At a regional environmental summit in Astana, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon proposed establishing a regional center in Dushanbe to study and monitor glaciers and the cryosphere of Central Asia under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization.

Dilorom Kayumova, a leading researcher at the Glacier Research Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, said the initiative reflects a long-term commitment to strengthening scientific infrastructure in water resources and climate resilience.

She emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, including isotope hydrology, which allows precise analysis of the origin, circulation and transformation of water, as well as its interaction with glacial systems.

Kayumova said isotope hydrology is gaining prominence in modern cryosphere research, improving data interpretation and expanding understanding of glacier-related processes.

She noted that the National Academy of Sciences plays a key role as the country’s leading scientific center in glaciology and cryosphere monitoring, developing both fundamental and applied research on glacier change and water resources.

The academy’s president, Kobiljon Khushvakhtzoda, provides strategic direction for advancing research and strengthening the institution’s role as a regional scientific platform, with a focus on expanding modern analytical methods.

Kayumova highlighted the opening of an isotope research laboratory at a high-level conference dedicated to 2025 as the Year of Glacier Preservation, calling it an example of progress in this field.

She also underscored the growing role of women scientists in isotope hydrology, noting their contribution to expanding research capacity and strengthening the scientific community.

Kayumova said the academy already has the scientific foundation to support the proposed regional center in Dushanbe, with isotope hydrology seen as a key component of its future development.

She added that the initiative represents a broader trajectory from state-level strategy to institutional implementation and applied research, with isotope hydrology serving as a critical tool in advancing modern cryosphere science.