Department of Geography

The Department of Geography of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at Urganch State University named after Abu Rayhan Beruni was founded in 1949. In the same year, it was established at the Khorezm State Pedagogical Institute as the “Geography–Biology” Department and functioned under this name until 1964. During this period, three geographers were actively engaged in academic activities at the department. Beginning in 1951, students were admitted to the geography specialty (in some years the department was called “History–Geography,” and in others “Geography–Biology”).

From 1965, the department was renamed the “History–Geography” Department. From that time onward, sufficient conditions were created for faculty members to engage in scientific research. As a result, in 1966 lecturer Madrahim Ishchanov, in 1968 Tojiddin Allaberganov, and in 1971 Polvonnazir Atayev successfully defended their Candidate of Sciences (PhD-equivalent) dissertations.

During the period from 1984 to 1992, the Department of Geography was incorporated into the biology specialization, and based on their merger, the “Geography–Biology” Department was established.

In accordance with Decree No. F-356 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated February 28, 1992, Urganch State University was established on the basis of the Khorezm State Pedagogical Institute. From 1993, professors and lecturers working in various scientific fields at leading higher education institutions in the capital (most of whom were natives of Khorezm) were invited to work at the university. In the same year, the Department of Geography was re-established, significantly enhancing its scientific and pedagogical potential.

From that period onward, the department staff have been conducting scientific research under the theme “Study of Natural, Socio-Economic, and Environmental Problems of the Lower Amudarya Region.” Within this framework, faculty members have carried out research on the landscapes of the Lower Amu Darya natural geographic region; the region’s natural conditions, economy, population, and dynamics of labor resource formation; issues of improving the effectiveness of geography education in regional schools; the impact of the socio-environmental conditions of the area on public health; regional aspects of industrial and agricultural development and spatial distribution; and the creation and mapping of geographic information systems (GIS) for regional social development. These studies are being consistently continued at present.