Famous biologist from the University of Utah (USA) Mary Barkworth visits ASU

8 July 2019 Department of Information and Media Communications
On July 5, a famous biologist from the University of Utah (USA) Mary Barkworth arrived at Altai State University.

Within the framework of the International Scientific and Educational Symposium "Aktru-2019", starting next week in Altai, Mary Barkworth will be a leading expert at the Summer International School of Botany, devoted to the study of biodiversity of the Altai highlands located in four countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China.

Mary is one of the leading researchers of the North American flora, in particular, one of the most difficult of its groups – grain crops. She gladly accepted the invitation of ASU biologists to participate in the botanical school. Moreover, she had never been to Altai before, although she had heard many positive reviews about this territory of Russia.

Starting July 10, the Summer International School on Botany will begin work on the basis of Chemal Training practices of Altai State University, in which young and leading scientists from Russia, the USA, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Singapore and other countries will take part. The section on biodiversity will be supervised by the director of the South-Siberian Botanical Garden of ASU, Doctor of Biology, Professor Alexander I. Shmakov and a biologist from the University of Utah (USA) Mary Barkworth.

“Thanks to the experience of an American scientist, our work on the processing of Altai flora will be carried out in accordance with international requirements. Now in Altai State University does a large-scale work to study and inventory the flora of the Great Altai – a complex mountain system, which is located in four countries. More than 2700 plant species grow here and about 300 of them are endemic. Almost every year, scientists find something new in this area, where there are little-studied places, so we also hope to achieve tangible results in collaboration with foreign colleagues,” Polina D. Gudkova, representative of the symposium organizing committee, Assistant Professor at the Department of Botany said.

In particular, the American biologist has given preliminary consent to participate in the work on the compilation of an encyclopedic publication entitled “Flora of Altai”, which botanists of Altai State University are currently working on.

It is to be recalled that the International Scientific and Educational Symposium "Aktru-2019", first organized jointly by Tomsk State University, Altai State University and Gorno-Altaisk State University, will be held in Altai on July 8-19.

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