Nazarbayev University School of Mining & Geosciences

01/09/2026

A New Era for Engineering: Welcoming the SMG Community to the School of Engineering! 🚀

We are pleased to share an important milestone in our academic development. The School of Mining and Geosciences (SMG) and the School of Engineering and Digital Sciences (SEDS) have joined forces to form the unified School of Engineering (SoE).

We warmly welcome all our students, alumni, faculty, and partners to this new chapter! Ahead lie new opportunities for research, collaboration, and growth.

Follow the official School of Engineering page and stay connected with us!

18/08/2026

01/07/2026

🏆 NU SMG students win 1st place at the Annual Geological Universiade!

Students from Nazarbayev University (NU) School of Mining and Geosciences (SMG) proudly represented NU at the Annual Geological Universiade, organized by Satbayev University and hosted by D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University.

The Universiade brought together 8 leading geology universities from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, giving students the opportunity to test their knowledge, field skills, teamwork, and passion for geology.

After several days of challenging competitions and practical tasks, the NU SMG team won 1st place! 🥇

Congratulations to our students:

• Zhassulan Kazez
• Dias Iskakov
• Ruslan Terechshenya
• Askhat Zhuzzhassar
• Ali Akylbekov

This achievement reflects their dedication, strong teamwork, and commitment to Earth sciences.

We are proud of our students and wish them continued success in their academic and professional journey! 🌍⚒️

16/06/2026

NU Professors Delivered Lectures for NIS High School Students

As part of the preparation for the VIII International Field Olympiad of Young Geologists, high school students from NIS schools across Kazakhstan visited Nazarbayev University and attended two educational lectures delivered by professors from the NU School of Mining and Geosciences.

The lectures focused on key topics in Earth sciences and plate tectonics:

• “A Historical Perspective on the Theory of Plate Tectonics”
• “Formation and Destruction of Crust on Earth: A Plate Tectonic Perspective”

During the session, students learned about the development of plate tectonic theory, the processes that shape the Earth’s crust, and the connection between geological knowledge and real natural processes.

In addition to the lectures, students also had the opportunity to learn more about Nazarbayev University and explore the NU campus. The visit helped participants broaden their understanding of geosciences, discover academic opportunities at NU, and become more inspired to continue their journey in Earth sciences.

We thank all participating students for their interest and active engagement, and wish them success in the upcoming VIII International Field Olympiad of Young Geologists.

10/06/2026

🎓 GUEST LECTURE ALERT! 🔬🌍

The School of Mining and Geosciences invites students, researchers, and faculty to attend a special guest lecture by Dr. Adriano Banak, Senior Research Associate at the Croatian Geological Institute.

SEM Analysis of Quartz Grain Surface Microtextures: Application and Challenges in Sedimentology

Dr. Banak is an experienced sedimentologist with over 20 years of research expertise in Neogene and Quaternary sediments. His work focuses on stable isotope analysis and the interpretation of environmental processes through SEM imaging of quartz grain surface microtextures across various sedimentary environments.

📅 Date: June 12, 2026 (Friday)
🕒 Time: 15:30
📍 Venue: Block 6, 6.105

This lecture will provide valuable insights into the application of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in sedimentological research and discuss the opportunities and challenges of using quartz grain microtextures for environmental interpretation.

We look forward to seeing you there!

NazarbayevUniversity

01/06/2026

On May 29, 2026, the School of Mining and Geosciences at Nazarbayev University hosted the 3rd Annual Industry Advisory Committee meeting.

The meeting brought together industry partners, SMG leadership, faculty, and staff to discuss the School’s achievements, future priorities, and opportunities to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry.

Participants were introduced to SMG’s ongoing and upcoming initiatives, reflecting the School’s commitment to practical learning, applied research, and industry-oriented education.

The event also included a feedback session focused on industry relations, future challenges in the mining and petroleum sectors, student experience, and ways to attract more young people to strategic professions.

We sincerely thank all industry partners and participants for their continued support, valuable feedback, and contribution to the development of education, research, and industry collaboration at Nazarbayev University.

19/05/2026

Congratulations to Shynggys Aitkazy, Master’s student at the School of Mining and Geosciences, on winning the Master’s Division at the SPE Russian and Caspian Regional Student Paper Contest!

The contest was held at Satbayev University in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on May 16, 2026, bringing together talented students and researchers from across the region.

Shynggys presented his research titled:

“Experimental Evaluation of Relative Permeability Modifiers for Selective Water Control: Coreflood Study on Field Reservoir Cores.”

His research focuses on the use of relative permeability modifiers (RPMs) for selective water control in reservoir formations through experimental coreflood studies.

Supervisor: Prof. Peyman Pourafshary

Congratulations to Shynggys on this outstanding achievement!

18/05/2026

The School of Mining and Geosciences proudly congratulates PhD student Ibraheem Salaudeen on winning the PhD Division at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Russian and Caspian Regional Student Paper Contest held at Satbayev University in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 16th May 2026.

The SPE Regional Student Paper Contest brings together outstanding students and researchers from universities across the region to present innovative research addressing key challenges in the petroleum and energy industry.

During the competition, Ibraheem presented his research titled:

“Mitigating Salt Precipitation in CO2 Storage Through Humidified Injection: An Experimental-Numerical Study.”

The research focuses on improving CO2 storage security in saline aquifers by mitigating injectivity impairment associated with salt precipitation during CO2 injection.

Reflecting on the achievement, Ibraheem stated:

“I am honored to represent Nazarbayev University at the regional SPE competition and sincerely grateful for the support and mentorship of my supervisors, Prof. Masoud Riazi and Prof. Peyman Pourafshary, as well as the encouragement and support of the Dean of the School of Mining and Geosciences, Prof. Randy Hazlett.”

This achievement highlights Nazarbayev University’s growing research contribution in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), reservoir engineering, and sustainable energy research.

08/05/2026

🔥 SMG Takes 1st Place at the Republican Geology Olympiad!

Big congratulations to our amazing students from the School of Mining and Geosciences at Nazarbayev University for their outstanding performance at the XVII Republican Student Subject Olympiad in Applied Geology, hosted by Satbayev University!

🥇 Ruslan Terechshenya — 1st PLACE WINNER!

👏 Team SMG proudly represented NU:
• Ruslan Terechshenya
• Dias Iskakov
• Ali Akylbekov

From exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Charyn Canyon 🌄 to tackling challenging tasks in structural geology, mineralogy, and geological history - our students demonstrated strong knowledge, teamwork, and true geoscience passion.

Guided by Associate Professor Milovan Fustic, the team showed what SMG students are capable of on the national stage 💪⛏️

🙏 Special thanks to Gylym Sapinov for escorting and supporting our students during their trip to Almaty.

We are incredibly proud of you for bringing home the victory and representing SMG with excellence!