LocationsAuthor: Gulnur Kaypnazarova
Women in Science as a Driving Force for Climate Solutions and Sustainable Development
May 27, 2025
Sayora Abdirahimova during the final expedition to the Aral Sea bed
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan/ Gulnur Kaypnazarova
"My love for nature began in childhood. In kindergarten, there was a small garden that seemed like a magical forest to me, where I spent hours observing plants and insects," recalls Sayyora Abdirahimova. Spending her days as a little researcher, she studied leaves and flowers. "My daughter will be a future biologist," predicted Sayyora's mother. The prediction came true. Growing up by the drying Aral Sea, Sayyora transformed her childhood fascination into a professional mission.
Extreme Science
Sayyora entered the doctoral program at the National University of Uzbekistan and became a senior research fellow at the plant biotechnology laboratory of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, studying salt tolerance genes in plants from the dried seabed of the Aral Sea to find species capable of adapting to saline territories and mitigating the consequences of ecological catastrophe.
What makes an ordinary biologist a true pioneering researcher? Sometimes – a single chance. For Sayyora, this became participation in UNDP expeditions to study and monitor the dried seabed of the Aral, which served as her foundation and determined her future path in solving environmental problems, allowing her to study 134 plant species from the dried bottom of the Aral Sea, previously unrecorded in scientific databases. "Every 500 meters I got out of the car to record the vegetation cover. Sun, dust, each exit – a struggle. But nature rewarded me with discoveries," – Sayyora.
The expeditions took place under extreme conditions: in summer, temperatures on the dried seabed reached 60 degrees, sand deposits became so hot they burned feet. "In October we heard the howling of jackals and wolves, but what scared us most were mosquito attacks," Sayyora recalls with a smile.
"During expeditions we traveled in two cars and left markers at every turn so that the lagging group, digging holes for soil analysis, could find us by these signs – this way we not only documented climate changes on the dried bottom of the Aral, but also laid routes for future researchers,"Sayyora explains.
Black Goji – A Plant with Healing Power
The plants studied from the expedition led her to study black goji – a unique medicinal plant adapted to the extreme conditions of the Aral Sea region and rich in biologically active substances. Comparative analysis in Ustyurt and Kyzylkum showed that conditions in the Aral Sea region are most favorable for the plant. Black goji possesses an amazing ability to selectively choose necessary elements from the soil and accumulate them in its tissues.
After analyzing the content of 33 chemical elements in plant roots and surrounding soil, Sayyora obtained stunning results, as if nature itself was offering a solution to the region's environmental problems.
"We discovered high content of bromine and sodium in plant roots," explains Sayyora. "This is direct evidence of how black goji adapted to the saline soils of the Aral Sea region."
But the most surprising discovery was yet to come. Selenium, molybdenum, mercury, and rhenium – these rare elements were found only in the plant, but not in the surrounding environment! Can you imagine? The plant somehow finds and accumulates even those elements that are present in the soil in minimal quantities.
Here's another curious fact: despite the high calcium content in the soil, very little was found in the roots. This suggests that the plant has some filtering mechanism that allows it to control which elements and in what quantities it absorbs. "These discoveries allow us to consider this plant as a natural biogeochemical marker," emphasizes Sayyora. "This plant could become an indispensable tool for environmental monitoring and restoration of degraded territories like the Aral Sea region."
It's amazing how one discovery leads to another. Sayyora Abdirahimova went to Belarus through a program by Uzbekistan's Ministry of Innovation for academic exchange related to her dissertation. There she first studied micropropagation technology in vitro and successfully propagated black goji in the laboratory.
Sayyora's research on Aral Sea region plants inspired Belarusian researcher Katerina to enter the doctoral program at the National University of Uzbekistan to study biologically active substances in black goji (Lycium ruthenicum) from the Aral Sea region, demonstrating that science knows no borders.
Innovative Eco-Solution: Young Woman Scientist's Contribution to Sustainable Development of the Aral Sea Region
At 35, Sayyora Abdirahimova has already become an example for young female scientists, proving that science and nature contribute to solving real environmental problems. The startup "UZQORAGOJI", developed by Sayyora and based on growing black goji on degraded lands of the Aral Sea region, represents an innovative eco-solution fully aligned with circular economy principles.
Under laboratory conditions, Sayyora micropropagated in vitro 500 black goji seedlings to increase the population of this plant even in the most challenging climatic conditions. Her goal is to distribute seedlings among residents of remote communitie, where local youth can create plantations on their household plots, creating green jobs.
Photo: Courtesy of Sayyora Abdirahimova’s personal archive
The project envisions creating a complete production cycle: from growing plants using regenerative farming methods to processing berries into herbal teas and other medicinal preparations. Sayyora plans to pay special attention to involving youth from local communities, starting with experimental plantings in climatically unfavorable territories.
Results obtained during the expedition showed that this plant is mainly distributed around the city of Muynak within a 30-40 km radius, and beyond these limits, populations are not found. According to Sayyora, this phenomenon may be related to natural mechanisms of plant distribution and adaptation.
Black goji reproduces predominantly vegetatively – through the root system, which limits its distribution over large distances. Additionally, small and light seeds make natural migration difficult. Researchers suggest that this plant may have relatively recently migrated to the desert areas of the Aral Sea region and has not yet fully spread there. These scientific observations point to the need for deeper study of distribution dynamics and adaptive capabilities of black goji (Lycium ruthenicum).
Photo: Courtesy of Sayyora Abdirahimova’s personal archive
Sayyora Abdirahimova and her team conduct biotechnological research using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to enhance salt tolerance of black goji and improve fruiting at the Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. Targeted gene modification at the molecular level will enable growing the plant in ecologically challenging areas.
This research represents one of the innovative approaches to ecological restoration of the Aral Sea region. Through scientifically-based selection of plants adapted to local conditions and enhancement of their potential at the genetic level, it contributes to regional sustainability.
"I look at this plant not only as a young scientist, but also as a person who grew up at the epicenter of an ecological crisis," says Sayora. "Black goji is not just valuable medicinal raw material, it is a natural tool for ecosystem restoration."
