Latvian scientists recommend that 2019 be proclaimed as the Year of Science and Higher Education

The largest gathering of local and diaspora researchers and industry representatives – IV World Congress of Latvian Scientists was closed with the recommendation to proclaim 2019 as the Year of Science and Higher Education.  The congress was attended by 750 participants from 24 countries. Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) was represented by over 20 researchers and academics who gave speeches at the panel session on the first day of the Congress, were active participants in the Medical and Health Sciences Session and Social Sciences Session, III World Congress of Latvian Lawyers and shared their viewpoint on the closing day’s forum “Latvia’s Forum 2050. Development Scenarios”. RSU already announced 2019 as the RSU Year of Science at the beginning of the year. 

On the first day of the congress – June 18 – at the plenary session Security and safety in a panel discussion on Safety and information space, a number of experts, Dean of the RSU Faculty of Communication Professor Anda Rožkalne and lecturer Zigurds Zaķis among them, discussed the functioning of society in the age where digital hygiene is important and the concept of “democratic hygiene” gains importance.

RSU Professor Aivars Lejnieks at IV World Congress of Latvian Scientists

On the second day of the congress – June 19 – the keywords of the Medical and Health Sciences Session, chaired by Texas University Professor Uģis Gruntmanis in conjunction with RSU Professor Aivars Lejnieks, were interdisciplinary and international cooperation. Among 15 reports that were presented at the session, the following RSU researchers are worthy of particular mention: Professor Maija Dambrova, Associate Professor Ilze Konrāde, Associate Professor Jana Pavāre, Professor Modra Murovska and Lecturer Reinis Balmaks. The Social Sciences Session addressed the latest in politics, communications and anthropology. At this session reports were given by RSU Professor Sergejs Kruks, Dean of the Faculty of European Studies Andris Sprūds and Lecturer in the Faculty of Communication Klāvs Sedlenieks.

Photo: IV World Congress of Latvian Scientists

On the final congress day – June 20, at the forum titled “Latvia’s Formula 2050. Scenarios for Development” RSU rector Professor Aigars Pētersons spoke about the challenges of education and science that will be faced in the coming decades, and illustrated the potential of simulation-based learning. The RSU rector highlighted the application of simulations in healthcare to pave the road for improved patient safety and for the training of top-notch social sciences professionals – journalists, lawyers, etc.

III World Congress of Latvian Lawyers was held in conjunction with IV World Congress of Latvian Scientists. The topic of the lawyers’ congress was Rule-of-Law State – Guarantor of Security. RSU was represented by several outstanding researchers and professionals at the congress. The section “Future of lawyer's profession, education and law science” was chaired by RSU lecturer Kitija Bite in conjunction with USA lawyer Jānis Bolis. Kitija Bite also gave a presentation titled Lawyer's profession, education and law science in Latvia.

At the session “Criminality and its new expressions: how prepared are we to combat with them? , chaired by dean of the Faculty of Law, Andrejs Vilks and the corresponding member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Tālavs Jundzis, a number of RSU lecturers and researchers, e.g. RSU researchers Jānis Baumanis and Aldona Kipāne, Associate Professor Uldis Ķinis and Professor Sandra Kaija talked about the phenomenon of criminality, future crimes, cybercrime and the presumption of innocence. 

Photo: IV World Congress of Latvian Scientists

RSU researchers had also earned wide coverage at the poster presentation section – both in medicine and social sciences. The papers presented therein can be accessed on the Congress website at: congress.sciencelatvia.lv.