International Scientific Conference on Central Asia’s Intellectual Heritage Held in Tashkent
On October 26–27, 2026, Tashkent hosted an international scientific conference titled “Intellectual Heritage in Central Asia during the Medieval and Early Modern Periods.” The event was jointly organized by the Abu Rayhan Beruni Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Kimyo International University in Tashkent (KIUT).
The conference focused on examining Central Asia’s rich scientific and cultural heritage through historical sources, bringing the region’s intellectual developments into international academic discussion, and strengthening cooperation with researchers from abroad.
The two-day event brought together scholars and representatives of academic institutions from Uzbekistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, and other countries. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Bamberg, Leiden University, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and leading regional research institutions presented their findings.
The opening ceremony was attended by Professor Bahrom Abduhalimov, Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan; Professor Alisher Vahobov, Founder of Kimyo International University in Tashkent; Professor Komiljon Rahimov, Director of the Abu Rayhan Beruni Institute of Oriental Studies; and Professor Akmal Allakuliev, Rector of KIUT.
The academic sessions addressed a wide range of topics, including the activities of Central Asian scholars and religious intellectuals, the Jadid reform movement, diplomatic correspondence, literary heritage of the Timurid period, Sufism, intellectual migration, and architectural aesthetics.
Participants presented research on the historical intellectual environments of Bukhara, Khiva, and Tashkent, the literary and scholarly legacies of Alisher Navoi and Abdurahman Jami, and the development of scientific centers across the region.
KIUT Hosts Special Session on the Intellectual Heritage of Central Asian Women
On October 26, Kimyo International University in Tashkent hosted a special academic session titled “The Intellectual Heritage of Central Asian Women” as part of the international conference.
The session examined women’s historical contributions to science, education, intellectual life, and social development in Central Asia, with particular attention to their scholarly activities and representation in historical written sources.
Researchers from the Academies of Sciences of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Ganja State University, the National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent State University of Law, and other higher education institutions delivered presentations on women’s participation in the Jadid movement, historical waqf activities, intellectual property rights, and the digitization of scholarly heritage.
Among the speakers, KIUT researcher Khusniddin Mamadaliyev presented a paper examining descriptions of female scholars in written sources dating from the 9th to the 13th centuries.
The session provided an opportunity to reassess the historical role of women scholars, explore their intellectual contributions, and discuss how their legacy can inform contemporary academic research.
The international conference served as a platform for exchanging scholarly perspectives, discussing new approaches to Central Asia’s intellectual history, and strengthening international academic cooperation.
