Kaisha Atakhanova
Born (1957-07-18) 18 July 1957
Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Alma materKaraganda State University
AwardsGoldman Environmental Prize

Kaisha Atakhanova (born 18 July 1957) is a biologist from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, specializing in the genetic effects of nuclear radiation. Due to her civil society activism, she was awarded the international Goldman Environmental Prize in 2005[1][2] for leading a campaign to prevent nuclear waste from being commercially imported into Kazakhstan.

Atakhanova is founder and former leader of the Karaganda Ecological Center (known as EcoCenter).[3]

Early life

Atakhanova was born in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. Her father was a coal miner and also fought in the Second World War. Growing up, she felt comfortable in nature and had a strong interest in animals, which led her to study biology and become an environmental activist. The effects of radiation have affected her family, as both her parents and her sister have died from cancer. Her only other sibling, a brother, was also diagnosed with cancer..[4]

Career and research

After graduating in biology from Karaganda State University, Atakhanova began environmental and biological research. Following her interest on the effects of nuclear waste in Kazakhstan, she specialized in the genetic effects of nuclear radiation on amphibians, focusing primarily on frogs.[4]

She did research in the Semipalatinsk Test Sit, also known as the polygon, which was a testing site for Soviet nuclear weapons. Through this research, she was able to study the effects of radiation on people and animals that had been directly affected.[4]

In 1992, she founded the Karaganda Ecological Center (EcoCenter), which allowed her to work directly with people who have been exposed to radiation. The purpose of this was to inform people of how exposure to radiation could affect their living conditions.[3] Through the EcoCenter, Atakhanova was able to lead a successful campaign to prevent nuclear waste from being commercially imported and disposed of in Kazakhstan.[1]

Personal accomplishments

As well as EcoCenter, she is also a founding member of the Women's Earth Alliance (WEA), an organization that seeks to empower women and equip them with the skills and tools needed to protect the earth.[5]

Awards

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Kaisha Atakhanova". Goldman Environmental Prize. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 8 November 2007.
  2. ↑ "Kaisha Atakhanova: 2005 Goldman Prize winner, Kazakhstan". YouTube. Goldman Environmental Prize. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 Nijhuis, Michelle (18 April 2005). "Kaisha Atakhanova fought to keep nuclear waste out of Kazakhstan". Grist. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 Pearce, Fred (7 May 2005). "Interview: After the bomb". New Scientist. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "What We Do". Women's Earth Alliance. Retrieved 11 February 2019.


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