First web-portal of Azerbaijan celebrates 20th anniversary

Internet media is one of the most advanced areas in the press.

Today, internet and information technology plays a significant role in development of society, formation of public opinion. It is the result of innovations in information society that have been achieved important succeses in the development of the modern press. We can confidently say that the Internet is one of the most advanced in the press of Azerbaijan. In our country, dozens of web sites, portals, Internet TV are functioning. If we glance at the history of this field, the first web-portal science.gov.az was created under the name of www.ab.az in 1995. For the first time Internet access was realized supervised by acad. Ali Abbasov, Minister of Communications and High Technologies at the Institute of Information Technology in 1991. 

Science.gov.az the official portal of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, which aims the delivering relevant information about the Academy, its diversified operations to Azerbaijan and whole world community, as well as providing links of employees of the academy with the international scientific information space. In addition, official documents of the AR President in the field of science and education, official documents of the Presidium of ANAS, periodicals of ANAS are being posted in the portal as well. The portal is a reliable source of information on the scientific events of ANAS (conferences, symposia, forums, etc.), scientists’ academic achievements, as well as scientific innovations in the world.

Development phases of science.gov.az

If we look at the 20 years of portal we can see 2 development phases left behind. First phase covering 1995-2003 years, site was composed of static and unstructured pages, database did not exist.

Second development phase of the portal came across 2003-2015 years. Note that Presidium of ANAS made decision "On the establishment of www.science.az portal" dated September 26, 2001 and this task was entrusted to the Institute of Information Technology. After that, lack of exact structure and design of the site, unsystematic data charging, and finally emerging of new technologies have made it necessary to re-formation of the web-portal. At this stage, photo gallery of the site design and structure was created, news elaborated based on database. Meanwhile, posting of animated pictures, constantly updating of the pages and development of a new concept has been implemented in the site.

The portal has entered a new phase in the current year, which accompanied by significant changes. Recently carried out reforms and restructuring in ANAS, developing a new corporate identity for ANAS and emergence of new technologies revealed the need for the reconstruction of the web-portal. Pursuant to the necessity, “Action Plan on the Informatization of the ANAS Presidium” dated July 3, 2013 approved by the Presidium has intended development of new version of the www.science.az, besides other issues. With the goal to ensure the execution of the decision, developed a new version of the portal by the specialists of the Institute of Information Technology by applying latest technologies. The new version has a huge database covering complete and accurate information about the structure and activity of scientific institutes and other organizations of ANAS Presidium Administration, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, former presidents, emeritus, active and corresponding members of ANAS, key directions of scientific activities of the doctors and doctors of philosophy working in the academic institutions and other organizations of ANAS, academic achievements, academic-educational activities, key scientific works as well as powerful searching capabilities. Reflecting the reforms and and structural changes of ANAS in the portal, video and Internet television, creation of "ElmTV", including the usage of latest technologies are key indexes of the site at state-of-the-art.

“ElmTv” is a vital video source

"ElmTv" is the first Internet TV with the aim of popularizing science in the science.gov.az portal. This video source which reflects the activity of ANAS institutes and organizations carries out live broadcasts of vital events. In addition to the broadcasting the scientific achievements, scientific innovations in the world, news, special reports, commercials, interviews etc. are manifested on "ElmTv".

www.science.az portal as a training base

Over the years www.science.az portal has operated as a training base. Students from various high schools of the country, dozens of journalists, web designer and web-programmers had probated here. Thus, students of the journalism department of Baku State University held probation and gained working experience at science.gov.az web-portal which was training school for journalism. In the practice courses of the institute for students of the same department were participated 300 students. Meanwhile, should be noted that media specialists at the country's many celebrate sites are the alumni science.gov.az. Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency (AzerTAc) employees were probated practical basis of online media, creation and management of the sites at the Institute of Information Technology.

www.science.az also as an information-inquiry system

The portal is a database of academicians and corresponding members, doctors and PhDs working in the institutes and organizations of ANAS. You can obtain all data about life and activity of influential scientists, their achievements in the field of science at this portal.

Portal has been registered 1216407 requests in 2014

During the years of 2004-2014 statistics of www.science.gov.az portal "News" section was carried out 1379 news were posted in the portal in 2014. If in 2015, number of requests to a site was 260120 while in 2014 it reached 1216407. After our country, Turkey, Russia, the U.S .and Germany was included in the users.

www.science.az is a multimedia gallery

Photo gallery of science.gov.az embraces photos shot in the conferences, seminars, meetings and other events of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences that can be estimated as chronicle of the history of the science. During the years 2004-2014, the number of photo materials from a variety of events exceeds 54 866.

Happy 20th birthday!

Note that, has been commissioned by Institute of Information Technology since 2003, science.gov.az portal has been included the ANAS Presidium Administration, Department of Public Relations and the popularization of science.

Being the messenger of Internet-media in Azerbaijan science.gov.az successfully continues its work today. Playing an important role in highlighting country's social-scientific life in an accurate , comprehensive and objective way, leads to great opportunities for promoting scientific achievements of scientists and experts to the world community. Innovations in ANAS, in the scientific community of the country, as well as the in the world of science are delivered promptly by the staff of portal to the public access. The information contained herein is constantly updated, improved and expanded. Providing vital role in information space of Azerbaijan under the condition of rapid development of information and communication technologies the portal functions in three –Azerbaijani, Russian and English languages. Currently Facebook and Twitter pages of www.science.az are managed by associates of the portal. Important information that posted on the portal timely highlights on social networks.

We congratulate the science.gov.az staff for their merits in successful and cost-effective performance, contribution for elucidating of Azerbaijan science, and wish them new achievements and success! Happy 20th birthday!