Research News
Hundreds of Scientists to Discuss Baltic Affairs at Conference
As the war continues in Ukraine, what role has been played by the Baltic region countries, which have experienced "vicarious identification" with Ukrainians and their pain? How can we help museums quickly respond to emergency situations, when artwork is being destroyed? In today's Europe, what role is played by the Baltic region, which is located on the continent's edge and constantly experiences turmoil? These and other questions will be discussed by scientists from all over Europe in the international conference Turning Points: Values and Conflicting Futures in the Baltics, which will be held on 15–17 June at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) in Kaunas.
Physical and Mental Well-being at the Focus of Sport and Health Week
“A physically active and healthy lifestyle leads to good health, while a passive lifestyle leads to a higher risk of noncommunicable diseases, a lower quality of life, and a shorter life expectancy. Physical inactivity is one of the main health risk factors, alongside an unbalanced diet and harmful habits. While the link between physical activity and good health is becoming better understood, the number of people who are physically active remains low. The Lancet, a popular medical journal, has reported that one in three adults and 80% of adolescents worldwide are not physically active enough. According to WHO (World Health Organization), 3.2 million people worldwide die each year as a result of insufficient physical activity”, says Assoc. Prof. Asta Mockienė, a coach at the VMU Sports Centre.
FOREST 4.0 Project to Digitalise Forest Operations
To establish a Centre of Excellence to transform the forest environment monitoring, data acquisition, and analysis, and capture value from the collected data – this was the goal set by the FOREST 4.0 project partners at the project kick-off event held at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) on 10–11 May.
Ambassador of Netherlands Held Lecture on Human Rights and Security
“Human rights and security are not opposites, they complement each other. You can have no true human dignity and consideration of human rights without security. [But] you can’t have your cake and eat it too – something needs to go. The legal framework may be extremely solid, but in real life, events happen where you have to make choices and compromises that do not adhere to human rights standards. In some situations, human rights treaties are not aligned with certain security interests,” says the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Lithuania, Jack Robert Twiss Quarles Van Ufford, who gave a lecture at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) on the challenges of ensuring human rights and security.
Open Dual Lectures: on living in the city and digital business
How to ensure that cities support the residents’ well-being and remain resilient to various challenges? How to effectively adapt business models for the digital sphere – following the example of Apple, Google and other successful companies? These questions will be discussed in two lectures organised by the international Transform4Europe Alliance. The lectures will be held on the 4th and 25th of May in Kaunas and will be streamed online.
Tatjana Paulauskienė Elected Winner of President Valdas Adamkus Prize
On the eve of International Mother Earth Day, the winner of the Environmental Prize of Valdas Adamkus Presidential Library-Museum and Dana Gedvila Fund (EUR 5,000) was announced. This year, the committee elected researcher and inventor Prof. Dr. Tatjana Paulauskienė as the winner of the Prize. She was nominated by the Faculty of Marine Technology and Natural Sciences of Klaipėda University.
