Askhat Sheudzhen, the First Academician from Adygea to the Russian Academy of Sciences, Donates 200 Books from His Personal Collection to ASU

A meeting with Askhad Sheujen, the first academician from Adygea of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was held at the Scientific Library of Adyghe State University. During the event, the academician generously donated 200 books from his personal collection to the university’s holdings.

The gathering was attended by scientists and students from Adyghe State University, as well as representatives from I.T. Trubilin Kuban State Agrarian University, where Askhad Khazretovich serves as Head of the Department of Agrochemistry. Colleagues, classmates of Askhad Khazretovich, and members of the intelligentsia from both Adygea and Kuban also participated. Throughout the event, guests spoke warmly of the academician’s significant contributions to the advancement of science and agriculture.

Askhad Sheudzhen is a distinguished Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, laureate of the Russian Government Prize, and a two-time recipient of the National “Professor of the Year” Award. He has been honored as an Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education and an Honored Worker of the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Russian Federation, as well as recognized as a Hero of Labor of Kuban. His research interests primarily encompass agricultural chemistry, soil science, and plant physiology. Additionally, he has authored works exploring the history and culture of the peoples of the Caucasus, examining their relationship with nature through the lens of agriculture.

Some of the books are the academician's own works. These include works on agronomy, chemistry, agricultural chemistry, biochemistry, ecology, physiology, and mathematics. They also touch on the history of crop cultivation in the North Caucasus, the development of Adyghe statehood, the transformation of their religious beliefs, and other topics.

"My collection of books can be categorized into three primary groups. The first comprises works related to my fields of expertise—chemistry and biology. The second includes books concerning the history of our country, agriculture, and the history of Adygea. The third group consists of publications dedicated to scientists and industrialists. These books will serve as valuable resources for students at Adyghe State University. As Askhad Sheudzhen eloquently expressed, 'Humans are not immortal, but books endure. I am not one to carry my knowledge with me when I leave this world; I wish to leave a legacy of knowledge for the younger generations.'"

He specifically highlighted the meticulous organization of the library, praising its well-ordered arrangement. The scholar had been given a tour of the facility the previous day. As Fatima Tlyusten, Director of the ASU Scientific Library, observed, donating personal libraries to the ASU collection has now become a valued tradition. The Scientific Library already houses the personal book collections of distinguished individuals, including the eminent Caucasian linguist Zainab Kerasheva; PhD in Physics and Mathematics Professor Amin Neflyashev; physicist Oleg Naguchev; renowned philosopher Kadyrbech Delokarov; and others. Notably, these collections consist of printed editions, which offer significant advantages over electronic versions.

"We are currently focusing our collections primarily on electronic publications. However, receiving physical, living books as gifts brings us genuine joy. These books carry the energy of remarkable individuals who have made significant contributions to our country and Russian science. We sincerely hope that this gift will benefit both our students and those at our neighboring university. We are truly grateful for this thoughtful gesture," said Fatima Tlyusten.

ASU Rector Daud Mamiy expressed his gratitude to Askhat Sheudzhen for his valuable contribution to the university. He emphasized that Adyghe State University always welcomes the opportunity to engage with distinguished scholars. In recent years, ASU has increasingly collaborated with KubSAU, whose staff members participated in the meeting with Askhat Khazretovich.

"Although KubSAU is primarily an agricultural university and we are a classical university, we have identified numerous shared interests and promising areas for cooperation and collaboration," stated Daud Mamiy.

The meeting concluded on a heartfelt note, as the rector's grandchildren, who were present at the event, performed an Adyghe dance for the attendees. Interestingly, they are also contemplating careers in the field of science.