KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Four new research laboratories opened at Armenian State Pedagogical University on April 25. The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Education and Science Levon Mkrtchyan, ASPU Rector Ruben Mirzakhanyan, representatives of the World Bank Armenia Office, guests and members of the ASPU academic staff.

The laboratories for Botany and Plant Physiology, Geographical Information Sciences, General and Inorganic Chemistry and Teaching Methods in Physics are equipped with technological and measurement devices which will contribute to the implementation of educational and scientific research and improve practical activities of students.

The guests also visited the Laboratory for Quantum Electronics and New Materials for Integrated Optics which has been equipped with a new device, Raman spectroscopy, only one of its kind in the region, which is a powerful resource used for analytical purposes.

The head of the laboratory, Professor Eduard Kokanyan assured everyone that the device will help them study the structure and properties of crystals, creation of new crystals for different purposes. It can also be used in the military field and can scan objects at a certain distance after corresponding changes and adaptations.

Minister of Education and Science Levon Mkrtchyan emphasized the opening of the new laboratories considering them an important achievement and the result of University’s long-term activity. He said the laboratories will help students strengthen their theoretical knowledge in a laboratory environment.

“Secondary school has two components: educational and research. To arouse interest in pupils in the subject and dedication of teachers, the learning process should be organized in classrooms equipped with educational resources and materials,” the Minister said expressing his wish to see similar laboratories in schools in the future.

ASPU Rector Ruben Mirzakhanyan also highlighted the role of the newly-opened laboratories, stressing that they will enable future pedagogues to study in an environment equipped with modern equipment. He said it is extremely important for students.

The laboratories were opened with the support of the State Committee for Science and the World Bank.