Bayanaul State National Nature Park (BSNNP), which was established in 1985 and is one of the biggest natural parks in the Republic of Kazakhstan, conserves and rehabilitates the natural flora and fauna of the Bayanaul mountain range. This article expands the floristic inventory of BSNNP and identifies the ecological and ethnobotanical importance of the park. The literature revealed that 681 plant species inhabited the BSNNP region but it was hypothesized that the park’s plant diversity was greater than the documented 681 plant species. Following our expedition travels to BSNNP, we extended the flora summary with an addition of 81 new plant species. Now, according to this study, the flora of BSNNP comprises 762 plant species belonging to 335 genera and 81 families. The leading families are Asteraceae Dumort., Poaceae Barnhart, Brassicaceae Burnett, Fabaceae Lindl, Rosaceae Juss., Caryophyllaceae Juss, Lamiaceae Lindl., Apiaceae Lindl., and Scrophulariaceae Juss. They comprise 57.7% of the total plant species in the national park and 58.5% of the total genera. The largest genera are wormwood, sedge, onion, cinquefoil, speedwell, and astragalus, based on which these genera can be considered polymorphic. Moreover, 16 species of endemic plants belonging to 14 genera and 7 families were also reported. The flora is characterized by high biological diversity with the participation of boreal relicts. The largest group among useful species is medicinal plants, represented by 186 species (24.4%) belonging to 83 genera, and 39 families. Our findings enhance the scientific understanding of plant diversity in BSNNP and provide the groundwork for future conservation research.

The aim of this study is to identify geochemical features of microelement accumulation in vegetation using creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) as an example and to assess its bioindicator potential in contrasting natural and anthropogenic environments. The main idea of the study is a comparative analysis of the microelement composition of plants growing in the urban area of Poznan (Poland) and in the predominantly natural ecosystem of Bayanaul National Nature Park (Kazakhstan) to determine the role of natural and anthropogenic factors in shaping the elemental profile of vegetation. The research methodology is based on X-ray fluorescence spectral analysis of thyme's aboveground parts, allowing for the determination of macro-, micro-, and trace element contents with high accuracy and reproducibility. Sampling was carried out during the active growing season, taking into account the homogeneity of the phytocenoses and the environmental conditions of the habitats.As a result, significant regional differences in the microelement composition of plants were identified. Samples from the Bayanaul National Nature Park showed elevated concentrations of most elements, due to the natural geochemical properties of the soils and landscapes. In the urban environment of Poznań, signs of anthropogenic impact were detected, manifested by changes in the elemental composition of plants.The obtained results confirm the high sensitivity of Thymus serpyllum L. to environmental conditions and substantiate its potential use as an effective bioindicator. The study's value lies in the development of a reference background microelement profile for natural ecosystems and the expansion of the scientific foundations for biogeochemical monitoring and environmental assessment of territories.

Contemporary museums and educational institutions share similar operational methods and possess chances for collaboration and engagement. University and school museums, along with historical and local history institutions, possess valuable experience in orchestrating cultural and educational activities, serving as distinctive platforms for the execution of educational programs, lessons, and extracurricular endeavours (such as excursions, lectures, exhibitions, local history trips, and the implementation of school scientific projects within museums).The museum exhibition emphasises the representation of natural things within specific natural environments. Their structure and content replicate natural processes within the ecosystem, facilitating a comprehensive examination of biological patterns, the establishment of a scientific perspective, and the enhancement of students’ cognitive engagement. This offers options for implementing museum lessons on biology and extracurricular activities. The article analyses data from the practical experiences of 90 teachers regarding their competence in utilising the resources of natural science museums within the educational process, their perceptions of the role of these museums in enhancing students’ knowledge quality, and their understanding of the organisation of collaboration between schools and museums. Educators favourably assess the incorporation of natural objects in the educational process for cultivating topic knowledge and enhancing students’ cognitive engagement. The findings of the performed investigations indicated an issue in the relationship between museums and schools, highlighting the necessity for teacher training in utilising natural science museum holdings. Keywords: museum , educational potentiall , learning , natural science collections , school.

В статье представлены результаты исследования особенностей накопления геохимических элементов в тканях пищеварительной системы пастбищных овец с целью использования их в качестве биоиндикаторов экологического состояния территорий Казахстана и Германии. Особое внимание уделялось выявлению различий в концентрациях элементов в зависимости от географического положения и влияния антропогенной нагрузки на окружающую среду. Известно, что живые организмы являются динамичным компонентом ландшафта, которые реагируют на происходящие изменения и колебания экологических факторов в окружающей среде. Высокие концентраций химических элементов в атмосфере приводят к трансформации живых организмов, в том числе к изменениям метаболизма и структуры тканей. В качестве объектов исследования были использованы ткани желудка пастбищных животных (овец) с 10 районов Павлодарской области, а также для сравнения дополнительно отобраны образцы биоматериала с Абайской области (с. Калбатау) и Германии (г.Нордхорн). Подобные исследования позволяют строить прогнозы по миграции элементов в биотической цепи, определить специфику накопления тяжелых элементов в тканях желудка овец с различных районов исследуемого региона, что особенно важно для оценки экологической безопасности пастбищ и качества сельскохозяйственной продукции. Геохимическая спецификация показала техногенный характер накопления тяжелых элементов (цинк, хром и др.), что указывает на влияние промышленных объектов и транспортной инфраструктуры на территории Павлодарской области. Максимальное накопление элементов зависит от удаленности от промышленного центра, а также от особенностей ландшафта и условий питания животных.