Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

On March 10, a meeting was held on the theme of "Mutual research of active tectonics and earthquakes in Azerbaijan and the South Caspian Sea", organized by Oxford University, Great Britain, the Department of Earth Sciences of ANAS and the Republican Seismic Survey Center of ANAS.

Oxford University professors Richard Walker, Mike Daly and experts from the research group they are leading took part in the online discussion through the "Zoom" platform.

Azerbaijan was represented by vice-president of ANAS, head of the Department of Earth Sciences, academician Ibrahim Guliyev, acting director of the Institute of Oil and Gas of ANAS, academician Fakhraddin Gadirov, general director of the RSSC ANAS, Professor Gurban Yetirmishli, head of the department of International Relations of ANAS, doctor of philosophy in biology, associate professor Esmira Alirzayeva and other employees of the Department of Earth Sciences.

The meeting was moderated by a representative of both sides - Professor Rashid Djavanshir, an employee of Oxford University and the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. BP representatives also attended the meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, ANAS vice-president, head of the Department of Earth Sciences, academician Ibrahim Guliyev noted that discussions between ANAS and Oxford University on cooperation in the field of earthquake research were postponed due to the pandemic. In this regard, he noted the importance of the discussions for the parties. Academician Ibrahim Guliyev spoke about cooperation with the universities of Columbia, Missouri and Michigan in the field of earthquake studies, and noted that there are many opportunities for effective cooperation with the University of Oxford. The vice president of ANAS also noted that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between ANAS and Oxford University last year.

 Professors of Oxford University - Philip England, Mike Kendlli, James Jackson, Richard Walker and others talked about research methods and results obtained in the field of earthquake research. BP representative Grey Riby stressed the importance of cooperation between the parties. Referring to the importance of seismological and geophysical research in the Caspian Sea basin, the BP representative noted that this cooperation would allow a more detailed study of earthquakes occurring in the Caspian Sea.

Sabina Kazimova, doctor of philosophy in geology and mineralogy, associate professor, head of the department "Dynamics of Earthquake Sources" of the RSSC ANAS made a presentation on the research work carried out by the Republican Seismic Survey Center, as well as on cooperation with the International Livermore Laboratory. She also spoke about the methods of earthquake research in the RSSC.

The speech of the acting director of the Institute of Oil and Gas of ANAS, academician Fakhraddin Gadirov was associated with geodynamic research in the field of earthquakes.

In conclusion, Professor Rashid Djavanshir spoke about the results of the discussions between the parties and said that the meeting was very important from the point of view of familiarization with research methods. He expressed the hope that these discussions will be fruitful for the establishment of cooperation between the parties.