From 19 to 30 October, Armenia will host the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17). As part of the event, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia (MoESCS) and organizations operating under its coordination will take part in a wide range of activities.
Events will take place in the conference’s Blue Zone at the Meridian Exhibition Centre and in the Green Zone at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex, as well as at several other venues.
Events in the Blue Zone: Meridian Exhibition Centre
19–30 October: “From Biodiversity to the School Plate” Virtual Reality Experience
The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, the Foundation for School Feeding and Child Well-being, and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) will showcase Armenia’s National School Feeding Program through virtual reality (VR) technology.
Visitors will be able to take virtual tours of school gardens, greenhouses and kitchens across Armenia, explore the value chain of whole-wheat grain, and discover how education, local agriculture, healthy nutrition and biodiversity conservation are interconnected.
19 October: High-level panel discussion
The panel discussion entitled “Education as a Driver for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Food Systems” will explore the role of school feeding programs in strengthening food security, conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable agriculture. Armenia’s National School Feeding Program will be presented as an example of cooperation between the education, agriculture and healthy nutrition sectors. Representatives from Armenia, Brazil, Cambodia, Indonesia and Rwanda are expected to participate.
On 24–25 October, a Scientific Forum will be held to showcase scientific achievements, research and innovative solutions in biodiversity conservation.
The forum’s thematic discussions will address the use of remote sensing technologies in biodiversity assessment, the conservation of Armenia’s endangered plant species, and research conducted by Armenian scientific institutions.
25 October: “Nature and Culture” Conference
On 26 October, the ‘Horovel’ Song and Dance Ensemble from Vanadzor will present a concert program as part of the “Mountain Day” cultural event.
Events in the Green Zone: Free admission
From 19 to 30 October, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport will host a dedicated pavilion in COP17’s Green Zone at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex. In collaboration with organizations operating under the Ministry’s coordination, the pavilion will offer educational, youth and cultural events for the public.
The ‘Barekamutyun’ State Ensemble will perform traditional Armenian dances on the Green Zone’s cultural stage, introducing visitors to Armenia’s rich dance heritage.
On 19 and 30 October: The Yerevan State Pantomime Theatre will present ‘The Book of Flowers’ (Girq Tsaghkants), enriching the conference’s cultural program with the distinctive expressive language of pantomime.
21 October, 10:00: Panel Discussion Entitled “Youth as Drivers of Change: School Feeding and Biodiversity,”
The panel discussion, organized with the participation of MoESCS, the Foundation for School Feeding and Child Well-being, and WFP, will focus on the role of young people in environmental education and biodiversity conservation.
The discussion will highlight Armenia’s experience in establishing school agricultural clubs, mini-gardens and greenhouses. It will be followed by presentations of innovative projects developed by schoolchildren and university students
On October 23, at 10:00, a workshop entitled ‘From Awareness to Change: Uniting Food, Health, Education, and Biodiversity for a Sustainable Future’ will be held.
The workshop, will introduce participants to the whole-wheat grain value chain, from grain cultivation to the bread served on school tables.
Practical presentations, expert discussions and possible tasting sessions will highlight the importance of local production and agrobiodiversity in promoting healthy nutrition.
More than 30 events organized by institutions under the coordination of MoESCS
Alongside the main conference program, institutions across sectors coordinated by MoESCS will organize more than 30 events at museums, libraries, historical and cultural reserve-museums, performing arts organizations and educational institutions.
These events will showcase Armenia’s history and culture, national rituals and traditions, art and heritage, as well as its educational and scientific systems.
Before the conference, the Global Youth Biodiversity Summit will take place at Yerevan State University on 17–18 October, bringing together about 400 young leaders aged 16–35, including 150 participants from abroad and 250 from Armenia’s regions.
On 25 October, the ‘Masunk; Traditional Song and Dance Ensemble, named after R. Haroyan, will present a concert program at the Garni Temple, featuring dances inspired by Armenian national rituals.
A hospitality and food-tasting event will also be held in Sevan, introducing guests to the history and ritual significance of traditional Armenian dishes. The event will be organized in cooperation with the ‘Development and Preservation of Armenian Culinary Traditions’ NGO.