Sustainable Development Goals at Baku State University.

Fourth-year students of the Faculty of Ecology and Soil Science at Baku State University, studying in the Ecology, Soil Science and Agrochemistry, and Land Management and Real Estate Cadastre programmes (Azerbaijani, Russian, and English sections), have participated in a field training internship in Quba District.

Students were introduced to the geographical and economic characteristics of Quba District, which is part of the Quba-Khachmaz Economic Region. They were informed that the district’s proximity to the Absheron Economic Region, particularly the cities of Baku and Sumgait, provides it with a favourable economic and geographical position. Participants also learned about the diversity of soil-landscape complexes, agriculture, industry, and recreation resources in the district.

Students majoring in Ecology conducted field observations on the distribution patterns of soil and vegetation cover, assessed river feeding regimes, and examined changes in soil types, landscape structures, and forest cover across different altitude zones and cadastral regions. They measured ozone and ammonia concentrations in the atmosphere, monitored noise pollution levels near transportation routes, determined pH values in water and soil samples, and measured radiation levels at various locations using portable dosimeters.

Students enrolled in the Land Management and Real Estate Cadastre programme were introduced to the principles of visual land surveying at the BSU Quba Educational, Practical and Recreation Center. They prepared a description of the area at a scale of 1:10,000 and studied the current state of land use, land designation, and legal land-use regimes using large-scale cartographic materials. They also examined the historical development, current condition, and management principles of the marginal lands associated with the bed of the Qarachay River. In addition, extensive information was provided on the river’s watershed, source, mouth, and other hydrological and ecological characteristics.

As part of the training, a soil profile was excavated within the territory of the BSU Quba Educational, Practical and Recreation Center. Students conducted a morphogenetic analysis of the soil profile, examining soil horizons, layers, and other characteristics according to soil taxonomic units. Samples collected from the profile were transported to BSU for physical and chemical analysis.

The training also included observations of landscape changes across different altitude zones and a preliminary ecological assessment of natural environmental components. Water samples were collected from the Qarachay River for quality analysis.

SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land)