13th International Conference of Young Scientists ‘The Young Scientists for the Advance of Agriculture’ AGRISCI 2024 took place on November 26, 2024, in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Main goal of the conference was to establish new links and collaborations among participants, the conference aims to bring together researchers from various Agricultural and Forestry sciences. Oral presentations were presented during the conference on topics such as agronomy, agrobiology, agroecology and agricultural engineering, horticulture, forestry, food safety, and veterinary medicine.

Four doctoral students from the Nature Research Centre also participated in this young scientists’ conference.

The presentation in the Agronomy section was made by:

• Doctoral student from the Laboratory of Chemical and Behavioural Ecology Gabrielė Bumbulytė-Žukevičienė (presentation “Wheat Grain Infected by Aspergillus Flavus Modifies Behaviour of Yellow Mealworm, Tenebrio Molitor“).

Oral presentations were made in the Agrobiology, Agroecology and Agricultural Engineering section by:

• Doctoral student Deimantė Tiškevičiūtėfrom the Laboratory of Chemical and Behavioural Ecology (presentation “Efficacy of Three EPN Species on Adult Mortality Of The Invasive Pest Otiorhynchus salicicola“),
• Doctoral student Božena Ignotienėfrom the Laboratory Plant Physiology (presentation “Microbial Biostimulants Boost Productivity and Quality of Carrots and Affect Agrochemical Soil Properties”),
• Doctoral student Agnė Baranauskaitė from the Laboratory of Genetics (presentation”Transmission of Sarcocystis in Lithuanian Livestock Farms”).

The oral presentations presented by doctoral students Gabrielė Bumbulytė-Žukevičienė and Agnė Baranauskaitė were selected as the BEST PRESENTATIONS in the sections. The doctoral students were awarded with diplomas and gifts.

More information: https://agrisci2024.com/?contact-form-id=block-template-canvas&contact-form-sent=932&contact-form-hash=b164bccb63bf079de965f0a82fde7dfc34254f5a&_wpnonce=381cc63604#contact-form-block-template-canvas

On 21 November 2024, Nature Research Centre hosted the Lithuanian Young Scientists’ Conference “Biofuture: Perspectives of the Natural and Life Sciences“, organised by the LAS Division of Biology, Medicine and Geosciences in collaboration with the Nature Research Centre.

The following NRC researchers were awarded diplomas and prizes for the best presentations:

1st prize Margarita Kazak for her presentation “Trypanosoma and related flagellates (Trypanosomatidae) in blood-sucking bipterous insects (Culicidae, Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae) in Lithuania“.

3rd prize Agnė Bučaitė for her presentation “Effects of microplastics on fish at different developmental stages”.

Congratulations!

Pranešimų tezes rasite čia.

Photos by LAS photographer Virginija Valuckienė

22 November 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of a botanist, conservationist, doctor of biomedical sciences, Professor Karolis Jankevičius.

On this occasion, the Wroblewski Library has prepared a virtual exhibition presenting the most important areas of Karolis Jankevičius’s work – ecology and nature conservation.

More than half a century of research, science administration and public activities of the professor helped to establish the traditions of Lithuanian botanical science.

The exhibition illustrated with books and photographs covers the most important events in the scientist’s work and life. The section “From lab technician to professor” displays books and works co-authored, as well as edited and compiled by the professor. The documents from the Karolis Jankevičius Fund (F405) in the Manuscripts Department reveal events of his scientific and social activities. Photographs provide an insight into the scientist’s personal life and working environment.

The virtual exhibition is available here: Virtuali paroda „Profesorius Karolis Jankevičius – prasmingo gyvenimo pavyzdys“ – Vrublevskių biblioteka

Last week, from November 11th to 15th, the Nature Research Centre (NRC) successfully hosted an inaugural R programming course designed for researchers and PhD students looking to enhance their skills in statistical analysis. The intensive, five-day training for beginners, led by lecturer Vilmantas Gėgžna, covered essential topics such as the fundamentals of statistics, working with RStudio and R (with a focus on “Tidyverse” principles), data entry and processing, descriptive statistics, and methods for testing statistical hypotheses. Participants had the opportunity to practice various analytical techniques, including data import, preprocessing, and visualization using “ggplot2.”

The participants highlighted that the well-balanced combination of theory and practical exercises, along with the inclusion of assignments, allowed them to quickly acquire new skills applicable to their daily research tasks. The training, conducted in English, included 20 academic hours and 20 homework hours and was attended by a group of 20 participants. This program not only improved the quality of their data analysis capabilities but also inspired innovative analytical approaches.

We extend our gratitude to the lecturer, NRC administration, organizers, and all participants for the success of this event. Due to the huge demand from NRC’s community, NRC plans to continue organizing similar training sessions to support the professional growth of researchers. Stay tuned for updates and don’t miss upcoming opportunities!

The COINS, in collaboration with BSV Ventures and Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, invites everyone interested in innovations, startup creation, and those looking to build their careers in the life sciences and business sector to participate in the BIOSPARK hackathon. This event will take place on December 2-4 at the new VU Medical Science Center (Žaliųjų ežerų st. 2).

What to Expect:

• Day 1 (R&D Focus): Dive into the scientific and technical aspects of the challenge, brainstorm innovative solutions, and develop prototypes or experimental approaches.
• Day 2 (Business Development Focus): Assess the market potential of your solutions, with workshops on building business models, understanding target markets, and developing go-to-market strategies.
• Day 3 (Pitch Preparation & Pitch Session): Prepare for the final pitch with expert mentorship. Teams will present their solutions to a panel of judges, with prizes awarded for the best innovations.

You will also have the chance to compete for a spot in the BSV Ventures startup incubation program, where your team could receive up to €15,000 in funding to implement your ideas. Registration is open for both individuals and teams. Don’t miss this opportunity to build new connections, gain valuable experience, and bring your ideas to life!

For more information about the event and registration, visit: https://fb.me/e/5CP3wP5bE

More about the BSV Ventures incubation program: https://bsv.ventures/incubation-program.html

More information is available here.

We are glad that Iglė received the financial support of the European Network of Inventors (EUR 2000) and will be able to give lectures and conduct practical educational sessions about fungal microorganisms in fruits and berries at the Jurgis Šaulys Gymnasium in Veiviržėnai.

This year, applicants from 12 countries received support for 24 activities and it is estimated that they will reach about 4,500 children.

The first call initiated by the European Patent Office for members of the European Inventors Network to apply for inspiring activities and receive financial support (EUR 2,000, EUR 4,000 or EUR 6,000 per activity, depending on its impact and reach) was initiated in 2023. Thanks to this program, they were able to visit schools and communicate with students about innovations during seminars, workshops, conferences or practical sessions. In 2023, 24 activities were supported by applicants from 11 countries and are estimated to have reached more than 3,500 children. In 2024, the program budget reached EUR 160,000 for activities that will have to be implemented by the end of 2025.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the members of the Nature Research Centre community who contributed to the charity initiative “Basket of Generosity” organised by the Vilnius Archdiocese Caritas. Your generosity helped fill up 43 bags to help those in need of food on the World Day of the Poor.

Your contribution is invaluable and shows how strong and united our community is. These bags will be given to lonely elderly people, children and their families, people in need of food in Vilnius and in smaller parishes.

Thank you for your generosity. We hope that you will further actively contribute to initiatives that help make the world a better place.

Sincerely
Administration of Nature Research Centre

 

We have a great pleasure to announce that on 13 November Prof. Dr. habil. Algimantas Grigelis, a renowned Lithuanian geologist, member emeritus of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, donated his unique collection of fossil Jurassic foraminifera to Nature Research Centre.

Professor A. Grigelis is one of Lithuania’s foremost specialists in palaeontology and geology, whose works are widely recognised internationally. His contribution to the geology and palaeontology of the Baltic Sea region is invaluable.

During more than 70 years of scientific activity, Professor A. Grigelis has made a significant contribution to the advancement of science and promoted the name of Lithuania internationally. A genus of fossil foraminifera (Grigelis spp.) and several species are named after him! The impressive collection donated by Professor A. Grigelis includes about 8000 fossil foraminifera specimens. This gift is an invaluable asset for our scientists and students studying the Earth’s geological past. Foraminifera, microscopic marine organisms, are crucial for determining the age of rocks and reconstructing ancient marine environments.

As the property of the Nature Research Centre, this collection will contribute to the strengthening of the scientific potential of our institution and will become a valuable resource for palaeontological research. Membership in the CETAF network provides an opportunity to integrate this collection into an international scientific context and contribute to collaborative palaeontological research and data exchange. This will help ensure that these invaluable specimens are available on a global scale, fostering collaboration and dissemination of knowledge within the scientific community, as well as contributing to joint international efforts to preserve and develop palaeontology.

Our sincere thanks to Professor Algimantas Grigelis!