More information is available here.

Do you know that millions of years ago in the territory where Lithuania is today, there were shallow seas full of life? Their secrets remain preserved in fossils – silent but incredibly eloquent witnesses of the past.

All are invited to the presentation of an exhibition to be led by Dr. Darja Dankina, NRC paleontologist. Darja is a scientist who can turn complex science into an engaging story about the ancient world and the past of Lithuania.

Date: 14 January 2026
Time: 17:00
Venue: National Visitors’ Centre

The exhibition will feature unique fossil finds discovered in Lithuania more than 50 years ago and preserved to this day in the collections of Nature Research Centre. This is a rare opportunity to see our country from a completely different angle – as a place where life once thrived.

Embark on a journey through time and discover what life frozen in stone can tell you.
The event is free of charge. We look forward to seeing you!

On 6 January 2026, the Conference Hall of Nature Research Centre hosted the defence of doctoral dissertation by doctoral student Margarita Kazak. She successfully defended her dissertation Biting midges (Ceratopogonidae, Culicoides): their diversity, ecology and role in transmitting trypanosomatids (Kinetoplastea, Trypanosomatida) (field of science – Zoology N 014).

Scientific Supervisor – Dr. Rasa Bernotienė (State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Natural Sciences, Zoology, N 014).

Scientific Consultant – Dr. Pavel Starkevič (State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Natural Sciences, Zoology, N 014).

Defence Council: Chairperson – Prof. Dr. Virginija Podėnienė (Vilnius University, Natural Sciences, Zoology, N 014).

Members:

Dr. Jekaterina Havelka (Vilnius University, Natural Sciences, Zoology, N 014)

Prof. Dr. Jana Radzijevskaja (Vytautas Magnus University, Natural Sciences, Biology, N 010)

Dr. Andrius Remeikis (State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Natural Sciences, Zoology, N 014)

Prof. Dr. Ravinder N. M. Sehgal (San Francisco State University, Natural Sciences, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, N 012).

Congratulations on this significant achievement and best wishes for success in future scientific endeavours!

On 10–12 December 2025, Olga Demina, a doctoral student and geologist at Nature Research Centre, participated in the international conference “Geosciences 2025” held in Sofia (Bulgaria) and organized by the Bulgarian Geological Society (BGS).

The conference presented the latest research results on the structure, mineral composition, and post-magmatic changes of granitoids. Olga Demina presented her research in the form of a poster presentation and discussed granite development processes and analytical methods with colleagues from various countries.

Participation in international conferences provides an opportunity to share the latest scientific results, establish professional contacts, and strengthen the visibility of Lithuanian geological research to the international scientific community.

After the conference, a publication was issued containing summaries of conference presentations and articles. The attached photos show Olga Demina at the conference stand entrance area and in the museum with her fellow geologists, including the president of the European Federation of Geologists (EFG).

dormice common while edible dormice are endangered in Lithuania? The importance of forest management for dormouse conservation” (Journal of Vertebrate Biology, 2024, vol. 73: 24113), was selected for the BioOne Vista monthly collection of articles on the topic of “Forestry & Forest Ecology” by a prestigious BioOne publishing house.

This signifies an international recognition of the scientific publication and highlights its relevance in the context of forest ecology, biodiversity, and species protection. The article analyzes the status of hazel dormouse and edible dormouse populations in Lithuania and reveals the importance of forest management practices for their survival.

Inclusion in the BioOne Vista collection gives the article a greater international visibility and contributes to the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the development of sustainable forestry solutions.

The article is available at:
https://doi.org/10.25225/jvb.24113

Our Doctoral Candidates: Pioneers in Research

On 1–5 December, NRC researcher of the Laboratory of Quaternary Research Dr Gražyna Kluczynska carried out a scientific visit to the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw as part of the bilateral cooperation and exchange programme between the Lithuanian and Polish Academies of Sciences. The aim of the visit was to broaden knowledge and improve practical skills in the analysis, identification, and interpretation of subfossil Cladocera remains. As subfossil Cladocera research in Lithuania is a newly developing field, the visit provided an important opportunity to acquire essential methodological expertise in consultation with leading experts in the field, such as Dr. Edyta Zawisza and others. During the visit, particular attention was devoted to issues of taxonomic identification, data processing and visualisation methods, as well as the use of subfossil Cladocera data in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. The experience and knowledge gained will serve as a valuable contribution to ongoing palaeoecological research.

The scientific visit was highly beneficial both for strengthening professional competencies and for enhancing interinstitutional cooperation. It laid a solid foundation for long-term collaboration and further development of joint scientific research.

Our Doctoral Candidates: Pioneers in Research

Exciting news this week – an article about the scientific microfossil collections stored at Nature Research Centre has been published in an international journal “Revue de micropaléontologie”. The authors are Dr. Darja Dankina, Dr. Agnė Venckutė-Aleksienė, and Dr. Gailė Žalūdienė. The article presents the types and scale of microfossil collections that Nature Research Centre has been accumulating for several decades. This is one of the richest and most important micropaleontological collections in Lithuania, offering a unique opportunity to study the past of our planet. These are not only extensive collections, but also scientifically significant type specimens and holotypes used for species descriptions and international comparative studies.  The collections contain fossils of acanthodians (ancient fish), conodonts (teeth of marine organisms), foraminifera shells, and other microfossils that help reconstruct ancient marine environments and the geological development of the Baltic region. The article emphasizes that it is important not only to preserve these scientific resources, but also to continuously update, inventory, and publicize them in order to ensure their availability and maximum use in new research. In this way, the collections remain an important platform for contemporary scientific research and the generation of new data.

We are delighted with our Nature Research Centre’s staff and are happy to share some great news! The article “Re-evaluation of the Devonian ichthyofaunal assemblage from Lithuania and Belarus” on fish finds from the Devonian period has just been published. Authors: Darja Dankina, Dmitry P. Plax, Ingrida Bagdanavičiūtė, and Jonas Šečkus.

The article was published in a prestigious journal Paläontologische Zeitschrift (PalZ),  which means an important recognition for the team and another step forward in deepening the paleontological history of the Baltic region.

We congratulate the authors and welcome their contribution to scientific progress!

Link to the article:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12542-025-00754-9?utm_source=rct_congratemailt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nonoa_20251204&utm_content=10.1007/s12542-025-00754-9