Me and my Institute

Javhar Aminov

　　Studying computer science and informatics at the University for my master’s degree, I always felt passionate about nature and the history of the planet Earth, which is indeed the largest computer in the world. The processes acting inside it, on its surface and above it all obey certain rules and every process leaves an information about itself within the geological layers piled up over hundreds of millions of years. Following my passion, I came to work at the Institute of Geology, Earthquake Engineering and Seismology, Academy of Sciences of Republic of Tajikistan. At this Institute I focused on GIS and remote sensing, which are directly related to computer science and informatics. Working on GIS and remote sensing allowed me to delve deeper into the Earth and environmental sciences, encouraging me to pursue a PhD study in this field.

　　Thus, in 2015 I have received one of the best scholarships - the CAS-TWAS President’s fellowship for international doctoral students to pursue my PhD research at the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China. When I received the congratulatory letter from the CAS-TWAS President’s Fellowship committee that I have been selected for CAS-TWAS President’s fellowship for international PhD students, I was extremely excited and it was a great honor for me to be selected among hundreds of applicants from all over the world. Till this moment, I could never have imagined that I would have the opportunity to pursue my PhD research in China, at a most renowned Institute – Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography.

　　Four incredible years to pursue a PhD study with the sponsorship of the CAS and TWAS President’s Fellowship from September 2015 to June 2019 that I have spent in China, at XIEG, were very productive and successful.

　　These four years of university education and scientific research in the field of Earth and environmental sciences have been an enriching experience for both my academic growth and cultural enrichment. From the first days of research at the State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, I   started rapidly learning  the state-of-the-art methodology and techniques of GIS and remote sensing for Earth and Environmental sciences. And here the obtained knowledge and skills that I received during my first academic semester at the International College of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (IC-UCAS) were of great help to me. This allowed me to become highly experienced in application of GIS and remote sensing techniques for geology and geological studies. In addition to research, the Chinese language and several professional courses on GIS and RS disciplines at the IC-UCAS, various seminars and workshops organized by XIEG that I have benefited from, were helpful to improve my research work.

　　Studying Chinese language, I found it very interesting to learn. Through learning the Chinese language, I have learned a lot about China's culture and history. Moreover, there were a lot of flexibility in terms of traveling to other cities in China and even abroad for workshops and conferences where I could present my research and discuss the obtained results with the highly experienced researchers.

　　During my stay in Beijing, I visited the most famous sites such as the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall and Forbidden City.  In addition, I have visited many other China’s most beautiful cities including Chengdu, Xian and Kunming. This, indeed, was an amazing experience.

　　At the end of my PhD study and research, I was honored with the 2019 Excellent International Student of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

　　I had a great chance to bring my family to Urumqi, where I studied, to stay with me for a year. Urumqi is a very nice city with lots of places and beautiful sites to visit. My family and I had many chances to visit these wonderful places. My family had a great time staying with me in China and left Urumqi with good memories and bright impressions.

　　My PhD study and life in China encouraged me to continue my collaboration with the CAS institutions in the framework of a post-doctoral program after receiving my degree, and I realized that Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography is the best Institution for this purpose. Therefore, I decided to move my collaboration with this institute a step forward and successfully applied for the CAS-PIFI postdoctoral Fellowship.

　　I am grateful to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the International College of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (IC-UCAS) and Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, and CAS-TWAS President’s Fellowship for the educational training program, financial support and lab facility support throughout the entire period of my PhD study.

　　Of course, here I shall thank my supervisor - Professor Chen Xi, whose fatherly guidance, fruitful and helpful advises and continuous supervision has been greatly supportive during the whole period of my life and study in China. I would also like to express my profound gratitude to Prof. Bao Anming, Prof. Liu Tie, Prof. Luo Geping, Dr. Qiao Jiangfang, Prof. Alishir Kurban, Prof. Guli Jiapaer, Prof. Huang Yue, Prof. Wang Weisheng, Prof. Xu Wenqiang, Prof. Li Junli, Prof. Li Lanhai for their consistent moral and academic support and institutional facilitation, for the fruitful training programs that greatly helped me to perform the technical and experimental work, and for their critical but valuable comments and suggestions that greatly benefited and improved my research.

　　I am also thankful to Dr. Li Chunhua, Dr. Zou Ting, Dr. Zhou Bing and Dr. Li Hui from the international students department of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography for their continued facilitation and administrative support during the period of my study.

　　I also wish to thank each of my friends including Dr. Chang Cun, Dr. Duan Yongchao, Dr. Cao Liangzhong Ms. Min Wang, Ms. Latipa Tuerhanjiang, Mr. Mirshakar Odinaev, Mr. Zulfiyor Bakhtiyorov, Mr. Jovid Yogibekov, Dr. Khaidar Durdiev, Dr. Khusen Gafforov, Dr. Friday U. Ochege, Dr. Eldiiar Duulatov and many other friends and colleagues from my Institute for their timely and friendly support, who had been a precious help in many and different occasions. I am very happy to meet these wonderful people at XIEG. They were very kind and helpful to me and my family. 

Javhar Aminov

　　Institute of Water Problems，Hydropower and Ecology, NAST