December 6, within a working visit to Zaporizhzhya Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine Oleg Proskuryakov visited Zaporizhzhya National University. Oleg Albertovych accompanied by the Deputy Head of Zaporizhzhya Regional State Administration Petro Goncharuk met with the leadership of our university, as well as teachers and students of Biological and Economics Faculties.
Opening the meeting Rector of ZNU Mykola Frolov presented to the audience honorary guests of the University and gave a word to Oleg Albertovych.
Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine Oleg Proskuryakov, addressing the audience, said that the current environmental policies - among 
priority directions of activity of our country. The issue of ecological situation in our country is under personal control of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. It is on behalf Oleg Albertovych visited Zaporizhzhya and visited JSC "Zaporizhstal", which, according to the trilateral memorandum signed between the factories "Zaporoizhstal" and "Dniprospetsstal" on the one hand, the other regional administrations and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine on the other hand, there is an active modernization of equipment. As a result, this has cause to a significant reduction in pollution. Oleg Proskuryakov noted that impressed by the pace with which it is re-production in this factory.
Also, he noted, that today during a meeting in Zaporizhzhya Regional State Administration plans with identified environmental development of our region for 2014 by source of funding. In particular, they talked about the fact that until 2015 the number of natural reserve fund of Zaporizhzhya region increased from 4% (currently) to 8% of the total area. In ZODA talked about the need to establish information displays in Zaporizhzhya and Energodar that would on-line showing the permissible emission standards and their actual performance. The minister assured that with Zaporizhzhya region in the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine established fruitful cooperation and all local environmental initiatives resonated with the Ministry.
During the meeting, teachers and students were able to talk with ZNU guest, ask questions and discuss important issues related to the environment.
So, Dean of Biological Faculty, professor Lyudmyla Omelyanchik said that members of Biological Faculty devote much effort for participating in various environmental events. Now they have started the first phase of the "Restore Dnieper", which involves the establishment of a biological station of our university plant for breeding fish, which in future will issue the Dnieper to restore its ecosystem. Lyudmyla Oleksandrivna wrote a letter to the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych with a request to allocate funds for this project. She also presented the corresponding letter to Oleg Proskuryakov. The Minister noted that any measure aimed on improving the environmental situation in the country, deserves support and promised to pay attention to the initiative of teachers and students of our university.
Also during the meeting students put questions, if graduates of the specialty "Biology" will be able to taught in schools such subject as "Ecology"? Oleg Albertovych said that it is the Ministry of Environment together with the Ministry of Education developing a program of discipline "Ecology", which will be mandatory for teaching in all schools of secondary level education of our country, so teachers on this subject will be provided with work. Rector of ZNU Mykola Frolov noted that Zaporizhzhya National University can take an active role in the development of programs on the subject: our teachers a few years ago have developed appropriate school curriculum, which was tested successfully at the schools in our region as an optional subject. Oleg Proskuryakov thanked for the initiative and promised to take up this offer.
Head of the Department of Ichthyology and Aquaculture, professor Valeriy Domnich noted that the Faculty of Biology of ZNU has tremendous human potential - 10 professors and 40 associate professors, as well as many prospective highly skilled professionals - students of the faculty that are happy to be included actively in the development and implementation of environmental projects at the national level. This proposal was supported by the Rector of ZNU Mykola Frolov.
In conclusion, Oleg Proskuryakov thanked all members of the University for indifference and an active social position.
Tamila Tarasenko
