On September 17, 2026, a round table entitled “The Scientific Legacy and Contribution of Academician U.M. Sultangazin to the Development of Mathematical Science and Space Research” was held in Almaty. The event was dedicated to Umirzak Makhmutovich Sultangazin, an outstanding Kazakhstani scientist, mathematician, and organizer of science. The round table took place at the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NAS RK) and brought together prominent scientists, representatives of scientific organizations, colleagues, and followers of the Academician.
It was symbolic that the meeting took place within the walls of the Academy of Sciences, with which a significant part of U.M. Sultangazin’s scientific and organizational career was closely associated. He rose from Director of the Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics and Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR to President of the Academy. From 1988 to 1994, Umirzak Makhmutovich headed the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR and subsequently the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The participation of Akylbek Kazhigulovich Kurishbayev, President of the Board of NAS RK and Academician of NAS RK, added particular significance to the event. In his address, he spoke about U.M. Sultangazin as a person and scientist, his scientific and organizational activities, and his contribution to the development of national science.
A significant part of the round table was devoted to Sultangazin’s research in computational mathematics and his contribution to the development of Kazakhstan’s mathematical school. Askar Serikulovich Dzhumadildayev, Vice-President of NAS RK and Academician, spoke about Sultangazin’s scientific works.
Academician Bakytzhan Tursynovich Zhumagulov shared his recollections of Umirzak Makhmutovich. In his remarks, he highlighted the scale of Sultangazin’s personality, his contribution to the development of national science, and the importance of his scientific legacy for future generations of researchers.
Colleagues, students, and associates of the Academician also shared their memories, providing a deeper insight into his personality and his influence on the development of several generations of Kazakhstani researchers.
U.M. Sultangazin’s scientific activities extended far beyond fundamental mathematics. He was among the scientists who stood at the origins of the systematic development of space research in Kazakhstan. His name is closely associated with the establishment of the Institute of Space Research, the development of scientific programs and Earth remote sensing, as well as the practical application of the results of space activities.
A special focus of the discussion was the preservation of the historical memory and promotion of the scientific legacy of Academician U.M. Sultangazin. The participants of the round table supported the initiative to commemorate his name and include Umirzak Sultangazin in Kazakhstan’s list of outstanding historical figures, “Tarikhi Tulghalar” (“Historical Figures”).
The round table was organized by JSC “National Center of Space Research and Technology,” the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Institute of Mathematics and Mathematical Modeling.
