- 05 May 2025
A roundtable discussion titled "Literary Texts and Climate Change: Aziz Sultan’s Eco-Dystopian Novel “Capsule Green World" was organized by the Department of Azerbaijani and World Literature of the Faculty of Philology at Baku Eurasian University (BAAU) as part of the "Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Week" initiative.
The event was attended by renowned writer Aziz Sultan, Vice-Rector for International Relations Associate Professor Sevda Rzayeva, faculty members of the Philology Department, and university students. In her opening remarks, Professor Elmira Mammadova-Kekech, Head of the Department of Azerbaijani and World Literature, emphasized the significance of the event, drawing attention to the role of literature in raising awareness of ecological degradation, biodiversity loss, and the consequences of unsustainable land use. She noted that literary work like Capsule: Green World can assist readers reflect on the urgent need for forest conservation, ecosystem resilience, and the protection of natural habitats threatened by pollution, habitat loss, and deforestation.
In line with the event program, Senior Lecturer Gunel Shikhalieva delivered a presentation analyzing the ecological issues in the novel and examining the literary text within the context of ecology. She highlighted how the novel underscores the importance of reforestation, land ecological restoration, and carbon sequestration through its dystopian portrayal of a world where technological dominance has led to the collapse of ecosystems and the extinction of many animal and plant species.
Among the students who presented their insights were Gulshan Shabanova, a first-year master's student in Literary Studies (European Literature); Sonya Garibova, a third-year undergraduate in English Language and Literature; and Bibikhanum Samedova, Kenan Nazarov, Aytaj Adilova, Fatima Suleymanova, and Shahana Hajiyeva, all fourth-year students majoring in Azerbaijani Language and Literature. Their analyses engaged with the novel's thematic threads such as the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence, the dichotomy of good and evil, and the conflict between technological advancement and nature.
At the conclusion of the event, writer Aziz Sultan responded to participants’ questions. Certificates of appreciation were presented to students and speakers for their active participation in the program.
