ISEC NAS RA Participated in the Workshop "Youth for Biodiversity: Towards COP17"

The International Scientific-Educational Center of NAS RA (Department of Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Studies), in cooperation with WWF-Armenia and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the RA, organized a two-day youth workshop titled "Youth for Biodiversity: Towards COP17" in Aghveran on July 23–24 of this year.

During the workshop, young people selected from various communities of Armenia, working alongside international experts and representatives of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), focused on developing community initiatives aimed at biodiversity conservation, offering innovative and practical solutions to address environmental challenges.

Atom Mkhitaryan, Dean of the International Scientific-Educational Center of NAS RA, delivered a welcoming speech to the workshop participants. In his address, he emphasized the importance of active youth involvement in environmental initiatives, noting that today's engaged and proactive young people are tomorrow's scientists and researchers. Addressing the participants, Dean Mkhitaryan wished them success in their studies and professional advancement, expressing hope that many of them will pursue scientific careers and conduct research in the field of biodiversity.

Atom Mkhitaryan also briefly presented the activities, educational programs, and research opportunities of the International Scientific-Educational Center, paying special attention to the Department of Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Studies, where interested young people can continue their education and obtain a Master's degree, deepening their knowledge and research skills in biodiversity conservation. The meeting took place in an atmosphere of active discussion, during which participants asked numerous questions regarding educational programs, research opportunities, and scientific careers. Professional inquiries were answered comprehensively and accessibly by Alla Aleksanyan, Head of the Department, PhD in Biological Sciences, Associate Professor, and Julieta Sevyan, Coordinator of the Master's Educational Program.

At the conclusion of the two-day workshop, the young participants presented their developed projects, which were evaluated based on the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation solutions, community engagement, leadership, and innovative approaches.

This collaborative initiative was implemented ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), to be hosted in Armenia in October of this year.

ISEC NAS RA Public Relations and Career Department