2025.05.16
The State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre (NRC) announces elections to the Scientific Council.
The elections will be held on 20 May 2025, and the voting will be open from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. at NRC Conference Hall, Akademijos St. 2, Vilnius.
More information is available here.
On 11-15 May, Dr Diana Miškelytė, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, participated in the SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting in Vienna, Austria, where she presented a poster presentation “The Effect of Elevated Temperature on Pesticide Terbuthylazine-induced Changes in Duckweed Lemna Minor Growth and Oxidative Stress Levels”.
On 13 May, Ramūnas Grigonis, Director of the Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum, and heads of museum departments visited the Nature Research Centre. During the visit, the guests got acquainted with the valuable collections kept in the centre and their research and display possibilities.
During the meeting, the prospects for cooperation were discussed, with a particular focus on initiation of partnership – the museum borrowed a number of various specimens from the centre. The specimens will be displayed in a joint exhibition to be held in Kaunas, with the aim to highlight the importance of nature research and the rich biodiversity of Lithuania.
“We are glad to share our scientific values with society. Such initiatives not only strengthen cooperation between institutions but also stimulate public curiosity about natural sciences,” says Prof. Dr. Sigitas Podėnas, Director of Nature Research Centre.
The exhibition will be open to visitors at Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum this summer. We will inform about the opening separately – stay tuned for our news!
The Mineral Museum of Natural Research Centre invites to celebrate the Museum Day together on 19 May, 15:30.
This year the Mineral Museum celebrates the 125th anniversary of the birth of the collector, mineralogist Alfonsas Žukelis and 60 years since his collection reached Lithuania.
On the occasion of the Museum Day, we invite all to get acquainted with the exceptional collection of fossils, rocks, minerals and articles made of them (about 2500 samples) donated to Lithuania by the collector, mineralogist A. Žukelis in 1965 and to see the exposition “For Myself and for Others”, the exhibition of photographs of minerals, and the exhibition of garnets.
During the education, you will be given a possibility to hold and observe stones that have flown “out of the sky” and to compare stone and iron meteorites. You will experience different crystal shapes, colour, lustre and weight, observe nature’s drawings in agates with magnifying glasses, and with the help of a UV torch observe the change in colour of fluorescent minerals, i.e. the spectacular glow of vivid colours.
Number of participants is limited, so registration is required.
Please register by email birute.poskiene@gamtc.lt
2025.05.15
Applications are now open for PhD studies in Biology (N 010).
Application deadlines: 05.05.2025 – 02.06.2025.
2025.05.14
On 13 May 2025, Nature Research Centre and Lithuanian Sea Museum officially started a new phase of partnership, with the signing of a long-term cooperation agreement in Klaipėda. This agreement marks an important step towards strengthening research, environmental protection, education and publicity in Lithuania.
The agreement provides for a closer partnership between the two institutions in the fields of biodiversity, marine ecosystems and endangered species. It will also include joint expeditions, exhibitions, educational events, sharing of expert insights and laboratory resources.
This partnership opens new opportunities for both researchers and society. Working with the Lithuanian Sea Museum, we will be able to explore the Baltic Sea ecosystem in greater depth and breadth and to better inform the public about the marine environment.
Hopefully, this cooperation will encourage other institutions to join the common goal of building a knowledge-based, sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
Photos by Simona Četvergaitė-Marcinkevičienė
2025.05.12
On 7-9 May, the 31st International Scientific-Practice Conference “Human and Nature Safety 2025” was held at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas.
The event featured oral and poster sessions on biosystems engineering, environment and health, ecology and sustainable forestry.
During the conference, students from NRC Laboratory of Biodeterioration Research presented four poster presentations:
More information is available at https://zgs.vdu.lt/
Latest research in the Laboratory of Genetics has identified Sarcocystis parasites in the environmental water, hay and soil samples from Lithuanian livestock farms.
The main objective of this study was to identify selected zoonotic Sarcocystis species and species with intermediate hosts as domestic animals in water, hay and soil samples collected from farms and to compare their prevalence in different environments. The environmental samples for this study were collected during the summer period for three years from 10 livestock farms in Lithuania.
After analyzing the data obtained, it was found that, regardless of the year of the study, the probability of infection is higher through water or hay than through soil. In addition, eDNA of five different Sarcocystis species was most often detected in water and hay samples, and an average of three in soil samples.
It was concluded that the occurrence of Sarcocystis species does not depend on the animals raised on the farm. For example, S. cruzi, which infects cattle, was identified in all selected farms in at least one of the study years. In addition, S. cruzi eDNA was most frequently detected over a three-year period among all ten species studied.
Two zoonotic species, S. hominis and S. suihominis, were identified during the study, with cattle and pigs as intermediate hosts, respectively. It is important to emphasize that during this work, zoonotic S. hominis was detected for the first time in environmental samples worldwide, while S. suihominis was detected in Lithuania after a 30-year interval.
An invitation to publish data in the Q1 quartile journal “Food and Waterborne Parasitology” was received by Agnė Baranauskaitė, a doctoral student at the Laboratory of Genetics, when she presented the results at the conference “EMOP 2024” organized by the European Federation of Parasitologists in Wrocław, Poland.
2025.05.08
2025.04.10
Centre participated in the event “From the Depth to the Future: Geocareer Opportunities” at the Institute of Geosciences, Vilnius University.
The event was organised by the Geological Society of Lithuania together with Vilnius University and Nature Research Centre. Students had an opportunity to learn about career opportunities in geology, environmental protection and engineering, about labour market trends, challenges and success stories.
NRC researchers presented their research trends and internship opportunities at NRC, as well as shared experience about their career – from the first steps to PhD studies and international projects.
Many thanks to the organisers of the event and to all young people who are interested in science and considering their future in geology – your curiosity drives science forward!
