Air Pollution Research Center to Be Established at Osh State University

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Air Pollution Research Center to Be Established at Osh State University

2025-06-12 / 2412 / 03:06:58

A new scientific project has been officially launched to create an air pollution research center at Osh State University. The initiative, titled “Development of an Air Pollution Assessment System Using Satellite Data and Regional Chemical Transport Modeling”, is being jointly implemented by Osh State University and the Tokyo Institute of Science.

The project kickoff was marked by the first meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee on June 12, held at Osh State University. The event brought together representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Tokyo Institute of Science, Kyrgyzstan’s International Higher Medical School, the Ministry of Health, Hydrometeorological Service, and other national and international institutions, both in-person and online.

Funded by JICA and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the five-year project—set to run from 2025—has a budget of $5 million. A key outcome will be the creation of the IRCAPS (International Research Center for Air Pollution Studies) at Osh State University, fully equipped and supported by Japanese partners. The center will focus on studying air pollution and its effects on public health.

Air quality monitoring devices will be installed in homes and outdoor areas in Osh, Bishkek, and other locations to provide accurate assessments.

A strategic action plan will be developed by the project teams, aiming to integrate findings into the national air quality monitoring system. Training sessions for Osh State University specialists will be conducted by the Tokyo Institute of Science to ensure capacity building.

Additionally, Japanese scientists will collaborate on-site with local researchers at the center. The collected data will serve as the basis for health and environmental policy recommendations.

The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hydrometeorological Service, Osh City Administration, and various international and local stakeholders. Osh State University is the lead implementing institution.