On May 15, Sumgayit State University organized a scientific-practical seminar on "The place,ecological function and possibilities of use of fungi in the modern distribution of living things" organized by the Student Scientific Society.

Professor Ramazan Mammadov, vice-rector for Science and innovations of SSU, opened the seminar with an introductory speech, greeted the participants and spoke about the importance of the seminar. He spoke about the achievements in the field of biology in our country and the new directions of development of this science. He said that National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the architect and founder of the independent state of Azerbaijan, paid special attention to the development of science and education at all stages of state administration. Both during the years of Soviet rule and during the period of independence, the science policy was one of the main directions of the national construction policy. The fundamental foundation of modern fields of biological science in Azerbaijan, such as biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, gene biotechnology, bioinformatics, and bioenergetics, was laid precisely in the 70s of the last century. The vice-rector also noted that the faculty of Chemistry and biology of our university has a great contribution in the formation of biological science. Because here, experienced scientists work with students studying in the field of biology, well-known scientists regularly meet with our students, and scientific ideas are exchanged. Today, successful projects are implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev in the direction of the formation of scientific potential in our country.

Then, general director of the Institute of Microbiology of the National Academy of Sciences, Corresponding member of ANAS, professor Panah Muradov gave a speech on "The place and ecological function of fungi in the modern distribution of living things". He stated that although fungi have characteristic of both plants and animals, respectively, they also have specific characteristics that differ sharply from them. In recent times, the disturbance of the bioecological balance in natural ecosystems makes it even more necessary to study the fungi that live there. Therefore, the researches conducted in this direction are important in recent times.

Professor Konul Bakhshaliyeva, head of the microbiological biotechnology laboratory of the Institute of Microbiology of ARETN, spoke on the topic "Mycotoxins: producers, effects and possibilities of use". She noted that mycotoxins are secondary metabolites synthesized by fungi that have harmful effects. Mycotoxins are similar to antibiotics in many ways. Mycotoxins are resistant to high temperature.

Then Nizami Namazov, associate professor of department of Biology and it teaching methodology of Sumgayit State University, gave an extensive report on "Ways of popularizing the teaching of mycology in higher schools". Therefore, the preparation of literature of different topics (monograph, textbook, methodical materials, etc.) about fungi should be considered as an urgent issue facing scientific researchers and educators.

Other speakers spoke extensively about the relevance of the topic.