KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

The Chair of Biology, Chemistry and their Teaching Methods at the Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) hosted a workshop devoted to “European Approaches to Assessment of the Condition of River Habitats under the Global Impact of Climate and Human Pressures”.

On this occasion, Doctors of Biological Sciences at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin Dr. Gabriela Costea and Dr. Martin Pusch were at the University.

The Doctors of Biological Sciences are engaged in the large-scale European project and are assessing the ecological condition of rivers, as well as carrying out many activities in the direction of the Danube Basin and not only. For this purpose, there is also a guide that will help present the function of the ecosystem in a more accessible manner — the changes in the course of disruption, the consequences, as well as why it is necessary to conserve these ecosystems. Among the participants of this program from the Armenian State Pedagogical University is Associate Professor of the Chair of Biology, Chemistry and their Teaching Methods, Candidate of Biological Sciences Marine Dallakyan.

During the theoretical part of the workshop, Dr. Gabriela, along with the specialists of the Scientific Center for Zoology and Hydroecology at the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, presented how the European criteria for assessment of the condition of river habitats are applied in practice.

In her speech, she underscored the importance of public awareness about the usefulness of restoration of rivers for both nature and mankind.

Touching upon the European criteria for assessment of the biosphere of river habitats under the influence of global climate change and humans, Gabriela Costea went into detail about why it is important to conserve the river ecosystem, what it means to us, what the pressures impacting the ecosystem are, how one can understand whether the river ecosystem is healthy or not, how the river landscape can be applied for assessment, etc.

The theoretical part of the workshop ended with field work; the practical part ended with the observation of a number of physical and biological indicators, with the participation of the Faculty’s students and lecturers at the Argel and Bjni observation point at Hrazdan River.

Gabriela Costea attached importance to the participation of pedagogues and future teachers in the workshop. According to her, they need to digest the theoretical messages and the results of assessment of rivers so that they can present them to their pupils and implement the same actions in different rivers in the future.

“Teachers need to be the voice of society, that is, they need to see, assess and speak out, as well as assess the ecosystems of rivers on their own,” the speaker concluded.

The workshop was followed by an exhibition entitled “Nature and Man” and featuring the photos by alumna of the Armenian State Pedagogical University Naira Sargsyan. Sargsyan’s scope of activity is broad, including biology, photography and environmental protection, combined with academic activities — something that can foster the development of science and environmental conservation.