A young scientist from Turkmenistan successfully defended his doctoral dissertation for the first time at the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Turkmen researcher Arslan Berdyev has become the first citizen of Turkmenistan to successfully complete a doctoral program and defend his PhD dissertation at the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) under the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS). He specialized in one of the most advanced and demanding fields of modern science—physical geography, geographic information systems (GIS), and remote sensing technologies.
During his doctoral studies, Berdyev established himself as a promising researcher by publishing a series of papers in prestigious Q1 and Q2 international scientific journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. His research focused on digital monitoring of desertification in Turkmenistan using machine learning and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, as well as accurate modeling of landslide hazards.
In recognition of his outstanding academic achievements, he was awarded the prestigious “The Best International Student” title by the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in July 2025.
The young scientist’s research has significant practical value and is closely aligned with the cooperation agreement signed between XIEG and the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna under the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan. The technologies studied, together with China's advanced expertise in stabilizing moving sand dunes, are expected to support the protection of roads and pipelines in the Karakum Desert and contribute to the establishment of the UN Regional Centre for Climate Technologies in Ashgabat.
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