The Center for European Studies of Yerevan State University and the Center for Ecological-Noosphere Studies (EcoCenter) of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, within the frames of MoU signed between our organisations, jointly co-organized the 6th International Youth Autumn School on October 3–5, 2025, entitled “Environmental Sciences: Linking the ‘Healthy Soil’ Concept with Environmental Law through European Best Practice lens.” The school was implemented as part of Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in European Studies: Democracy, Human Rights and Security/DeHuRiS project.
The school's transdisciplinary approach combined both theoretical and practical sessions on soil research, led by the EcoCenter, and a series of sessions on legal aspects, including EU and Armenia legislations and the country's commitment under the CEPA agreement.
The Autumn School brought together young specialists, students from universities, research institutions and public bodies. Its main goal was to raise awareness about environmental protection —particularly soil health—by highlighting its scientific and legal significance, while also providing a platform for knowledge exchange among young researchers.
Leading experts in the field delivered lectures on both the scientific aspects of soil health preservation and the key challenges of environmental law and existing gaps. Alongside theoretical sessions, participants took part in practical workshops, discussions, and group projects, developing their own ideas and initiatives for soil conservation. At the closing ceremony, participants received certificates.
Once again, the initiative demonstrated that close cooperation between science, education, and policy can create an effective platform for jointly addressing environmental challenges and advancing the “Healthy Soil” concept in practice.