Single Time Zone Research: Amount of Funds and Aims Named

Information about this is in a documentation of the Ministry of Science, Orda.kz reports.

On December 24, the department's website published an announcement about the competition for program-targeted financing of scientific and scientific-technical programs for 2025–2027.

The document presents a list of priority areas and contact numbers for clarification.

There is a file with tender documentation on various research areas.

Among them is an assessment of the impact of a single time zone on Kazakhstani residents. After the petition to return to the former time zone was dismissed, this issue was requested to be studied.

The document states the following about funding for the study of the impact of time zones: 

The maximum amount of the program for 2025 is 54 million tenge.

The final amount for this study has been reduced compared to what was announced earlier.

Initially, the figure approached 160 million tenge. The purpose of the study is in the document:

To assess the impact of the transition to a single time on the mental and physical health of the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan and to develop scientifically based recommendations for minimizing the identified negative health effects.

There are specifications about what must be done and what results should be expected.

Among other things, the study should yield two scientifically substantiated conclusions:

• On the impact of a single time zone on Kazakhstanis' mental and physical health.
• On the economic burden associated with the impact of a single time zone on health.

Based on the findings, recommendations will be made to maintain or " adjust " the time zone.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin