On October 22, a republican scientific conference dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry named after Academician M. Naghiyev and the 100th anniversary of the outstanding chemist of Azerbaijan, Academician Togrul Shahtakhtinsky has begun at the Central Scientific Library of ANAS.
First, an exhibition reflecting the activities of the Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry and Academician Togrul Shahtakhtinsky was displayed. Opening the event with an introductory speech, the President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbeyli stated that the Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry has passed a difficult, responsible and honorable path in 90 years and has made significant contributions to the development of chemical science in our country. He said that during the 90 years of activity of the institution, many successes have been achieved and important scientific results have been achieved.
The head of ANAS noted that important research conducted at the Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry based on the theoretical interpretation and analysis of chemical science has drawn the attention of world scientists to the country's science. This institute, which holds a unique place in the history of science in Azerbaijan, is a reputable scientific institution that is recognized and accepted worldwide. The Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry has managed to elevate the achievements of Azerbaijani science to the world scientific sphere. Stating that the Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry has provided our country with outstanding scientists, the head of ANAS provided information about the rich creativity of one of those scientists, Academician Togrul Shahtakhtinsky. He noted that Academician Togrul Shahtakhtinsky was not only a great scientist, but also a skilled organizer of science. He worked as an academician-secretary and a member of the Presidium of the Department of Chemical Sciences of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences for a long time, playing an important role in the development and scientific and organizational activities of ANAS. Academician Isa Habibbeyli emphasized that great scientific schools have been formed at the Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry, and that this tradition is being developed and continued.
The head of ANAS, who said that the institute is currently entering a new stage of development under the leadership of academician Dilgam Taghiyev, noted that the institution is operating in accordance with the challenges of the period of independence and the realities of Azerbaijan, as well as the high requirements set by world science: "As a result of the modernization process that meets the requirements of the time, the activities of the institute have been reorganized, research on current problems of chemical science has been expanded, and new scientific directions have been identified. The articles of the institute's employees allow us to clearly and vividly imagine the scientific intellectual level of the collective, the innovations it has brought to Azerbaijani science, as well as the place the institute occupies in world science".
At the end of his speech, Academician Isa Habibbeyli congratulated the institute's management and staff on the anniversary and expressed his confidence that the scientific institution will continue to achieve new scientific results and achievements in the field of chemistry.
Then, Vice-President of ANAS, Director General of the Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry, Academician Dilgam Taghiyev, made a report on the activities of the institution he leads and the life of Academician Togrul Shahtakhtinsky. In his report, he provided detailed information about the history of the institute's establishment, its areas of activity, the prominent chemists who have worked here, their inventions, as well as the integration of the country's science into the international community, the training of a new generation of qualified personnel, and research conducted in priority areas. It was noted that the Institute of Chemistry was established in 1935 on the basis of the chemistry and applied chemistry departments of the newly established Azerbaijan branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
Konstantin Krasuski, a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, who was invited to Azerbaijan in 1929, became the organizer and first director of the Institute of Chemistry. Later, the institute was headed by Professor Mammadamin Efendi of the Azerbaijan branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Professor Shikhbala Aliyev, Corresponding Member of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences Shamkhal Mammadov, Corresponding Member of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences Heydar Efendiyev, Academician Izzet Orujova, Corresponding Member of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences Zulfugar Zulfugarov, Corresponding Member of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences Telman Gurbanov, and Academician Ramiz Rizayev. In subsequent years, the institute underwent a number of structural changes and in 2014 received its current name in accordance with the main directions of its scientific activity.
Academician Dilgam Taghiyev emphasized that the Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry has gained fame as a leading scientific center both in Azerbaijan and outside the republic throughout its existence. Scientists at this institution have conducted fundamental and applied research of significant scientific and practical importance. Among these studies, the creation of the theory of recirculation, optimization and modeling of chemical complexes, geochemistry, crystallochemistry, chemical kinetics and catalysis, corrosion protection of metals, colloidal chemistry, chemistry of inorganic substances, materials science, coordination compounds, processing of mineral raw materials, biomimetic catalysis, chemistry of macromolecules, and other studies can be particularly noted.
Academician Dilgam Taghiyev, emphasizing the achievements made at the institute in recent years, noted that two international laboratories have been established at the institution. He noted that the number of articles published in prestigious journals with a high impact factor and the number of references to them is rapidly increasing, innovative work is being carried out, some work is being applied, and research is being conducted on promising scientific directions that will determine the scientific face of the institute in the future. He noted that in 2015-2025, 1,800 articles (1,150 of which were in journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science databases) and 95 books and monographs were published by the institute's employees, 14 of which were abroad. More than 19,000 references were made to the articles of the institution's employees, 100 republican patents and Eurasian patents were obtained, and 34 grant projects (20 of which were international) with a total value of 4.5 million AZN were implemented. The Institute was one of 8 scientific organizations from Azerbaijan among more than 9,000 scientific institutions (universities, institutes, national and private laboratories) included in the international SCImago ranking table in 2023 and 2024.
The speaker, who said that the results of scientific research conducted at the Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry were highly appreciated by the state, added that one of the employees of the institution was awarded the honorary title of Hero of Socialist Labor, one was awarded the "Lenin" Prize, one was awarded the "Lenin Komsomol" Prize of the USSR, six were awarded the State Prize of the Azerbaijan SSR, three were awarded the Lenin, one was awarded the "October Revolution", three were awarded the "Red Banner of Labor", five were awarded the "Badge of Honor", one was awarded the State Prize of the Republic of Azerbaijan, one was awarded the "Honor" and six were awarded the "Glory" orders, and many were awarded the honorary titles of "Honored Scientist", "Honored Worker of Science and Technology", "Honored Teacher", "For Distinction in Labor", "Progress", "100th Anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1919-2019)" and "100th Anniversary of Heydar Aliyev (1923-2023)" medals. and other awards.
Speaking about the meaningful life path of Academician Togrul Shahtakhtinsky and his contributions to Azerbaijani science, the director said that Togrul Shahtakhtinsky, known for his first monograph dedicated to oil in 1959, has conducted fundamental research in the field of petrochemistry and chemical technology in our country for many years. The scientist's research is devoted to the theoretical foundations of petrochemical synthesis, chemical kinetics and catalysis, and chemical technology. These studies cover a wide range of problems related to the study of catalytic transformations of hydrocarbons in organic and petrochemical synthesis processes, and the development of the scientific foundations of chemical technology.
According to him, Academician Togrul Shahtakhtinsky has identified the scientific and theoretical principles of modeling and optimizing complex chemical-technological complexes. In addition to fruitful scientific creativity, the prominent scientist attached great importance to the training of highly qualified personnel, and more than 60 candidates of sciences and doctors of sciences were trained under his leadership. Academician Dilgam Taghiyev noted that Togrul Shahtakhtinsky was awarded the highest awards of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan, the "Shohrat" and "Istiglal" orders, for his services to the development of Azerbaijani science.
Academicians Akif Alizade, Vagif Farzaliyev, Vagif Abbasov, academician-secretary of ANAS academician Arif Hashimov, deputy director of the State Agency for Science and Higher Education, acting rector of Sumgayit State University, corresponding member of ANAS Aminaga Sadigov, rector of Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, associate professor Rufat Azizov, representative of the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, professor Gulrukh Begjanova and others, who spoke at the conference, congratulated the institute staff on the significant day and wished them success in their future activities.
The scientific legacy of Academician Togrul Shahtakhtinsky was also discussed, and it was stated that the outstanding scientist, who created traditions of friendliness in the environment of chemists, had great influence and respect.
Finally, on behalf of the family of academician Togrul Shahtakhtinsky, his grandson Emin Shahtakhtinsky spoke and thanked the organizers and participants of the event for the attention shown to the memory of his grandfather.
The conference continued its work in the relevant sections.
It should be noted that the event will end on October 23.