Orenburg state university

Ecology of the Southern Urals. Human health and nature conservation

The 8^th All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with international participation “Ecological problems of the Southern Urals” was held at OSU.

Five speakers made presentations at the plenary meeting. Julia Rafikova, member of the Institute for Strategic Studies of Bashkortostan Republic (Sibay), informed the attendees about the characteristics of the environmental pollution and health status of the population at the mining region of Bashkortostan.

Scientists have presented the results on geochemical and technogenic impact of copper-sulfide deposits, gold, silver, as well as dead pits and mining enterprises on a human being.

Scientists from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and many Russian cities have also taken part in the conference. More than 60 participants presented their reports in five sections: the conservation of flora, fauna and soil diversity in the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the Urals; ecosystems managemnet and territorial development challenges; the use of microorganisms in environmental monitoring; chemical and biological technologies in solving regional problems; human health status.

For the first time high school students from the Orenburg region participated in the photo contest “Ecology of the native country” held by OSU as a part of the conference.