Commemorative plaque unveiled in the Main Building courtyard to honor inclusion of KFU observatories in the UNESCO World Heritage List
The inclusion was celebrated as part of Russia – Islamic World KazanForum 2024.
The ceremony was joined by State Counsellor of Tatarstan, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mintimer Shaimiev, Rector Lenar Safin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Alexander Pankin, Deputy of the State Duma Tatyana Larionova, and others.
The plaque appeared on the wall of the old observatory building in the central campus. A copy is also installed on the wall of the currently functional Engelhardt Observatory in the suburb of Kazan.
The Rector reminded that the inclusion campaign began in 2019. Invaluable assistance in this was provided by the Revival Foundation and personally by Mintimer Shaimiev.
“The result of long and serious discussions was a positive decision of the commission to include our sites in the World Heritage List. This is a significant event for all of us! The astronomy school of Kazan University has once again confirmed its world level. And, of course, this is a victory not only for our university. It is the victory for the Republic of Tatarstan. It is the victory for the whole country,” Lenar Safin emphasized.
He expressed his gratitude for the work done to the scientists of KFU and the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, as well as to the Revival Foundation for their all-round support of the university’s initiatives.
“Only with the active support of the Foundation, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Ministry of Culture of Russia, we managed to do this. We open this sign in honor of our science, our great scientists – astronomers and physicists,” said the Rector.
Mintimer Shaimiev noted that the Astronomical Observatories of Kazan University became the fourth World Heritage Site on the territory of Tatarstan.
“Currently, Tatarstan is the leader in the country in terms of the number of UNESCO sites. This is a huge breakthrough, a great success and a high achievement of our Republic. In a relatively short period of time, in cooperation with Russian and overseas experts, all together we were able to work harmoniously and achieve success,” said the State Counsellor and thanked all the involved parties.
He also urged the participants to continue cooperation and not to stop at what has been achieved.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in turn, noted that the Astronomical Observatories of Kazan University are the 32nd UNESCO site of the Russian Federation, which, according to him, raises the prestige of both Tatarstan and the Russian Federation as a whole.
“We hope that new objects will appear on this list, which will mark the recognition of our country’s contribution to the development of world science and culture,” Alexander Pankin said.