The event, held as part of the 'Taza Kazakhstan' campaign, was attended not only by teachers and students but also by foreign scientists – professors from Ondokuz Mayıs University (Turkey).
The idea of organizing a large-scale environmental celebration in honor of World Soil Day came from students of Kostanay Regional University, who sought to draw attention to the issues of soil resource conservation.
"Soil cannot be considered an inexhaustible treasury," says Tatiana Chekhova, Candidate of Biological Sciences and Acting Associate Professor at Kostanay Regional
University. "Human activities have led to numerous problems: salinization, desertification, erosion, and humus depletion. Thirty-three percent of the world's soils have degraded. Our university pays great attention to this issue by conducting scientific research and studying soil indicator dynamics."
The international contribution to the study of this issue was made by Professor Ridvan Kizilkaya from Ondokuz Mayıs University, a recognized expert in soil science and plant nutrition. His colleague, Izzet Akca, who also participated in the event, works in a related scientific field—studying insect pests, their role in the ecosystem, and methods of protecting agricultural crops from their impact.
Students also took an active part in the event. Third-year Ecology students Olga Melikhova and Valeria Spivak gave a presentation on the history of World Soil Day, which has been celebrated for over ten years. Natalia Yablonskaya delivered a report on the life and scientific achievements of Vasily Dokuchaev, the founder of the scientific school of soil science and soil geography.
The event concluded with an environmental quiz. Participants answered a wide range of questions, from soil composition and its role in the ecosystem to modern soil science methods and soil conservation issues.
