On the eve of Science Day, the Turkmen State Institute of Culture hosted a conference entitled «The Contribution of a Turkmen Scientist to World Anthropological Science», organised by the Department of Restoration of Cultural Heritage and Museum Affairs of the Institute and the Institute of History and Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan. The forum was dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of the famous Russian scientist and anthropologist Orazmuhammet Babakov.
The conference was attended by teachers and students of the Department of Restoration of Cultural Heritage and Museum Affairs of the Turkmen State Institute of Culture, as well as scientists and researchers of the Institute of History and Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan.
Orazmuhammet Babakov was born in 1935 in the Tejen etrap of the Ahal velayat into a large family. His professional path began with medicine: at first, he worked as a surgeon in the Turkmenbashy etrap of the Balkan velayat. Two years later, O. Babakov decided to deepen his knowledge and entered graduate school in Moscow, where he studied for three years. Then he joined the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan, where he worked successfully until the end of his life. Orazmuhammet Babakov died at the age of 86, leaving behind a significant scientific legacy, including books and hundreds of scientific articles.
Orazmuhammet Babakov dedicated his life to anthropology. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he made a great contribution not only to Turkmen science, but also to world anthropology. During the conference, speakers especially noted that O. Babakov was not only a scientist with a capital letter, but also a person of exceptional qualities: a humanist, a patriot, the embodiment of true humanity. Confirmation of this was given in her informative speech by O. Saparmammedova, a leading researcher in the archeology department of the Institute of History and Archeology of the Academy of Sciences, who is currently worthily continuing the work of her mentor Orazmuhammet Babakov. O. Saparmammedova also demonstrated photographs confirming the scientific discoveries and high humanitarianism of Orazmuhammet Babakov, starting from his youth and until the end of his life, which increased the significance of the event.
Next, Ejegul Myradova, chief researcher at the Institute of History and Archaeology, Doctor of Historical Sciences, spoke. In her report «The Role of Orazmuhammet Babakov in Field Anthropology», interesting facts about the scientific works and historical discoveries of the famous anthropologist Orazmuhammet Babakov, a student of L.V. Oshanin, were presented.
Of great interest were the speeches of the research fellows of the Institute of History and Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan S. Annatanganov, M. Bekjayeva, N. Amanlyyev, as well as the teacher of the Turkmen State Institute of Culture O. Allanazarova. They shared facts from the family life and scientific work of the famous anthropologist Orazmuhammet Babakov.
Of course, such forums dedicated to Turkmen scientists make us proud of those who have made a significant contribution to world science, and of the fact that their work continues today. Moreover, such conferences increase our, the youth, interest in science and the desire to contribute to the scientific achievements of the Motherland. As future archaeologists, we assure you that, using the opportunities created by the state for study, creativity, striving to justify the great trust of our teachers, we will deepen our knowledge and make a worthy contribution to the development of the Fatherland. We wish Hero Arkadag and Arkadagly Hero Serdar, whose far-sighted policy opens up endless horizons for rapid progress in the world of science and education, good health, long life, success in business and endeavors for the benefit of the Turkmen people and in the interests of all mankind.
