Scientific Council

The Scientific Council of the “Icherisheher” Museum Center commenced its activity as a permanent, public-based collegial scientific-consultative body, holding its first meeting on July 23, 2025.

The main objectives of the Scientific Council are the systematic organization of the museum’s scientific-exhibition, research, restoration, and methodological activities, the application of scientific approaches, and the improvement of management quality.

The key duties of the Scientific Council include the museumification of historical monuments in Icherisheher, implementation of the “Smart Reserve” project, development of digital monitoring systems, and activities related to the protection of natural and cultural heritage. The Council’s scientific work covers not only academic research but also tourism and public education.

Primary goals of the Council:

Improving the Center’s operations, defining development perspectives, increasing the efficiency of scientific research, applying obtained results in practice, preparing scientific personnel, and supervising research and creative activities.

Duties of the Council:

1. Providing recommendations and proposals on the main directions and issues of the Center’s scientific and publishing activities;

2. Preparing development programs for the Center;

3. Determining the scientific significance of the historical and artistic museum items preserved in the Center’s collection;

4. Preparing draft annual and long-term plans within the Center’s scientific-research activities;

5. Preparing and processing reports related to the Center’s scientific activity;

6. Preparing brief concepts, structures, thematic-exhibition plans, and architectural-artistic solutions for the Center’s permanent exhibitions;

7. Providing reviews for articles, conference materials, and scientific-popular works submitted for publication;

8. Evaluating the scientific value and relevance of qualification works prepared by museum employees.

The Council, chaired by Rufat Mahmud, Chairman of the Board of the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve Administration, consists of the following members:

Secretary: Saadat Alakbarova, Scientific Secretary of the Icherisheher Museum Center.

Members:

• Naile Valikhanli — Director of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, Academician

• Ertegin Salamzade — Director of the Institute of Architecture and Art of ANAS, Academician

• Teymur Karimli — Director of the Institute of Manuscripts of ANAS, Academician

• Karim Shukurov — Director of the A. Bakikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology of ANAS, Professor

• Farhad Guliyev — Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS, Associate Professor

• Melahat Farajova — Senior Researcher, Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS

• Fikret Abdullayev — PhD in History

• Azade Huseynova — Director of the Icherisheher Museum Center

• Amina Malikova — Director of the National Carpet Museum, PhD in Art Studies

• Aytac Alisultanli — Member of the Board of the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve Administration

• Sabuhi Ahmadov — PhD in History

• Zarifa Malikova — Director of the Scientific Restoration Center of Museum Assets and Memorial Items

• Firdovsi Taghiyev — Director of the Scientific-Production Restoration Workshop of the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve

Council Procedures and Organization

The Council’s meetings are convened when necessary at the initiative of the Chair or more than half of its members. Meetings are chaired by the Council’s Chair, or in his absence — by the Director of the Center.

The Chair leads the overall activity of the Council, approves the work plan for discussions based on proposals from members and researchers, convenes and conducts meetings, and assigns tasks to members.

The Secretary ensures the execution of organizational, analytical, and supervisory functions. All documents received by the Council are processed by the Secretary on the day of receipt and forwarded to the Chair.

Documents approved by the Council must be submitted to the Center’s scientific archive and, depending on purpose and necessity, to structural units as supporting materials. The Council’s decisions are binding for all departments and scientific staff of the Center.

The Chair and Secretary regularly check the implementation of the Council’s decisions and recommendations. The results are discussed during Council meetings.

The Council consists of 15 members, including representatives of Azerbaijan’s leading scientific community, the Center’s management, and specialists in relevant fields.

The composition of the Council is approved for a three-year term by an order of the Chair of the Board of the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve Administration.

The Chair of the Board serves as the Chair of the Council, and the Center’s Scientific Secretary serves as the Secretary of the Council.

New members may be admitted to the Council by order of the Chair of the Board upon application. The Chair of the Council reviews matters related to the admission of new members.

All Council members have equal rights during discussions of draft decisions. Each member has the right to oppose a decision and present a dissenting opinion in writing. If a member leaves the Council, a new member is selected in accordance with the regulation.