The Faculty of Natural Sciences traces its history back to the establishment of the Teaching Institute in 1935. It was one of the four faculties that served as the foundation for the formation of a higher educational institution in Batumi. The first dean of the faculty was Nikoloz Lortkipanidze. Over the years, the faculty underwent several name and structural changes. At various times, the deans of the faculty were: Nadim Nijaradze, Dimitri Uchaneshvili, Noe Kipiani, Nadia Jibuti, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Jemal Meskhi-dze, Otar Akhvlediani, Viktor Borchkhadze, Anzor Diasamidze, Revaz Zosidze.

At different times, the faculty secretaries were: L. Nachkebia, S. Nachkebia, N. Guliyeva, L. Topuria, M. Kokhreidze.

Since 1945, the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Geography at the Pedagogical Institute has been preparing pedagogical staff in the specialties of biology, chemistry, and geography. At different times, the faculty also included specialties in primary education and physical education.

In 1990, based on the Batumi Pedagogical Institute, a university was established, and education at the faculty entered a qualitatively new stage. The faculty also began training scientific personnel in the field of natural sciences. Considering the university’s geographical location and its scientific-pedagogical staff, new university specialties were introduced. In addition to traditional disciplines, specialties in water bioresources, aquaculture, and ecology were added. On the basis of the faculty, programs in biomedical ecological genetics and preventive medicine were first opened, followed later by medical and pediatric specialties, which eventually formed an independent medical faculty.

In 1999, the Faculty of Natural Sciences was divided into the Faculty of Biology and Chemistry (Dean: Prof. R. Zosidze) and the Faculty of Geography, Water Bioresources and Ecology (Dean: Assoc. Prof. N. Turmanidze).

In 2005, a structural reorganization was carried out at the university, and the faculties of biology-chemistry, geography-water bioresources, ecology, and medicine were merged into the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Medicine. Prof. Rusudan Khukhunaishvili was elected dean; Assoc. Prof. Leila Akhvlediani became head of the Quality Assurance Office. In 2007, the physics specialty was added to the faculty, while in 2008, the medical direction was separated. In 2010, due to the integration of faculties, the faculties of Natural Sciences and Medicine were merged into a larger unit — the Faculty of Education and Sciences (Dean: Assoc. Prof. M. Khoridze). In 2013, the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Healthcare separated from the Faculty of Education and Sciences, with Prof. Marina Khoridze elected as Dean and Assoc. Prof. Leila Akhvlediani as head of the Quality Assurance Office.

In 2022, Prof. Rusudan Khukhunaishvili was elected Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Healthcare. Assoc. Prof. Tea Koiava was elected as Head of the Faculty’s Quality Assurance Office. The Vice-Deans are Assoc. Prof. Nato Zosidze and Prof. Sofiko Tsqvitinidze. The faculty secretaries are Nino Tsintsadze and Lali Resulidze.

1. The main goal of the faculty
is to train competitive specialists with competencies aligned with modern demands.

2. The main objectives of the faculty are:
a) To prepare individuals with higher academic education focused on scientific research – bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree holders;
b) To prepare individuals with professionally oriented education focused on practical activities – certified specialists.

3. The main areas of the faculty’s activities are:

3.1. Implementation of educational programs
in the fields of natural sciences and healthcare at all three levels of academic higher education (Bachelor’s, One-Cycle, Master’s, and Doctoral studies), as well as post-diploma alternative medical education (professional training) and retraining programs. These include:

a) Bachelor’s programs: Biology, Ecology, Marine Biology, Geography, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Physical Medicine and Medical Rehabilitation;
b) One-Cycle programs: Medicine, Dentistry;
c) Master’s programs:

• Biology (Genetics, Biodiversity, Hydrobiology);
• Ecology;
• Chemistry;
• Physical Geography and Sustainable Environmental Development;
• Medical Rehabilitation and Public Health;
  d) Doctoral programs: Biology, Analysis of Natural Compounds;

e) Post-diploma alternative medical education (residency) programs (professional training):

• Medical Radiology;
• Therapeutic Dentistry;
• Orthopedic Dentistry;
  f) Retraining programs:
• Therapeutic Dentistry;
• Orthopedic Dentistry;
• Pediatric Therapeutic Dentistry;
  g) One-cycle English-language program for certified medical professionals;

3.2. Implementation of scientific-research activities;

3.3. Other types of educational activities.
The faculty’s activities are carried out through 8 specialized departments:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Geography
• Public Health and Evidence-Based Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Surgery
• Critical Medicine
• Dentistry

At the faculty, the academic staff consists of:

• 4 Professors Emeritus
• 19 Professors
• 30 Associate Professors
• 15 Assistant Professors
• 2 Assistants

The faculty actively conducts scientific-research work and implements numerous grant-funded projects. Professors and doctoral students of the faculty participate in international conferences, symposiums, and congresses.

Based on signed memoranda, joint scientific-research activities are carried out in the following areas and with the following institutions:

• Black Sea ecology and biodiversity
• Agricultural technologies and membrane technologies
• Scientific research institutes of plant immunity
• Botanical Garden
• Coastal monitoring division of the National Environmental Agency
• National Environmental Agency
• Research bases of the Black Sea Hydrometeorological Observatory

Faculty Research Priorities:

• Study of the bioecological characteristics of the Georgian Black Sea coastal zone and adjacent territories for the purposes of environmental protection, conservation of plant and animal species diversity, identification and conservation (ex situ, in situ) of rare and endangered species.
• Investigation of the genetic (biomedical) characteristics of the population of Adjara, the mechanisms of aging and life expectancy, identification of hospital infection pathogens, and study of antibiotic resistance profiles.
• Research on current processes occurring in the geographical environment and sustainable development of the environment.
• Immunological and biochemical determinants of terminal failure of visceral organs and their subsequent oncological transformation.
• Study of membrane and sorption processes, physical-chemical analysis of natural, industrial, and wastewater, as well as their purification, desalination-concentration, development of innovative, complex, environmentally friendly, waste-free, reagent-free technologies, and selection of optimal process parameters, equipment, devices, and technological schemes.
• The scientific research results of the faculty’s academic staff are regularly published in both Georgian and international scientific journals. Monographs and textbooks are printed, and the Natural Sciences Series of the university’s proceedings is published regularly.

The scientific research results of the faculty’s academic staff are regularly published in both Georgian and international scientific journals. Monographs and textbooks are published, and the Natural Sciences Series of the university’s collected works is systematically released.

The faculty’s teaching and research processes are supported by various educational and research laboratories, including: A scientific-research laboratory of immunogenetics, equipped with modern apparatus; Educational classrooms for ecology, microbiology and biotechnology, genetics, botany, invertebrate and vertebrate zoology, anatomy and physiology; Teaching laboratories for general and inorganic chemistry, physical and colloid chemistry, coordination compounds and environmental chemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physical methods of research;Educational classrooms for geology, topography–cartography, physical geography, and general earth sciences. Field practices and expeditions are conducted, including fieldwork in the aquatic area of the Black Sea.

The faculty hosts a basic dental clinic, which is involved in implementing the one-cycle educational program in dentistry and postgraduate medical education (residency programs). Practical/clinical sessions and clinical modules of residency programs are conducted at the clinic.

The faculty hosts an Objectively Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Center, which is equipped with modern mannequins and instructional materials.

Additionally, the faculty operates an English-Language Program Management Center for Certified Medical Doctors, headed by Professor Marina Koridze. The center administers the One-Cycle English-Language Medical Doctor educational program, in which over 700 international students are currently enrolled.

A supporting structural unit of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Healthcare is the Center for Medical Education and Professional Development of Medical Doctors. The center carries out activities in the following directions: Promotion of medical education; Support for the improvement of primary healthcare; Identification, facilitation, and implementation of mass preventive and rehabilitative initiatives; Support for undergraduate medical education — enhancing students’ scientific knowledge and practical skills; Organization of informational meetings, trainings, discussions, conferences, and other events related to the professional development and continuing education of medical practitioners.

The Curriculum Committee, in collaboration with the faculty’s Quality Assurance Office, consistently works to improve the quality of teaching and to refine and enhance educational programs.

Student life at the faculty is also active. Activities include: a themed summer school, a biomedicine school-seminar, the biological calendar project, workshops, discussions, debates, and charity events. Public school students also participate in many of these events alongside university students.

To promote natural sciences, the faculty regularly holds presentations of educational programs and popular science lectures for students and prospective applicants.