Həmidəxanım Hüseynova: The Swedish professor's “You brought us to Shusha” phrase left a deep mark in my memory – INTERVIEW

The liberated city of Shusha today becomes the subject not only of public discussions but also of scientific research. One such study was prepared by our compatriot Hamidakhanim Huseynova, who graduated with a master's degree from Lund University, one of Sweden's leading higher education institutions.

In her master's dissertation, she investigated Shusha's sustainable development prospects and its future urban appearance.

Aztəhsil.az reports, citing AZERTAC's interviewee, that Hamidakhanim Huseynova spoke about her research work and its main ideas.

— Hamidakhanim, why did you decide to dedicate your dissertation to the topic of sustainable urbanization, and why was the city of Shusha at the center of your research?

— Since I studied in the specialty of “Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development,” the direction of my research was also dedicated to the topic of sustainable urban planning. I was particularly interested in the post-conflict period, that is, how cities damaged by war or natural disasters are restored, and how sustainable urban planning principles can be applied in this process.

During my studies, I had the opportunity to visit Shusha, and this visit showed me that this historic city is both a very relevant and symbolic example for my research. Therefore, in my master's dissertation – a study titled “Shusha's Vision: The Path to Sustainable Urban Energy and a Mobile Future” – I decided to investigate the city's future development through the prism of sustainable energy and urban mobility.

At the same time, I believe that the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, to be held in Baku in May, will be a good opportunity to share my research ideas with both local and international experts, as well as to draw attention to Shusha's urban planning potential.

— How did your visit to Shusha influence the direction of your research?

— In general, one of the most important issues during the restoration of cities destroyed by war is taking into account the spiritual connection of people returning to those places with the city. It is very important to understand what people want to see in the renewed city and what kind of environment they wish to experience.

Precisely for this reason, during the research process, I revisited Shusha and tried to establish direct communication with local residents. These meetings and observations provided me with many interesting ideas and new perspectives.

— What mood did you observe during conversations with Shusha residents about the city's sustainable development?

— Shusha's climate and mountainous terrain are somewhat harsh. Therefore, although these factors initially caused some concerns among certain residents, overall, I sensed a positive attitude towards the idea of a sustainable city.

Two points, in particular, caught my attention during conversations with local residents.

Firstly, I tried to understand how people's attitudes towards digital electric stoves and alternative energy technologies were formed in an environment where gas stoves had been used in households for many years. How people accepted such changes in their daily lives was one of the interesting observations for me.

Another point that attracted my attention was the attitude of local residents towards electric vehicles and environmentally friendly modes of transport in general. An interest and open attitude towards the implementation of more sustainable and ecological solutions in both private and public transport were felt.

— Which directions of Shusha city's development do you consider in your research?

— The research covers two main directions: a phased transition to alternative energy sources in Shusha city and the formation of a sustainable transport network.

While working on this topic, I met with a number of urban planning specialists and became thoroughly acquainted with the innovations envisioned in Shusha city's current Master Plan. Based on that plan, I tried to envision the city's future development and a possible urban planning model.

At the same time, Shusha's mountainous terrain and unique geographical structure make the creation of a sustainable transport system in the city both an interesting and a complex task. Therefore, in my research, I paid special attention to how an efficient and ecologically sustainable transport network could be organized under such topographical conditions.

— Was it not difficult to present the topic of Shusha city to a foreign academic audience?

— I should note that after successfully presenting my dissertation to Swedish and Spanish professors in Lund, their high appreciation seemed to immediately dispel the academic anxiety that had accompanied me during the four-month research period.

What was particularly important was that I was able to introduce these professors, who had not yet been to Azerbaijan, to Shusha from a different perspective – academic and urban planning. As a young researcher in the field of urban planning, demonstrating the potential of this city is very valuable to me.

The metaphorical phrase uttered by my Swedish professor after the presentation – “You brought us to Shusha” – left a deep impression on my memory. I hope that someday these words will come true not only figuratively but also literally.