Turkmen researcher Arslan Berdiyev has become the first person from Turkmenistan to defend a doctoral thesis at the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, part of the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This was reported by the Orient news agency.

His research focuses on physical geography, geoinformation systems and Earth remote sensing technologies.

During his studies, the researcher published a number of scientific articles in international journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. In July 2025, he was awarded the title of ‘Best International Student’ by the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The results of Arslan Berdiyev’s research can be used to monitor desertification, protect infrastructure in the Karakum Desert and implement joint environmental projects between Turkmenistan and China, including the establishment of the UN Regional Centre for Climate Technologies in Ashgabat.