On April 12, 2026, Associate Professor of ALT University, Nurbek Dzhakupov, and student of the IT-EE-6k group, Nurgeldy Peshenov, participated in an eco-run in the format of plogging, organized by Almaty Marathon. This is more than just a run—as participants cover the distance, they collect litter, making a tangible contribution to the cleanliness of the urban environment.
In practice, such events are directly linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and address several areas simultaneously:
🔹 SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being Plogging combines running with functional exercises (bending, squatting), making it more effective than a standard jog. Within the university environment, this is a vital tool for promoting a healthy lifestyle and establishing sustainable habits among students.
🔹 SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Collecting litter during the run directly improves the urban environment. The cumulative effect of even small actions by participants is significant: parks, streets, and public spaces become cleaner.
🔹 SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production Plogging fosters a practical understanding of the waste problem. When you collect litter yourself, your perspective on consumption, sorting, and disposal begins to shift.
🔹 SDG 13: Climate Action While the connection may not always be obvious, it exists through the formation of an ecological mindset. A conscious attitude toward the environment serves as the foundation for broader climate actions in the future.
🔹 SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals A particularly notable moment was the meeting between the professor and a student from our university right during the race. Such initiatives unite people: faculty and students, different majors, and different generations—all engaging in a common cause. Sustainable development is not just about strategies and documents; it is about concrete actions that everyone can participate in.
