The staff of the Institute of Geography participated in the international seminar “International Fieldwork: Data Synthesis and Analysis”, held in Giessen, Germany, from 9 to 13 July 2026.

The seminar opened with speeches by Prof. Zaur Imrani, Acting Director of the Institute of Geography, and Prof. Andreas Dittmann, who highlighted the importance of field research, the joint analysis of research data, the application of modern methods and methodologies, and the contribution of such studies to sustainable development and regional strategic planning. Their remarks were addressed to participants from Germany, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as well as German students.

The programme continued with presentations by Prof. Roozbeh Mirzaei, Prof. Saskia Thorbecke, and Prof. Andre Staatmann on the objectives and outcomes of field research. Prof. Chingiz Ismayilov and Yegana Karimova delivered a presentation on “Geography Science and Education in Azerbaijan,” while Prof. Nana Bolashvili spoke on “Academic Cooperation within the Caucasus Networks.”

Representatives of the Institute of Geography presented a series of research papers covering climate change, tourism, transport infrastructure, coastal transformation, recreation, and joint field studies conducted across different regions of Azerbaijan. The presentations addressed topics including tourism and breeding transformations in northwestern Azerbaijan, the development of nature and health tourism in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic under climate change, reports from the 2026 joint field studies, the impact of heavy rainfall on transport infrastructure in tourism and recreation areas, the effects of climate change on frost regimes, the transformation of the Azerbaijani coast of the Caspian Sea and the recreational potential of newly emerged land areas, environmental transformation in the Caspian Sea Basin, and the assessment of Greater Baku’s climate-recreation potential using the Tourism Climate Index (TCI) and GIS technologies. Students from the University of Giessen also shared their experiences from the joint excursion and fieldwork.

The seminar concluded with discussions on the outcomes of the joint working group, future collaborative research initiatives, and opportunities for joint scientific publications.

On the final day, participants visited the Westerwald-Lahn-Taunus Geopark and the Fortuna Mine. The geopark, which received the status of a National Geopark of Germany in 2012, serves as a centre for the conservation of geological heritage, scientific research, environmental education, and geotourism. During the visit, participants became acquainted with the geopark’s activities in preserving geological heritage, promoting geotourism, implementing geological education programmes, and supporting sustainable regional development through local community initiatives.