in research, education, and professional practice.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

— work with international experts and researchers
— explore environmental and social challenges through field-based learning
— learn how to transform field data into educational materials and case studies
— strengthen science communication and teaching skills
— gain experience with modern tools, including GIS and remote sensing
— gain experience in interdisciplinary and international collaboration
— become part of a professional network focused on sustainable development

The programme welcomes young professionals, researchers, educators, and practitioners from Central Asia aged 18 to 40.

The Summer School is particularly relevant for those working in environmental sciences, water resources, climate change, agriculture, and education.

📅 August 14–22, 2026
⏳ Application deadline: June 15, 2026

More information and the application form are available via the link
https://forms.gle/bj9Q6MoGKsV6Qmpu6

On 11 May 2026, a closed webinar titled Steering Meeting on Educational Capacities and Collaboration in Transformative Water Diplomacy was held within the framework of the CRoWD project.

During the webinar, participants discussed existing academic programmes and educational initiatives in the field of water diplomacy, identified key gaps and priority areas for future development, and explored opportunities for joint educational initiatives among consortium partners.

Special attention was given to survey findings on educational capacities, existing academic programmes, and prospects for further cooperation between universities and research centres.

Representatives of CRoWD partner institutions took part in the meeting, including IHE Delft, the University of Khartoum, the Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management, the Jordan University of Science and Technology, Aalto University, South Asian University, and the Kazakh-German University. The educational component on transformative water diplomacy is jointly coordinated by IHE Delft, DKU, and UoK.

The discussions also addressed the development and revision of educational modules, teaching materials, and water diplomacy programmes for integration into Master’s programmes at partner universities.

The meeting concluded with an outline of further steps, including the preparation of meeting minutes, the development of collaboration proposals, and the organisation of follow-up coordination meetings.

Regional Ecological Summit RES 2026 held in Astana

From April 22 to 24, Astana hosted the Regional Ecological Summit RES 2026, bringing together heads of state, international organisations, experts, and business representatives from more than 15 countries.

Over three days, the summit featured 58 sessions, including 21 high-level sessions and 4 country sessions. More than 9,500 participants attended the event.

The discussions focused on key regional challenges, including climate change, water resources, energy, agriculture, biodiversity, air quality, and land degradation.

The main outcome of the summit was the adoption of the declaration “Environmental Solidarity of Central Asia,” under which countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening joint efforts in climate action, water issues, and sustainable development.

Among the announced initiatives:
— the establishment of an International Water Organization under the UN
— the launch of a biodiversity protection fund
— the development of regional environmental projects and cooperation
— the promotion of the “Green Shield of Central Asia” initiative
— the development of renewable energy and attracting investment

A total of 17 agreements worth $2.3 billion were also signed during the summit.

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Center participation

Representatives of the Center for Natural Resources and Sustainability at the Kazakh-German University (DKU) took part in the summit together with students and Master’s students of the IWRM programme.

Ekaterina Gorshkova — Project Coordinator at the Water and Climate Lab DKU — took part in sessions of the Central Asian Climate Change Conference (CACCC), as well as UNESCO sessions dedicated to current cryosphere issues in Central Asia.

The event also brought together alumni and current students of the IWRM Master’s programme, once again highlighting its importance for the region and its role in bringing together specialists to address shared environmental challenges.

For Master’s students, this gave them the opportunity to see how real environmental challenges are discussed at the level of international agendas, decision-making, and negotiations.

Alexey Kobzev — Administrative Manager of DKU Master’s Programmes — also took part in the summit.

He spoke at the high-level session:
“Accelerating the Delivery of Sustainable Infrastructure for a Clean and Resilient Economy in Central Asia: an OECD Perspective,”
where he presented DKU’s Master’s programmes:
— IWRM (Integrated Water Resources Management)
— SMREEE (Strategic Management of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency)
— Green Finance

During the panel, experts from Central Asia and the OECD discussed progress and challenges in the transition to a sustainable economy, as well as priority steps to accelerate this process, including regional cooperation.

Alexey also participated in the thematic session “Workforce Development and Research Cooperation to Advance Renewable Energy in Central Asia,” where he moderated the session, took part in the signing of memorandums with universities across Central Asia, and gave a presentation on the future of higher education and its links with research and business.

The session addressed issues related to education development, training of specialists, and updating academic programmes in line with the needs of the energy transition.

The session concluded with the signing of four memorandums of cooperation between universities aimed at developing practice-oriented education in the field of renewable energy.

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The Aral Sea agenda

Particular attention at the summit was given to water and climate issues — topics directly linked to the Aral Sea region. For the Center, this is not just part of the discussion agenda, but a part of its ongoing work.

Each year, DKU organises the Aral Summer School, where students and young professionals study the region on-site: working with experts, analysing water and climate processes, and observing the real impacts of environmental change.

Such initiatives serve as a practical continuation of the discussions taking place on international platforms.

The Aral Summer School will take place again this year. The call for applications will be announced separately — follow .crs and .kz for updates.

Набор заявок на региональный конкурс по научным постерам и аналитическим запискам (policy briefs) продолжается.

Конкурс проходит в рамках проекта Erasmus+ HWCA при поддержке Европейского союза и направлен на развитие навыков научной и policy-коммуникации — умения ясно, структурированно и убедительно доносить результаты исследований.

Участники могут выбрать один из форматов:
— научный постер
— аналитическая записка (policy brief)

В рамках конкурса предусмотрены обучающие и менторские сессии с региональными и международными экспертами. Это возможность подать работу, доработать её и получить обратную связь.

К участию приглашаются (из Центральной Азии):
— студенты (магистратура, PhD)
— преподаватели и исследователи
— молодые специалисты

Формат участия — командный:
1-3 студента или молодых специалистов + 1 преподаватель или научный руководитель.

Дедлайн подачи заявок — 28 апреля.
Формат — онлайн.

Финальный этап пройдёт 5 июня в формате Demo Day, где отобранные команды представят свои работы экспертному жюри.

Лучшие участники получат возможность участия в Aral Summer School, программе Training of Trainers (ToT), а также представить свои работы на конференции Silk Road of Knowledge.

Если вы работаете с темами управления водными ресурсами, водной дипломатии, изменения климата, ирригации, цифровых решений в водном секторе или другими смежными направлениями — это отличная возможность усилить свою работу и представить её на международном уровне.

Ссылка для подачи заявки:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXPFKwoX3NFqfdB8mhrBlZ-FY4aFbYwN99a_7f_0WoYUdSfw/viewform

Applications are now open for the Regional Competition on Scientific Posters and Policy Briefs under the Erasmus+ HWCA project, with the support of the European Union.

The competition aims to strengthen practical skills in scientific and policy communication and to enhance participants’ ability to clearly and effectively communicate research findings to diverse audiences.

Participants may choose one of two tracks:
— Scientific Poster Competition
— Policy Brief Competition

As part of the programme, participants will take part in a series of training and mentoring sessions delivered by regional and international experts. The sessions will cover:
— development of scientific posters
— writing policy briefs
— visual storytelling and data presentation
— communicating research to broader audiences

The competition is open to:
— Master’s and PhD students
— academic staff and researchers
— young professionals

Participation is team-based:
each team must include at least one student or young professional and one supervisor/academic staff member.

Application deadline: April 28
Format: online
Working language: Russian

The final stage (Demo Day) will take place on June 5, where selected teams will present their work to an expert jury. This will be followed by evaluation and the announcement of winners.

Top participants will have the opportunity to join the Aral Summer School and the Training of Trainers (ToT) programme, present their work at the Silk Road of Knowledge Conference, and receive eco-friendly prizes.

All finalists who submit a scientific poster or a policy brief will receive certificates of participation.

Application form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXPFKwoX3NFqfdB8mhrBlZ-FY4aFbYwN99a_7f_0WoYUdSfw/viewform