TURKMENISTAN: GOVERNMENT FUNDING SCARCE FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000170 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN; OES FOR SCHENA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2020 TAGS: EAGR EFIS PGOV SENV TSPL TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: GOVERNMENT FUNDING SCARCE FOR SCIENCE RESEARCH Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Sylvia Reed Curran. Reasons 1.4 (B) a nd (D). ¶1. (C) Turkmenistan's post-independence policy of cutting funding for scientific research has contributed to a decline in the country's education, health, and science sectors. (COMMENT: Although the government claims that funding for the sciences has increased, our contacts tell us the opposite is true. END COMMENT.) The circumstances of Ludmila Slavinskaya, a former chemistry professor and scientist, illustrate the impact of this decline. Slavinskaya, a scientist with knowledge and initiative, is no longer employed at a government institution, nor can she get funding from the Turkmen Government for research projects. During the Soviet era, she taught chemistry at Turkmen State University. Since government funding for research has dried up, Slavinskaya searches for alternative sources to fund projects that would organically purify water and produce by-products with a range of uses. ¶2. (C) Slavinskaya describe to Poloff a project that she would like to develop to clean water sources throughout the country. It would involve plants, such as water hyacinths, that have long roots and would draw dirt and heavy metals out of the water. These plants originate in South America and Africa, but grow well in Turkmenistan because of the sunny climate. In addition to producing cleaner water, the plants, which grow rapidly, could be dried and used as feed for animals. Slavinskaya has conducted experiments with these plants with a few other former colleagues and has compiled data showing how quickly these plants can clean water. The data also shows how much protein and other nutrients the plants contain as a food source. Slavinskaya entered several World Bank competitions where she presented her results and was twice a finalist. Previously, she also worked on U.S. Government-funded agriculture projects in Turkmenistan. ¶3. (C) In addition to the proposal to clean water sources, Slavinskaya said these plants can be used as part of a more complex eco-system. She showed Poloff diagrams of fish farms connected to an area full of the water hyacinths. The fish benefited from the clean water, but also from eating the plants. Slavinskaya added that the plants could also be gathered and digested in a methane tank to form biogas for use in generating electricity. She noted that Turkmenistan's Academy of Sciences has such a methane tank, but it is no longer in use. The plants could also be composted and used as fertilizer, which, according to Slavinskaya's data, would be two to five times more effective than chemical fertilizers. ¶4. (C) Slavinskaya was frank about the limitations of water hyacinths, or other similar plants. She said they can only be used in fresh water, and can only clean water up to about three meters deep. In addition, because water hyacinths are fast-growing, they can quickly take over an area if not carefully monitored and controlled. Despite the limitations, Slavinskaya insisted that water hyacinths could be a very useful way to clean Turkmenistan's bodies of water without resorting to chemicals. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: Slavinskaya's need to obtain funding from international organizations is a major challenge in her effort to continue with past projects and develop new ones. In addition, ethnic bias against non-Turkmen has undermined the research environment in Turkmenistan. In the post-Soviet era, the government has marginalized many of its scientific experts by requiring all government employees to speak Turkmen. As a result, many within the older generation of Soviet-trained experts not only do not contribute to Turkmenistan's research base, but also do not pass along their knowledge to the next generation. In many sectors of ASHGABAT 00000170 002 OF 002 Turkmen society and economy, the government emphasizes investment in bricks and mortar, while neglecting development of the country's human capital, including the potential contribution of experts like Slavinskaya. END COMMENT. CURRAN