Evgenia Lushikhina, being the only woman in her profession, demonstrated that success in breeding depends not only on knowledge but also on patience, consistency, and dedication to one’s work. She continued the scientific traditions of her father, Academician Mikhail Nikolaevich Lushikhin, dedicating her life to the improvement of the Kyrgyz mountain merino breed.
After completing her postgraduate studies at the Institute of Experimental Biology of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR in 1969, Evgenia Mikhailovna rose from a laboratory assistant to a leading researcher and then head of the laboratory. She led the laboratory at the Institute of Biology and Soil Science of the Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz SSR and later headed the laboratory of genetics and biotechnology at the Institute of Biotechnology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, where she worked until 2020.
Photo by the National Academy of Sciences
Her scientific achievements are of great importance for the country. In 2005, she confirmed that the quality of the wool of the Kyrgyz mountain merino is comparable to that of Australian wool, and the indicator of 18 microns became the "gold standard" for the republic. Additionally, Evgenia Lushikhina was one of the first to draw attention to the problems of pasture degradation, soil erosion, and the need for a scientific approach in animal husbandry, warning against the desertification of mountainous regions.
Until the last days of her life, she remained the voice of conscience in her field, experiencing the loss of production capacities but continuing to believe in the revival of Kyrgyz agriculture and the return of domestic products to the global market. As a teacher and lecturer, Evgenia Mikhailovna made science accessible and engaging, emphasizing that breeding is the work of several generations.
The name of Evgenia Lushikhina will forever remain in the memory of Kyrgyz science and agriculture. Eternal memory to the scholar who dedicated her life to serving her country and its future.
