Summer school 2016

Through September 5-16, 2016 International Summer School «Research for Development» was held in Abastumani, in Abastumani Research Centre (Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory) of the Ilia State University, hosting the BA, MA and PhD students from six countries: Georgia, Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran and Turkey. The Summer School was held under the framework of the project«Sustainable Mountain Development in the Caucasus (Sustainable Caucasus)» under the SCOPES program funded by Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The Summer School was organized by Institute of Geography of Russian Academy of Science. The lectures were held by the leading specialist from IGRAN, Institute of Geography of Tbilisi State University, Ilia State University, Institute of Geography of Azerbaijani Academy of Science and University of Bern. All the digital materials, maps and data on Samtskhe-Javakheti region were provided by GIS and RS Consulting Center GeoGraphic. The program was focused on inter and trans-disciplinary research of Adigeni Municipality and involved lectures, field works, population senses (Abastumani borough and villages of Gomaro, Ude, Zazalo), as well as meetings with the heads of local government. The participants got acquainted with the environment, natural resources, demographic conditions and specialization of the region, studied the quality of local water resources, climate change (dendrochronology), built digital elevation models for mapping the mountain reliefs. Special focus was made on studying of local communities and the development potential of the territory. For broadening the knowledge on the conditions of mountain regions in Georgia a field trip was organized to Khulo Municipality (Mountainous Adjara Region). The guests of the Summer School - representatives of the project ADA APPEAR (Austria, Georgia, Armenia) made series of presentations on new approaches to sustainable tourism development in the Caucasus. Under the Summer School, the project coordinator and the professor of Geneva University Mr. Jörg Balsiger held a workshop on «How to Write and Publish Scientific Articles». During the Summer School the photos of the participants were exhibited and a cultural evening was held. As a result of studying the development potential of the Adigeni Municipality the participants prepared and presented their projects on possible directions of sustainable development for mountain regions. At the end of the Summer School the participants were awarded certificates of successful completion of the program