From excellence to impact: The 84th international conference of UL to open with discussion on contribution of science to society

The conference will feature nine thematic plenary sessions on UL priority research areas, and 52 thematic sections will feature more than 600 scientific papers and 185 poster presentations. Researchers from UL, other Latvian institutions, and foreign countries will participate in the conference, and everyone interested is invited to attend the events.

The opening plenary session with prof. Uumeaas’ paper “From excellence to impact: Designing research that matters?” will take place 14 April at 9:00 at the UL House of Science, Auditorium Alfa. It will outline the main thematic direction of the UL 84^th international conference – building  closer ties between science and society, emphasizing the importance of research in solving contemporary problems.

In her scientific work, Professor Uuemaa successfully combines innovative research with practical impact on society and the environment. Her achievements are evidenced by the ERC grant she received in 2023 and the leadership of the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Land Use (FutureScapes), funded by the Estonian Research Council.

In her presentation, the professor will address the question of how to combine scientific excellence with impact, transforming them from competing goals into mutually reinforcing factors, and invite a broader discussion about the role of research quality in long-term development.

The second part of the plenary session will feature a panel discussion, where researchers and policymakers will explore how to clearly and effectively communicate scientific excellence to diverse audiences – academia, policymakers, and society at large. Special attention will be paid to the responsibility of the scientist and the role of academic institutions in creating socially relevant and sustainable research.

About conference

The aim of the 84^th International Scientific Conference of the University of Latvia is to highlight the important role of universities in creating knowledge, developing society and creating sustainable solutions. The conference programme emphasizes nine priority research areas of the University of Latvia, which reflect the significant impact of higher education and science on society, economy and national development:

• Development of human capital, creation of a healthy, knowledge-based society
• History, languages and the resilience of identity
• Technological and digital development of the state
• Strengthening global competitiveness
• Increasing innovation capacity
• Development of the state financial system and capital market. Tax system and its principles
• Strengthening international and national security
• Environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation
• Efficiency of public administration

The conference will be held on site at the UL Academic Centre (Riga, Jelgavas iela 1 and 3), as well as online. Attendance at the conference is free of charge and registration is open until 11 April.

Registration for participation in the conference is available on the UL 84^th International Conference website konference84.lu.lv, by selecting a specific session and topic.