Interview with Dr. Asia Khamzina from Uzbekistan
Asia Khamzina is a young female scientist who did her PhD research on the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan, her home country, from March 2002 until October 2005. With her research work on afforestation she made a decisive contribution to solutions for combating soil degradation and salinization in the region. She received her Doctoral Degree from the Agricultural Faculty of the University of Bonn.
What motivated you to become a researcher and why did you choose ZEF for starting up your career?
I wanted to do research in the Aral Sea Area, the ecologically deteriorated region in my home country Uzbekistan. ZEF provided such an opportunity by accepting me as a junior researcher in its long-term project in Uzbekistan on “Ecological and Economic Restructuring in Khorezm”. This project aims at the ecological and economical restructuring of land and water use in the Region of Khorezm, one of the largest areas affected by the Aral Sea crisis. I was also fascinated by ZEF’s international program that attracts students from all over the world.
Where did you do your field research and on which topic?
I did my field research on afforestation of degraded agricultural land in Khorezm. My research work included the selection of appropriate salt-tolerant tree species for increasing the productivity of land which is no longer suitable for cropping. Establishing plantations on highly saline nutrient poor land with minimal investments was also part of my research, as well as studying the functioning of bio-drainage and the nitrogen fixation by trees.
What did you find remarkable during that period?
The opportunity to design and lead a field study using high-tech equipment, communing with nature, measuring soil, water plant responses and slowly coming to understand soil-plant relationships.
How do look back at your time at ZEF?
Just being in the international environment greatly benefited my personal, cultural and professional development. It gave me a better understanding of traditions and perceptions of people from other countries.
In what way do you profit from your education at ZEF in your current position?
Since I am still associated with ZEF as a postdoctoral research fellow within the framework of the ZEF project in Uzbekistan, I profit in a very direct way: Three years with ZEF and the Uzbekistan project improved my knowledge of the study area and the research topic and triggered new ideas for further tree research.
Asia Khamzina, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
July 2007
Dr. Khamzina's research was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF).
