On 24 April, the traditional geologists’ conference “Geology Today and Tomorrow: Innovations, Environmental Protection and Challenges in Resource Management” was held to commemorate Geologists’ Day. During the conference, geologists from various geological organizations shared their achievements, projects and emerging challenges. The Geologist’s Golden Hammer awards of the Antanas Giedraitis Foundation were also presented. We are pleased that two of our centre’s scientists were honoured. Prof. Dr. habil. Saulius Šliaupa was honoured for his contributions to academic work. Saulius has been conducting geological research in Lithuania and in the Baltic region since 1986. His research interests cover many areas: the use of geothermal energy, rheological modelling of the lithosphere, the geodynamic evolution of the Baltic region, current neotectonic and seismic activity in Lithuania and the Baltic region, geothermal energy, etc. He is a participant in numerous international projects, including those funded by the European Union (FP6, FP7, Horizon 2020). The results of his research have been published in more than 200 publications and monographs.
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Dr. Juozas Valiukevičius, a long-time researcher of the Institute of Geology and Geography, was also honoured for his particularly significant long-term contributions to geological science, education, and industrial activities. J. Valiukevičius was regarded as one of the world’s leading researchers of acanthodian microfossils of this age. He is a co-author of many newly described acanthodian families, and one species (Pechoralepis juozasi sp. nov., 2003) was named after J. Valiukevičius. The paleontologist’s meticulously organized collection of fossils, comprising approximately 10,000 specimens, is housed at Nature Research Centre. It continues to serve science, as new research methods have opened up opportunities to refine their taxonomy. A review of this fossil material allows for a better understanding of the life that thrived in the Paleozoic seas and its development, as well as for a more accurate determination of the age of Devonian strata and their correlation.
Congratulations to the laureates! We wish you good health, creative ideas and energy to bring them to life!
