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Restricting a Single Dietary Nutrient Can Help Protect Against Cancer and Ageing

2025-07-01T12:49:02+03:00

A balanced diet limiting specific nutrients is a tool that helps slow down the ageing processes, maintain good health, and prolong life. Accordingly, in the coming decade, researchers will focus on studying how specific dietary components – such as amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, and microbiota – affect our health and longevity.

Scientists will explore which food components contribute to chronic diseases or even cancer, and how these effects are linked to dietary restrictions, physical activity, and other healthy lifestyle elements. The long-term benefits of limiting specific individual nutrients have already been confirmed. Such diets may offer anti-cancer benefits, slow ageing, protect the cardiovascular system, and improve gut microbiota and brain health.

Health gains associated with methionine

Recently, protein consumption has garnered significant attention in online discussions, which may give the impression that it is the most crucial nutrient for the human body. However, this approach is misleading. To function properly, our bodies need proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, fibre, and water. To stay healthy and live longer, a proper balance of all these nutrients is essential, along with avoiding over- and under-eating.

Did you know that one of the most essential nutrients for our body is methionine, an amino acid found in proteins? It is vital for the proper development of the body. Simply put, methionine plays a key role in the body’s ability to produce proteins and maintain good health. It also helps combat inflammation and supports healthy tissue function.

Due to its importance for our metabolism and bodily functions, methionine is essential to the human diet. However, excessive intake of this amino acid through food can lead to many health issues, including atherosclerosis, short-term memory loss, neurodegenerative diseases, and reduced skeletal muscle growth. Therefore, it is advisable to consume methionine in moderation.

A methionine-restricted diet can prolong life

The discovery that long-term methionine limits can increase the lifespan of rats by up to 30% sparked extensive research into methionine-restricted diets. These studies have shown that reducing methionine intake also extends lifespan in other model organisms, such as Caenorhabditis elegans, fruit flies, and mice. This effect is associated with reduced production of reactive oxygen forms, higher levels of cellular antioxidants, and decreased oxidative damage to proteins, fats, and DNA.

Recently, more and more attention has been paid to methionine-restricted diets. This dietary approach can provide a range of benefits: it may offer anti-cancer effects, improve metabolism, slow ageing, stop inflammation, prevent diabetes, enhance insulin sensitivity, protect the cardiovascular system, and support gut microbiota and brain health.

Methionine is found in plant, animal, and microbial foods, but its concentration varies significantly across different food groups. The highest levels are found in meat, seafood, Brazil nuts, and eggs; moderate amounts are present in dairy products, while fruits and vegetables contain the lowest levels. The ketogenic, Japanese, and vegan diets tend to have the lowest methionine content. Given the wide variation in methionine levels across foods and different diets, there is a growing interest in developing a method for calculating and monitoring dietary methionine intake more precisely.

While methionine restriction offers considerable potential health benefits, it is still crucial to ensure an adequate intake of this amino acid, as too little of it can lead to growth disorders. Therefore, it is essential that the restriction of any nutritional element does not result in an overall deficient diet.

Methionine is a direct target for cancer treatment

An enzyme called methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT2A) produces an important molecule from methionine, known as S-Adenosyl methionine (SAM). This molecule is involved in the DNA modification process called DNA methylation. In basic terms, methylation occurs when a small part of this molecule – a methyl group – binds to DNA. If the body lacks methionine, SAM is not produced, so methylation cannot take place.

DNA methylation is an essential process that occurs in every human cell. It alters the structure of DNA, which often leads to specific genes being ‘switched off’, meaning they become inactive. This regulates essential processes in the human body, for instance, by ensuring the stability of genetic information. Methylation helps cells perform their unique functions in the tissue during development (e.g. allowing an embryonic stem cell to become a skin, liver, or nerve cell).
This process starts changing as we age: many genes lose their methylation marks, while others become heavily methylated. As a result, some genes critical to cellular function may stop working.

This mechanism of DNA regulation is also important in the case of diseases, particularly cancer. In cancer cells, some genes undergo extensive modifications that impair their function (even when that function is crucial), while others become active when they should not be. This imbalance in gene activity promotes the transformation of healthy cells into cancerous ones. For this reason, methionine – from which the SAM molecule is synthesised – is of significant interest in cancer research.

In fact, nearly 50 years ago, scientists discovered that cancer cells require more methionine from external sources compared to healthy cells. The more aggressive the cancer cells are, the more dependent they are on this amino acid to sustain their activity. Therefore, limiting it in food can be one of the new avenues for cancer treatment.

The levels of methionine in the body can be reduced in two ways: by following a special low-methionine diet or by using a protein called methioninase as a drug to break down methionine. Studies show that lowering methionine levels and simultaneously applying chemotherapy or radiotherapy can lead to better treatment outcomes.

Clinical trials are underway to investigate how limiting this amino acid affects cancer cells and their environment: immune cells, blood vessels, and connective tissue cells. However, many details still need to be clarified.

��鶹 researchers develop a method for detecting epigenetic changes

Three key proteins operate in our bodies – DNA methyltransferases, also known as epigenetic ‘writers’ because they can ‘write’ the epigenetic code by modifying DNA, thereby altering the functioning of the cell. These enzymes are called DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B. Two of them – DNMT3A and DNMT3B – create new ‘marks’ that determine a cell’s function, while DNMT1 ensures that these ‘marks’ are preserved and passed on to daughter cells during cell division. This process is crucial for normal development and health.

However, when the activity of these methyltransferases is disrupted, the consequences can be severe, triggering, for example, cancerous processes. In such cases, genes that should suppress tumours are ‘switched off’, while cancer-promoting genes become overly active. As a result, cells ‘forget’ their original function and turn malignant. These types of changes are found in many forms of cancer, including those affecting the blood, lungs, liver, and colon.

Until now, it has been challenging to study how each DNA methyltransferase works, but scientists at ��鶹’s Life Sciences Center and the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences have developed a new method that allows researchers to precisely identify how each of these ‘writers’ affects DNA.

A breakthrough in research

Scientists have developed modified molecules capable of ‘tagging’ DNA in a way that reveals the activity of a specific enzyme. To deliver these molecules into cells, they used electroporation, a technique which temporarily opens up pores in the cell membrane using an electric field. These pores allow the modified molecules to enter the cell and ‘record’ information about DNA modifications.

Developed by researchers from ��鶹, this method is the first in the world to easily and accurately distinguish the activity of the three methyltransferases under minimally invasive conditions and determine the specific effects of the DNMT1 enzyme. In addition, the scientists devised a less invasive approach by using chemically modified methionine analogues, i.e. molecules that easily pass through the cell membrane and are converted inside the cell into a modified SAM molecule. This enables the regulation of DNA modifications by altering the concentration of methionine in the cell environment. As a result, this method can be applied to detect epigenetic differences in cancer cells under methionine-restricted conditions.

It allows researchers to precisely monitor each methyltransferase's activity and better understand how epigenetic changes contribute to cancer development. Moreover, this technology can be used to study DNA changes in individual cells, tissues, and even throughout the body. It can be applied to various cancer models and used to study DNA, RNA, and protein modifications.

The new methodology represents a significant step forward in cancer biology research, offering a deeper understanding of the disease and potentially leading to more effective treatments in the future.

This research was supported by the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT), project No. MIP-23-108, “DNMT1-Selective DNA Methylation Mapping in Tumor Cells Using Preclinical Cancer Models”, and the ��鶹 Young Scientists’ Ideas Project, “Application of Cascade MAT2a-DNMT Genome Tagging Strategy in Cancer Cells”.

Marija Bočiarovaitė on Her Experience at the European Student Assembly: “Young People Care About Mental Health and Housing Accessibility”

2025-07-01T12:47:50+03:00

Representatives of the Arqus Alliance universities at the European Student Assembly in the European Parliament. Photo credit: M. Bočiarovaitė’s personal archive.

What matters most to young people in Lithuania and across Europe? What challenges are they facing, and how do they suggest addressing them? These were the questions explored by Marija Bočiarovaitė, a social work student at the Faculty of Philosophy of ��鶹 (VU), who participated in the European Student Assembly (ESA25) held on 26–28 May at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. While the event brought together attendees from over 200 universities, Marija was the only Lithuanian student; she represented the Arqus Alliance, which includes nine universities from Ireland, Austria, Spain, Italy, Poland, Portugal, France, Germany, and Lithuania (VU).

The European Student Assembly was organised as part of the EUC Voices project, an initiative by the European Universities alliances aimed at amplifying the voices and needs of young people and empowering students to influence European policy. Over a period of six months, the selected students worked in eight remote groups, focusing on such topics as housing accessibility for young people, the ‘green future’, migration, artificial intelligence (AI), education and lifelong learning, inequality, etc. Marija chose to join the group that worked on recommendations concerning youth mental health. In this article, she reflects on her experiences at the Assembly.

How did you learn about EUC Voices, and what motivated you to apply?

I found out about the project through the Arqus Alliance social networks. Some time ago, my lecturer, Prof. Eglė Šumskienė, forwarded me an Arqus offer for a study exchange. Even though I missed that opportunity, I started following Arqus updates more closely. The EUC Voices project caught my attention because it focused on advocacy and social policy – the fields in which I am actively involved. I filled in the application form, and after a while, I received a message saying that I had been selected to participate. In total, there were more than 2,000 candidates, and only 200 were chosen to participate. Each student applied through their respective university alliances, which were involved in the selection process. As far as I know, one student from each university of the Arqus Alliance was selected.

What does advocacy mean?

Advocacy is a practice that involves representing and defending the interests of other individuals, especially those from vulnerable groups, who may not be able to speak up for themselves. It also includes supporting ideas or policies. Therefore, advocacy can mean promoting human rights, encouraging cross-sector cooperation, or pushing for policy changes. In social work, advocacy is not yet very popular. There is a common belief that social work is primarily about providing services, while advocacy is seen as the domain of lawyers or politicians. But in reality, social work is a great field for leadership and advocacy. For example, I work at a non-governmental organisation that defends the rights of people with disabilities at the policy level, aiming to bring about changes in social policy, legislation, and other related areas. In the EUC Voices project, we will conduct advocacy through publicity. Our goal is to publish and disseminate the recommendations we have developed both in our own countries and more broadly within the European Parliament to reach out to decision-makers.

Marija Bočiarovaitė. Photo credit: Tomas Terekas.

What recommendations did your group propose regarding the mental health of young people?

Our group, which consisted of 30 participants, worked in smaller teams to prepare ten recommendations addressing the mental health challenges young people face in the modern world. My team proposed introducing emotional education in schools tailored to children’s age groups, starting from kindergarten and primary school through to higher education. We also emphasised the importance of including social service institutions and non-formal education. We have to talk with children so they can better understand their own emotions and those of the people around them – how to express them appropriately, set healthy boundaries, and respect those of others. Such education would also contribute to reducing the stigma around mental health.

We recommend integrating this topic into the school curricula and organising one dedicated Mental Health Day each month. On this day, psychologists and other specialists would be invited to lead various workshops – interactive and engaging sessions involving children, their parents, and teachers.

We discussed the importance of involving parents in the emotional education programme: for them to learn alongside their children, to recognise each other’s emotions, to respect one another’s boundaries, and to identify emotional difficulties in their children early on – whether they concern bullying, challenges in early romantic or peer relationships, or emerging disorders such as anxiety or depression.

It is also worth mentioning that emotional education is already included in the recommendations for schools. Moreover, institutions like the European Parliament cannot directly mandate national education systems but can provide guidelines. We, in turn, can proactively promote our recommendations not only at the European level but also in our own countries and local communities. For instance, Lithuanian schools already have ‘life skills’ classes. Our ideas could be integrated into the implementation of this programme as well.

What recommendations did the other groups present?

One of the prepared recommendations was to regulate AI and minimise its harm by developing psychological resilience programmes for employees working with AI systems in the communication, customer service, and IT sectors. This programme would be aimed at preventing burnout, reducing algorithmic anxiety, and assessing the long-term mental health effects of AI. There was a suggestion to encourage collaboration between content creators and mental health professionals to reduce harmful information reaching children and young people on social media.

Other recommendations included launching EU-wide campaigns to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues, improving access to mental health services in educational institutions, youth centres, and care facilities; creating a more flexible assessment system in higher education to lower academic pressure; and ensuring accessible and flexible mental health services for students and children with disabilities. We also had proposals on youth empowerment in the fight against climate change and on migration in the EU, focusing on how to support migrants’ mental health and provide them with emotional support.

How was the Assembly conducted?

Most of us arrived the day before and stayed in a youth hostel. The next morning, we gathered at the European Parliament and received our passes to enter the meeting rooms. We gathered in the main plenary chamber for the opening session featuring welcome speeches, an overview of the Assembly agenda, insights from past participants, and a Q&A session. After that, we split into groups and finalised our recommendations in separate rooms. Each group prepared ten recommendations, which we then reviewed and discussed together.

The second day was longer and more intensive. We continued working in groups and attended the ‘Village of Alliances’ international university fair, where students could explore various European universities, their study programmes, and global opportunities. At the fair, I met some other students from the Arqus Alliance – we took some photos and spent time chatting and getting to know each other.

Later that day, inter-panel debates were held: we visited the other groups and gave feedback on their prepared recommendations. I joined the group working on the issue of housing accessibility for young people (titled ‘Living with Dignity’). We spent a couple of hours discussing and offering suggestions for improvement. I proposed incorporating universal design principles so that housing would not only be modern and contemporary but also inclusive and accessible for everyone.

On the third day, we all returned to the main plenary chamber of the European Parliament to vote on the recommendations. Each of the eight groups had two coordinators who presented their proposals. Then, we had a collective vote.

It was exciting to experience how Members of the European Parliament vote and how sessions are conducted there. We each had our own desk with a microphone – once you press the button, the whole chamber can hear you speak. There were also three voting buttons on the desk; they are shielded, most probably for confidentiality purposes. During the vote, you place your hand over the buttons and press green to approve, red to oppose, and white to abstain. Each recommendation was given about a minute for voting. The results were displayed on a large screen and a smaller one at each desk, showing how many voted in favour, against, or abstained.

It was agreed that the recommendations receiving majority support could be made public, meaning we could carry out advocacy based on them.

The third day was shorter. We finished the voting early, and afterwards had time to explore the European Parliament and the city, either by joining a group tour or exploring individually.

What impression did the European Parliament and Strasbourg leave on you?

The city is very beautiful – Strasbourg Cathedral and the Old Town are truly impressive, and the European Parliament building is spacious and modern. It was interesting to visit an institution where delegates from our countries come together to make decisions that affect the entire EU. I felt a sense of pride seeing the flags of all the member states flying at the entrance and realising that so many people from different universities had gathered under one roof. It was inspiring to see and feel how united we are. Together with other students, we talked about how uplifted we felt, and how proud we are of the EU and of each other – so many young and active people had come together, not just thinking about themselves, but representing the areas they care about and contributing to change.

Would you like to work at the European Parliament?

I tried to imagine what it must feel like to work in such a high-level institution every day, but my field is slightly different. My goal is to help decision-makers take informed and intelligent decisions; I would also like to contribute to forming more open and inclusive social policy both in the EU and Lithuania, ensuring that everyone’s rights are respected. I think I would prefer to stay on the NGO side, as they are closer to the people. I would rather be the one building the bridge between vulnerable groups and decision-makers to foster connections and mutual understanding.

Participants of the European Student Assembly. Photo credit: M. Bočiarovaitė’s personal archive.

Why did you choose to study social work?

When I finished school, I had no idea what path I wanted to take or what to study. I am really glad I took a break, because I gained the motivation to study during that time. It took a while to find my way to social work – first by understanding what I did not want to do, then by gradually discovering my passion. The Social Work programme at ��鶹 caught my attention because it takes a holistic and interdisciplinary approach – we study psychology and sociology at the Faculty of Philosophy and work directly with people. Soon after enrolling, I realised how comfortable I felt while studying and preparing for my professional journey. It confirmed that this is where I belong. These studies give me a great deal both as a professional and, first and foremost, as a person.

In what way have your studies helped you grow personally?

It has a lot to do with the programme’s content and what social work is all about. To help others, you must first understand yourself and get yourself together by caring for your own well-being. All the methods and theories we learn inevitably get applied to ourselves: you reflect on your own situation, whether there are any unresolved psychological or emotional issues in your family, environment, or among friends. When learning to work with vulnerable groups, communication has to be different, more specific: you have to know how to approach people, understand the reasons behind their behaviour, and be aware of how individuals function within society. All of these topics become personally meaningful. Our lecturers teach us that in order to provide support and high-quality services to others, we first need to make sure we feel at peace with ourselves and our environment. These aspects are inseparable.

What would you like to wish for other young people pursuing their studies?

I strongly encourage young people to take every opportunity during their studies and try as many international experiences as possible. Many programmes, such as Erasmus and others, offer exchanges, summer trips, and internships. Universities offer short-term mobility opportunities for those not looking to spend long periods abroad. Such experiences are extremely valuable for personal growth, building connections, and advancing professionally. I would like to encourage young people to stay active and engaged, participate in various activities, and make the most of the opportunities available during their university years.

International Interdisciplinary Doctoral Summer School Held at ��鶹

2025-07-01T12:27:45+03:00

On 16–20 June, ��鶹 (VU) hosted the third edition of the international interdisciplinary summer school for doctoral students titled ‘AI and Beyond: Thinking Machines, Thinking Humans’. The summer school also welcomed participants from the University of Granada, a member of the international Arqus European University Alliance.

‘While it may seem like artificial intelligence (AI) is very widely discussed, in practice, this topic is inexhaustible. Every day brings new challenges we may not yet be fully equipped to address. That is why we chose to dedicate this year’s summer school to exploring the role of AI in research and to seek answers together,’ said Gabija Strumylaitė, one of the organisers and a doctoral studies coordinator, as she introduced the school’s concept to the participants.

The Pro-Rector for Research, Prof. Gintaras Valušis, welcomed the doctoral students. Representatives from the Office of the Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures – Eglė Ozolinčiūtė and Tadas Sobenka – delivered presentations on the impact of AI on research ethics. After the official opening, participants enjoyed a guided tour of the historic university ensemble, led by colleagues from the VU Museum.

On 17–19 June, at the VU Botanical Garden in Kairėnai, the doctoral students attended lectures and workshops featuring seven speakers who offered diverse academic perspectives on AI’s impact on research.

The perspective of the exact sciences was presented by Prof. Virginijus Marcinkevičius, Dr Marco Marcozzi, Dr Gražina Korvel, and Linas Aidokas from the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics. Topics included machine learning applications, speech signal processing, and AI in modern robotics.

Dr Neringa Gaubienė from the Faculty of Law introduced the topic of AI regulation. Together with her student Ieva Andrijauskaitė, she also delivered a practical workshop titled ‘AI Literacy Under the AI Act: Developing a Strategy to Ensure Adequate AI Literacy at ��鶹’.

Dr Aleksandras Voicikas from the VU Life Sciences Center introduced the participants to the neuroscientific perspective. The scientist also led a workshop where doctoral students had the opportunity to try out the research equipment he uses to study human brain activity.

The academic part of the summer school programme concluded with a lecture by philosopher Prof. Naglis Kardelis, who spoke about the risks AI poses to the natural human capacity to think.

Agnė Ambrazaitė, a third-year PhD student in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, noted that while AI is currently perceived as a major technological breakthrough, it also represents a significant cultural, philosophical, and epistemological challenge. Coming from the field of philology, the student said she was particularly interested in understanding how this topic is explored in technical contexts.

‘The summer school not only provided an opportunity to engage with processes that often remain on the margins of the humanities, but also allowed us to see how other disciplines work with linguistic material, which has become the basis of AI systems. It was one of those rare occasions when you find yourself immersed in a multi-voice environment where you can reflect on the assumptions of your own discipline and re-examine the legacy of structuralism – to reflect on what remains of language when it is reduced to a mathematical formula,’ remarked Agnė Ambrazaitė.

Yassine Gorine, a first-year doctoral student from the University of Granada working in the field of electrochemistry and CO₂ valorisation in liquefied natural gas plants, appreciated the opportunity to connect with peers from other fields.

‘One of the most interesting sessions was the one led by Dr Aleksandras Voicikas. I learned how the brain sends signals and how AI can help interpret and work with them. It was amazing to see the interaction between biology and technology, which sparked new ideas: now I want to explore how I might incorporate AI into my own doctoral research,’ he shared.

On 20 June, the final day of the programme, participants went on a tour around the surroundings of Trakai, visiting the historic town itself, the Hill of Angels, and Užutrakis Manor.

The doctoral students who participated in the entire programme earned 3 ECTS credits for general competencies.

Special Gift from VU Scientist: Human Hair-Sized Model of Sorbonne University Chapel Presented to the University’s President

2025-06-26T08:30:45+03:00

On 26–27 June, during a visit to ��鶹 (VU) by a delegation from France’s Sorbonne University, its President, Prof. Nathalie Drach-Temam, was presented with a printed replica of the Sorbonne University Chapel, which appears as a mere dust particle to the naked eye. The special gift was created by Dr Gordon Zyla, a senior researcher at the Laser Research Center of the VU Faculty of Physics and a former Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow.

The researcher is pleased to contribute to this project and to showcase the exceptional capabilities of the laser manufacturing techniques developed at the Faculty of Physics. When asked about the scale of the model compared to the actual chapel, the scientist offers some striking figures.

Commenting on the scale, Dr G. Zyla explains: ‘The length of the chapel is approximately 120 micrometres, making it slightly larger than the width of a human hair. What is most impressive, however, is first that the miniature is about 275,000 times smaller than the original and second, that despite this extreme downscaling, the intricate architectural details of the original are still preserved in the printed version.’

The sample was produced using a specific method called multiphoton 3D lithography. This technique represents an advanced form of 3D printing that is gradually making its way into more areas of everyday life.

‘Unlike conventional 3D printing, this approach can solidify a light-sensitive material at virtually any point in space, enabling the fabrication of truly three-dimensional structures. Interestingly, by using a sharply focused ultrashort-pulse laser beam, it is possible to initiate a polymerisation reaction with such precision that it creates spatial elements (voxels) just a few hundred nanometres in size. For comparison, a human hair is about 80 micrometres thick, roughly 500 times wider than the structures created by this method,’ says Dr G. Zyla.

Dr G. Zyla is one of the winners of the 2024 Young Scientist Co-Funding competition, with his research supported by the VU Foundation and was recently awarded an internal VU Postdoctoral Fellowship. He conducts research in light technologies at the Laser Research Centre, within the Laser Nanophotonics Group led by Prof. Mangirdas Malinauskas.

‘For example, simple spherical microelements–six times smaller than the chapel–can improve the resolution of optical microscopes beyond what standard lenses can achieve. Other tiny structures, carefully arranged in patterns, can shape and control light in new ways to enable novel interactions with matter. This may open up possibilities for future applications in bio-imaging, quantum technologies, telecommunications, and laser technologies,’ says the researcher.

Dr. Gordon Zyla completed his undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral studies at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, under the supervision of Prof. Andreas Ostendorf, with part of his PhD research conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, under the supervision of Prof. Yongfeng Lu. He previously worked for three years at the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (IESL-FORTH) in Greece under the supervision of Dr. Maria Farsari. During this time, he was awarded two prestigious fellowships: the Feodor Lynen Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship from the European Commission.

Vilnius Town Hall to Host International Quantum Technology Conference

2025-06-20T07:30:56+03:00

From 23 to 27 June, the Vilnius Town Hall will host the Central European Workshop on Quantum Optics (CEWQO), organised by ��鶹 (VU) and the Lithuanian Physical Society. This significant international conference will bring together over 200 scientists, researchers, and experts in quantum technologies.

‘It is symbolic that, in the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, we are meeting in Vilnius. The conference programme encompasses highly relevant themes – from fundamental quantum systems research to the advancement of future quantum technologies. Given the expertise of our scientists, Lithuania holds considerable potential in these areas,’ says Gediminas Juzeliūnas, a distinguished professor at VU and organiser of the event.

According to the organisers, although Lithuania is widely recognised for its achievements in laser technologies and photonics, less attention is paid to the essential role these areas play in the development of quantum technologies. Quantum optics paves the way for technological breakthroughs previously beyond the reach of classical physics. Quantum states of light, such as squeezed light, enable highly sensitive measurements – important not only for fundamental research but also for information transmission. Quantum optics allows the use of additional properties of light – such as polarisation and entanglement – significantly increasing both the volume and security of transmitted data.

The conference in Vilnius will unite world-class scholars and the most advanced emerging researchers. It presents a unique opportunity to showcase Lithuania’s achievements and strengthen international collaboration. The European Commission recognises quantum technologies as a strategic field crucial to the European Union`s (EU) economic security and technological autonomy. By 2030, the EU aims to become the ‘quantum valley’ of the world, investing heavily in their development and practical application. This conference marks an important step towards enabling Lithuania to contribute to this process and reinforce its position on the European quantum map.

CEWQO is held in different countries each year. This will be the 29th edition of the conference, bringing together European researchers exploring the foundations and applications of quantum optics and quantum information. Last year, the conference was hosted by the Czech Republic, and in 2023, it took place in Italy.

QS World University Rankings: VU among global leaders in employment outcomes, faculty-student ratio, and sustainability

2025-06-18T11:31:42+03:00

��鶹 (VU) has been ranked 446th in the newly released QS World University Rankings – its position among the top global institutions assessed from nearly 7,000 universities across 106 countries, marking the most comprehensive edition in the ranking’s history. VU retains its status as the top university in Lithuania.

VU stands out in the Employment Outcomes indicator, where it reached an all-time high of 93rd place globally. This result reflects the university’s ability to ensure high levels of graduate employability and its alumni’s impact in their respective professional fields.

The university also performed strongly in the Faculty Student Ratio indicator, ranking 210th, which is associated with increased academic attention to each student. Notably, VU made significant progress in the Sustainability category, climbing 158 positions to reach 313th place.

The university also improved its position in the International Research Network indicator, rising by 47 places to 351st globally. This indicator, introduced in 2022, measures an institution’s success in establishing and sustaining research collaborations with partners in different countries. It assesses both the diversity and depth of these international connections by considering how many countries are represented and how frequently partnerships are renewed and maintained.

VU also moved up five positions in Academic Reputation and now ranks 467th. This indicator is derived from a global survey designed to capture the perceptions of academics regarding which institutions are demonstrating academic excellence. In the Employer Reputation category, VU is ranked 496th globally, showing how international employers assess the preparedness and competence of its graduates.

At the national level, VU continues to be the highest-ranked university in Lithuania. Among the five Lithuanian institutions evaluated, VU leads in most of the key performance indicators, including academic and employer reputation, employment outcomes, faculty-student ratio, international research collaborations, and sustainability.

QS World University Rankings assess higher education institutions across eight performance indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, faculty-student ratio, international faculty, international students, international research network, and sustainability. In this edition, 1,501 institutions were included in the final rankings, with 112 universities entering for the first time.

Behavioural Economist Explains Why We Struggle to Make Rational Decisions

2025-06-18T05:52:47+03:00

Every day, we make hundreds of decisions – from trivial choices like what to have for breakfast or which clothes to wear to more significant ones concerning career, family, investment, or housing purchases. Often, our decisions seem rational, based on calculations and logic. However, is that actually the case?

Experts in behavioural economics argue that our choices are often shaped by emotions, social habits, and the influence of others, even more than we realise. We buy things we do not need, make financial decisions that do not serve our best interests, and even when we understand global issues like climate change, we hesitate to take action. So why does this happen? Dr Laura Galdikienė, a researcher at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of ��鶹 (VU), and her team will explore these questions at the first Laboratory of Economic Behaviour in the Baltic States.

Research advancing the region’s economy

Dr Galdikienė recalls that during her Bachelor and Master studies in economics, she was not entirely convinced by the assumptions of classical theory. She felt traditional economics did not always reflect human behaviour accurately and that classical models – which assume that people are rational and self-interested – did not always align with reality. According to the economist, people often act altruistically, make sacrifices, and choose options that are not purely driven by self-interest. As a result, behavioural economics became her major professional discovery.

Dr Galdikienė consciously chose a doctoral research topic she had never explored before, making it a new challenge. ‘Although most doctoral students choose topics they are already familiar with, I felt that our professional lives are too long for one career, and I didn’t want to get stuck in the same field of financial economics. That’s why I chose a completely new direction, which I still enjoy today,’ she said.

The economist is pleased to see growing interest in the studies of economic behaviour in Lithuania. One of the most significant acknowledgements in this field is the establishment of the Laboratory of Economic Behaviour at ��鶹 – the first of its kind in the Baltic States. This laboratory will serve as a research centre of international importance, conducting innovative studies that will not only strengthen Lithuania’s economy but also have a long-term impact on the entire Baltic region. This initiative is expected to provide a major boost to regional economic growth and innovation.

Real money in economic experiments

Compared to laboratories in other scientific fields, the economic laboratory stands out in several aspects. ‘Two strict rules apply in economic experiments: researchers cannot lie to participants, and economic experiments are incentivised, so it means that we pay participants for taking part, but we also encourage certain behaviours. In the laboratory, we conduct experiments using real money, as hypothetical decisions often differ significantly from those made in real-life situations,’ explained the researcher.

Research in this laboratory will cover a wide range of topics, from auctions and market simulations to practical experimental games to assess financial decision-making and the factors that influence it. For instance, researchers will study altruism, trust, and other prosocial behaviours, as well as how other people can shape our financial choices. However, the primary focus will be on the main topic – decisions related to climate change.

According to Dr Galdikienė, climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges today, which should be addressed by global efforts, including research. She argues that our concerns about this existential issue must extend much further. Climate change is not just a matter for the physical and natural sciences – it is deeply connected to social behaviour, political measures, and human motivation.

‘A stable climate is a public good, yet people often assume that someone else, rather than themselves, will take responsibility for addressing this problem,’ noted the researcher.

So why do we still struggle to take effective action despite our clear understanding of climate change? Dr Galdikienė believes that one of the main obstacles is insufficient intrinsic motivation and behavioural change. To address this, the new laboratory aims to explore human behaviour in relation to climate change: Why do people refuse to support environmental taxes? How does environmentally friendly behaviour develop and spread? And to what extent do the choices of others shape our own decisions?

Small fines can have the opposite effect

Have you ever wondered why parents are often late to pick up their children from a nursery and how this behaviour could be changed? It turns out that this issue reflects not only personal habits but also broader social phenomena. An experiment introducing a small €5 fine for such delays revealed an unexpected shift in parental behaviour – they started coming even later, without any guilt.

‘People are less likely to be late when they have intrinsic motivation – a sense of guilt for disappointing the teacher, whereas when a small fee is introduced to quantify that discomfort, it displaces that inner motivation. To change this, we either have to impose a large fine (for example, reaching €100) or do nothing, allowing people to retain their internal guilt,’ explained the researcher.

This example demonstrates that, in some cases, small external incentives, such as fines or fees, may not have the intended effect.

This finding is also confirmed by another behavioural economics experiment on blood donation. Research has shown that when donors were offered financial compensation to encourage blood donation, their behaviour changed – they started donating less. The selfless desire to help others was lost when a monetary reward was introduced. People started perceiving their donation as a purely financial decision, which altered their attitude toward it.

‘Today, scientific research says that we shouldn’t pay for activities involving intrinsic motivation. It is especially important to keep this in mind when developing state policies that rely not only on material incentives but also on people’s internal motivations,’ stated the economist.

What actually increases employee motivation and productivity?

When it comes to work behaviour, Dr Galdikienė notes that employee motivation and productivity do not always depend on remuneration. Although laboratory experiments show that increased monetary incentives boost productivity, Israeli economist Uri Gneezy’s field experiment has revealed that when people receive unexpected rewards for their work (larger than initially agreed upon), their productivity increases only temporarily and soon returns to the initial level. This suggests that the effect of money is temporary. Meanwhile, other experimental studies have shown that changes in work organisation, such as hybrid work or taking breaks, can have a more significant impact, sometimes even increasing job satisfaction without reducing productivity, especially for high-skilled employees. However, hybrid work may have a detrimental effect on the productivity of lower-skilled workers.

According to various studies, this motivational mechanism works particularly well for women, who are often responsible for household duties. Therefore, flexible working hours, the ability to work remotely, or certain comforts at the workplace can increase women’s motivation and help them balance their personal and professional lives. This often leads to higher productivity, as when people feel comfortable and able to control their work and leisure time, they can become more efficient.

Moreover, Dr Galdikienė also recalls an interesting study on the work environment that debunked the myth that women are less likely to compete for leadership positions than men. Research conducted in different communities has shown that both women’s and men’s competitive behaviours depend on social norms. In matriarchal communities, women compete more intensely for dominant positions than those in patriarchal societies. This shows that competition and the desire to reach the highest positions depend not only on individual or physical traits but also on the environment in which we live.

‘It means that women’s lower competitiveness is not innate but a socially and culturally imposed construct. The social norm for women is to avoid competing too much, especially with men. They can compete quite a lot with other women, but not with the opposite sex. In fact, much of our behaviour is defined by the desire not to stand out or deviate from the crowd,’ added the economist.

The herd mentality creates economic bubbles

We often act according to common social norms and standards of behaviour, whether it is about saving, investing, or consuming. ‘If your friends are consuming or displaying their status through luxury items, you’re more likely to do the same; if your friends are frugal and invest, you’re also likely to do so; while if they are ‘green’, you’ll also probably choose a sustainable lifestyle,’ said the researcher.

She explains that this ‘herd effect’ has macroeconomic consequences, causing market bubbles when excessive interest in specific sectors creates a gap between their market evaluation and actual value. For example, there are signs of a technology sector bubble in the current financial market as companies in this field are reaching new heights in their stock prices.

Another significant cultural norm that has a great impact on our financial decisions is trust in others. Research shows that a high level of trust within a country promotes economic growth and higher income levels because people are more likely to invest and cooperate when they have confidence in each other. This positively impacts entrepreneurship, financial system development, and overall economic stability. However, trust can vary depending on historical and cultural factors: in countries where slavery (e.g. in Africa) or significant conflicts prevailed, trust levels tend to be lower, which negatively affects economic development. In contrast, in Sweden or other Scandinavian countries, where trust among people is high, we often observe faster economic growth and better social conditions.

What most often tends to derail our good spending habits?

The Homo economicus model portrays us as logical and self-interested individuals who always choose the most optimal decision. However, behavioural economics research has revealed that, in reality, we make many cognitive mistakes. According to Dr Galdikienė, rational decision-making should be based on opportunity cost analysis, but most people do not consistently do so.

‘For example, if you come across a jacket you need for €200 and find out that it is €5 cheaper elsewhere, you probably won’t think it is worth your while to go out of your way for the small saving. However, if you need a calculator worth €20, and elsewhere it costs €15, the same €5 difference will now seem more significant, and you’re likely to go out and buy for the lower price. If the saved amount is the same, a rational person should make the same decision in both cases, regardless of the item’s value,’ commented the economist.

Another example that the researcher provides concerns so-called irreversible costs. Imagine a situation: you paid for a cinema ticket, but the film turned out to be boring. Nevertheless, people tend to stay until the end, as they have already invested their money, even though it might be more rational to leave and spend the time more usefully. ‘This is called the ‘sunk cost fallacy’, where we tend to follow through with something we’ve already invested in, even though it shouldn’t influence our decisions because the cost can’t be recovered.’

We often fail to make rational decisions due to psychological biases. ‘For instance, we tend to seek information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs (a phenomenon known as ‘confirmation bias’). So, if we’ve decided something is true, we’ll only look for evidence that supports that idea,’ explained the researcher of economic behaviour.

According to Dr Galdikienė, our brains have difficulty grasping probabilities. For example, if the media covers a plane crash widely, we may think that such accidents are more likely than they actually are. Similarly, a conjunction effect or the ‘Linda Problem’ works in this way: ‘If we describe a 34-year-old woman as active, highly educated, and well-read, many would think that she is more likely to be a feminist and a bank employee rather than just a bank employee, although logically, the first option will always be less probable,’ she said.

Another common pitfall we fall into irrationally is discounts and how product information is presented. The first information we receive strongly influences our decisions. ‘Let’s take an example: if we first see the most expensive dishes on a restaurant menu or the largest coffee cups in a café, a medium-priced dish or a medium-sized coffee will seem more attractive. Similarly, if we see items with large ‘discounts,’ we’re more likely to buy them, even though the actual price may still be too high or the item may not really be that necessary.’

How can we protect ourselves from such manipulations? According to the researcher, if you are unsure whether you truly need a particular product, the simplest way is to leave the store and take a breather to think. Sometimes, just stepping back and postponing the decision can provide a clearer picture of what our needs really are. Another practice we often overlook is price monitoring – it is important to check whether discounts are genuine and the price is, in fact, lower than usual.

Master's Student Nana Ochkhikidze on Her Experience at the VU Faculty of Law: Diverse Opportunities and Working in an International Company

2025-06-17T12:04:14+03:00

Nana Ochkhikidze is a first-year student in the International and European Law Master's study programme at the Law Faculty of ��鶹 (VU). She is also enrolled at the Institute for European Studies at the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. The collaboration between the Faculty of Law at ��鶹 and Tbilisi State University offers students the unique opportunity to obtain a double degree from both institutions.

Whilst studying at VU Law Faculty, Nana discovered a variety of opportunities offered by the university and began working for an international company. In this interview, Nana shares her experience of living in Vilnius.

Is it your first time in Lithuania, or have you been here before?

No, this is actually my second time here. My first visit was through the Erasmus programme, which was a fantastic experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it — people were incredibly friendly and always willing to help. That's why I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to return and stay for a longer period this time.

Did you have other options for study? Why did you choose this particular university and faculty?

I can confidently say that studying here has surpassed my expectations. Students are offered a wide range of opportunities — not only can they focus on their studies, but they can also participate in various projects. There are many group activities, the chance to write research papers, attend conferences, and sometimes even receive awards. These experiences are invaluable in developing both academic and writing skills, particularly in preparation for a Master's thesis.

Moreover, the professors provide a wide range of options: you can choose to work individually or in groups. One memorable experience was when a professor invited me and a friend to the premiere of a human rights film about the situation in Hungary. Such opportunities are incredibly helpful, as they allow you to adapt more quickly to life in a foreign country.

I would also like to mention that this university has an outstanding library. You can sit comfortably and access any book you need, which is extremely valuable for students.

What were your impressions of the International and European Law Master's programme? Do you have a favourite course?

The curriculum is exceptionally well structured. It helps you develop critical thinking, writing, and presentation skills. The professors are consistently supportive and provide numerous opportunities to grow academically. I've really enjoyed my time here.

I chose to focus on the human rights track, which has been very enriching, but the programme also allows you to gain knowledge in various other areas. For any lawyer, having a well-rounded understanding of different areas of law is essential, as these disciplines are often interrelated.

I would also like to highlight that the professors at ��鶹 have extensive experience. They come from various countries, bringing diverse perspectives and valuable insights into different legal systems — something I've found particularly beneficial.

What has your experience been like living in Vilnius? Was it difficult to find accommodation?

For me, finding accommodation was quite straightforward. I currently live in student housing, which the university administration recommended early on to me and my friends. It's very convenient, especially when moving to a new country.

There are certainly other housing options if you're looking for something more private, but we chose the dormitory because it's close to the university.

What's life in Vilnius like? How do you find the atmosphere?

As I mentioned earlier, the people are incredibly friendly, which has had a very positive impact on my experience. One thing I especially appreciate is that whenever I mention I'm from Georgia (Sakartvelo), people often greet me in Georgian by saying Gamarjoba. That really makes me feel at home. Initially, I thought people might be a bit reserved, but that impression quickly changed — everyone has been welcoming and helpful.

Lithuania also has a fascinating culture. I've visited several museums, which have provided deep insights into the country's history and traditions. I really enjoy living here, even during the cold winter months. The weather doesn't bother me much — there are so many cosy cafés and restaurants to explore.

Have you participated in any activities or projects offered by ��鶹?

Yes, I'm currently working with a friend on a paper for the VU TF SMD conference*. It's a great opportunity to develop our academic writing skills, which will be very helpful when we begin our Master's thesis.

I've also heard that the university offers a wide variety of sports activities. For instance, I know a girl who plays on the university's volleyball team. It's fantastic that the university supports students not only academically but also in terms of their physical well-being.

What's the topic of the conference that you're preparing for?

Right now, we're working on a paper about how businesses can become more environmentally friendly. It's still a work in progress, so our exact topic isn't finalised yet, but we're currently focusing on human rights, supply chain responsibilities, and corporate climate actions. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank our supervisor, Professor Donatas Murauskas, for his dedication and support.

Do you have a job here in Lithuania? Are you working alongside your studies?

Yes, I am, and I'm very grateful that the university supports students who wish to work. I'm currently employed at Mercator by Citco, an international company, in a role that aligns with my field of study.

Despite working part-time, I've managed to maintain excellent academic results — I received full marks in all my courses this semester. I believe that with effort and a supportive environment, anything is possible.

Is your job related to law?

Yes, I work in the field of corporate law.

Can you tell us more about your job? Was it difficult to find it?

I really admire Lithuania's strong commitment to preserving its language and culture. Speaking Lithuanian can be a big advantage when looking for work, as English alone may not always be sufficient — especially if you wish to pursue a career in your specific field.

That said, the company I work for is international. I was already familiar with it before coming to Lithuania, as several friends from ��鶹 had started working there. There are many international companies in Lithuania, so it's certainly possible to find a role that suits your career goals.

What are three things about ��鶹 and the Faculty of Law that will stay with you after graduation?

First of all, I'm incredibly grateful for the way this university has contributed to both my academic and personal growth. Moving to a foreign country is a real challenge, and the support I've received here has made the transition much easier than expected.

Secondly, I value the friendships I've made with people from all over the world. These connections have enriched my experience and will last long after graduation.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the outstanding academic and administrative staff. The professors and university administration are always ready to assist, making the study experience smooth and enjoyable.

I highly recommend studying at ��鶹 for its excellent opportunities to study abroad, grow academically, and develop personally. From here, the way truly leads to the stars!

*The VU TF SMD conference is an annual academic event organised by the Students' Scientific Society at the ��鶹 Faculty of Law.

Assoc. Prof. Karolis Ažukaitis: Clinician-Scientists Are a Driving Force Within the Self-Learning Health Ecosystem

2025-06-17T10:26:10+03:00

A clinician-scientist is at once a physician and a researcher, someone who transfers knowledge between the science of medicine and daily practice. By merging and transmitting the most up-to-date information, these professionals help both the science, building the best patient care possible, and physicians, working in direct contact with patients, to develop. However, clinician-scientists usually take on even more roles that are just as important: they are teachers, transmitting cutting-edge knowledge to their peers and students, communicators, educating the broader society and leaders, contributing to healthcare policy-making and the development of a better-operating healthcare system.

The many roles clinician-scientists perform simultaneously and the reasons why this is a challenging career path that fewer and fewer people follow are discussed in the recent article, 'Structured Programs to Train the Next Generation of Clinician Scientists', co-written by a team of researchers from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and Lithuania. It was recently published in the prestigious science journal Nature Medicine. We interviewed one of the authors, Dr Karolis Ažukaitis, Associate Professor, paediatric nephrologist, and Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation at the Faculty of Medicine, ��鶹.

High standards are hardly compatible with the working conditions provided

– Clinician-scientists are probably some of the fastest learners in medicine. This professional development is happening in two directions at once, and intensely too, as one must also keep up with the cutting-edge technologies. Is such a person basically pursuing two careers?

– True, it may seem that this is about two parallel careers, but actually, it should be regarded more like two intertwined roads. A physician who is also a researcher is constantly developing and able to look at many healthcare processes from a different perspective: they look critically at the current practice and notice knowledge gaps that pose challenges in their daily work. As a researcher, they know best what needs to be researched, how, and why, and, crucially, are able to turn difficult clinical questions into testable hypotheses. In the constant flow of new scientific knowledge and discovery, our healthcare ecosystem needs people who can help transform this knowledge into practical solutions and take relevant questions back for more research. Such people transfer the freshest scientific knowledge into clinical practice and become their disseminators, so, being part of a huge ecosystem, they inspire progress and the development of the whole healthcare system.

– Can clinician-scientists work alone, or do they need a team? If so, how many people are involved?

– One person cannot whistle a symphony; you need a full orchestra for that; the medical and health-science elements, and in particular, the transfer of knowledge into practice, are especially complex processes. A clinician-scientist has to be a leader, colleague, coworker, and teacher, seeking to ensure the highest quality standards in research and patient treatment. They are expected to innovate and unite different disciplines to achieve a common goal. So, of course, they have to have a team and need to recruit and train new people. Moreover, a team should not be comprised of just one specialist. In this mechanism, every one of them may have their function: that of an administrator, physician, or other healthcare professional, directly conducting research, a lab researcher, and finally, a lead scientist, who would pave the way for more clinician-scientists.

– Do we have a lot of such people in Lithuania?

– We do have many active physician-researchers. However, although de facto they operate as clinician-scientists – they practice medicine and do research – we cannot call them that in the strictest sense of the term because, to this day, they don't have the right conditions to do their job. One of the crucial things in this field is time and workload distribution. Besides clinical workload, clinician-scientists have to have a safe window to do their research or go on a traineeship. Once they initiate a clinical study, they should receive full support in such areas as collecting data, coordinating a study, developing a project, writing reports, etc. These specialists often need people who are not even part of the medical staff.

There aren't any clearly established models that would define the working conditions and remuneration of the time dedicated to science for physician-researchers in Lithuania. Academic medical institutions in Germany and a number of other countries apply a 50/50 or 80/20 model: a person doing both scientific and clinical work can, for a certain period of time, reduce their workload as a physician and dedicate more time to scientific research. Their opportunities also relate to the appropriate funding of such research. Indeed, the long timescale of research and lengthy wait for results often require a lot of funding.

Furthermore, the peculiarities of medical research are sometimes hardly compatible with the requirements of research-funding institutions, which aren't tailored to various branches of science. It generally takes from 5 to 8 years to get clinical research results because the patients under treatment have to be observed for a long time. Unfortunately, the research-funding mechanisms that are available in Lithuania often set a timeframe that is too short to conduct the research, publish the results and therefore offer funding that is insufficient, and the mechanisms themselves aren't flexible enough to enable medical research of the highest quality. Obviously, distributing resources among different branches of science is a difficult task, but we have to keep in mind that medical research may not only create direct value for patients and medicine itself but also significantly contribute to the development of a more effective, highest-quality healthcare system, which all of us depend upon.

– Could you paint a picture of the clinician-scientist's career? How many years does one need to study, where should one apply, and how much should one invest in self-development? Is it possible to work as a physician for a few years and then dedicate a few years to science alone?

– Usually, it follows a path of continuous work, requiring constant investment and cooperation with the international science community, which stimulates the scientist to initiate research. You cannot afford long pauses in this profession. There are some models that work abroad, where a person can manage a unit for a while, do clinical work, and then devote their time to research, co-conducted with colleagues in the academic community. Such a path is available in hospitals tied to first-class universities, and, by the way, healthcare facilities that practice academic medicine usually show much better patient outcomes. These facilities see their patient care standards evolve, motivate their employees, and attract more talented specialists. In this environment, a self-learning health ecosystem forms.

The clinician's engagement in scientific work does not necessarily have to be exponential: the person may occasionally participate in a study as a co-researcher involving patients but may also constantly generate ideas and test them. The path itself is often long because, in addition to professional (residency) studies, one requires a doctoral degree. Well, you can start your doctoral studies before finishing your residency. I think this is a more attractive scenario for young physician-researchers, but it's important, at least for that period of time, to firmly focus on those two studies rather than the search for additional income.

– Can the potential for a career as a clinician-scientist be evident during medical studies, or does it reveal itself naturally once you start working?

– The potential consists of the inclination and natural gifts of the potential clinician-scientist, as well as the right accompanying conditions for following that path. One can become interested in science both during one's studies and later in life. Either way, it's going to be challenging, only in a different way. Students don't have a right to work directly with patients, so it's difficult to raise clinical questions, identify your area of research and find a supervisor. Besides, students are caught in even more dilemmas, for example, which area of medicine to choose, whether to work with children or with adults. You shouldn't be wary of jumping between different disciplines or getting disappointed if something comes to a temporary halt. It's worth remembering the hedgehog concept: a fox knows many things; it jumps around, skipping from one thing to another, whereas a hedgehog is trotting down its path and knows one good thing – if somebody attacks it, it will erect its spines. You need to tap into your inner hedgehog and ask yourself: What am I passionate about? What am I best at? What are the conditions available to me at the moment?

A person can also follow the clinician-scientist's path after studies while working at a hospital, but at this stage, new limiting challenges appear. It's a time when people are creating families, buying homes, and need to achieve financial stability. It often weighs on them emotionally, and if you add a scientist's load to the mix, you end up with a unique problem. However, the value is also unique: we feel it directly when we treat people, and it's less noticeable when we contribute to the development of the whole healthcare system little by little.

Clinician-scientists – an endangered species?

– When does a clinician-scientist experience joy in their activities?

– Those who enjoy the scientific process are simply glad to take part in it; achieving a breakthrough in a discovery-based science on your own is very difficult. I think that clinician-scientists find the biggest joy in a dynamic (usually international) scientific community, honing their skills and sharing knowledge with others, perfecting their clinical practice, and seeing that those developments actually work.

– Does the current national healthcare system incentivise physicians to do research and researchers to follow the clinical application nuances of medical treatment? Might it be that the companies that produce specific technologies are even more interested in the professional development of physicians?

– The private healthcare sector cares for people participating in research, but it has developed its own applied scientific research and experimental development sector. Hospital-working physicians are often needed for them as contractors to test what they've developed. For the state, every clinician-scientist is an investment made for the country to provide a better hospital and healthcare standard overall. Therefore, the state should dedicate specific funding and provide a flexible mechanism. We have to decide what clinician-scientists contribute towards medical progress and the whole healthcare system and try to calculate the potential value of that. If it does create value in the healthcare system, shouldn't it then be funded collectively, using healthcare money? If we recognise this as one of the segments that would allow us to better, faster, and more effectively help people, I have to raise the question: How is that different from reimbursable medicines?

– The situation you and your co-authors describe in the article – that clinician-scientists are like an endangered species – sounds worrying. In addition, these people are under huge stress and, as stated in the article, go through 'valleys of death', with significant dropouts during certain more vulnerable career phases. Why do we need this species of researcher to persist, and what will happen if we don't encourage young people to take this path?

– A few years ago in Hanover, during a conference of clinician-scientists from across Germany, colleagues described the value a clinician-scientist generates – it would become painfully obvious if we withdrew our scientific efforts from major hospitals and the healthcare system in general for ten years. If I had a garden and weeded, watered, and fertilised it every day, would someone be able to tell how much each small action I had taken contributed to tastier tomatoes? No. But if I didn't do any of that, the results would be very easy to measure. Recovering, once everything's wilted, would be very difficult, so we shouldn't go down that path. Clinician-scientists are an integral part of medicine, as much needed as good health managers, practitioners, professional, kind staff, a good organisational culture and, more broadly, a good healthcare community culture.
Following good practice and deepening our understanding of better prospects.

– Why wouldn't taking medical knowledge from foreign researchers and adapting it here be enough for us?

– Once you acquire knowledge, you have to know how to appropriately apply and critically assess it. It is never 100%; we often receive it systematised and summarised in the form of guidelines and recommendations. If we simply kept following it, we would never be at the forefront; this would result in frozen progress and quality. In order to adopt innovation quickly, effectively, and in appropriate situations, we must have experts in the field to discuss this with, as well as active scientific competencies. We implement innovation methodically and, accordingly, teach students research methodology so they would be better equipped to make clinical decisions. The skill of making clinical decisions is the most important tool in the clinician's toolbox, often more important than a dialysis machine, scalpel, or endoscope, and this decision-making requires a grasp of the origin of medical knowledge and the main principles of the scientific method.

– In the article, you discuss the drawbacks of clinician-scientist training programmes and suggest the direction in which they should be changed. Would it be fair to say that more active cooperation with patients is one of the important points?

– Patient involvement is crucial in identifying research priorities because research funding is limited. At the end of the day, medical science should first solve patient problems, not those of physicians, right? Of course, we should note that physicians also do research that is intended to increase the effectiveness of the healthcare system, shorten hospitalisation time, and enable us to distribute resources more effectively, all of which the patients benefit from indirectly. Nevertheless, the patient doesn't care that much about how their test results change if that doesn't really affect their symptoms (for example, chronic fatigue) or lifespan. The symptoms that prevent them from going to work, having a personal life, or functioning normally may get ignored. Then family relationships deteriorate, children suffer, and their school marks get worse. These consequences are not measurable. Hence, in doing medical research, it is important to find a balance between the direct priorities of patients and things that are important purely from a medical perspective.

Patients should be our partners, but that requires a certain level of patient maturity and a purposeful cooperation format. Clinician-scientists should ask: Is the study well-planned? Will patients be willing to participate till the end? Do patients think that a particular scale would be suitable for measuring tiredness? Or maybe they don't even understand what they're being asked? Having gauged how patients felt through standardised tests, clinician-scientists could point medicine in an improved direction and better meet the needs of their patients.

– The training of clinician-scientists requires separate attention; this was first noted in Germany, where, a few decades ago, a study programme was established in Hanover intended specifically for training these professionals. How is this field being further developed?

– Many different models have been developed because every country has its own unique science, study, and healthcare systems. In Germany, projects are funded via tenders: younger students can work 50/50 as scientists and clinicians, whereas older ones dedicate 80% of their time to research. Later, thanks to external funding and the generated value, this investment yields 5-fold returns, creating positive conditions for new clinician-scientists to do research.

In other countries, the portion of work time to be dedicated to science is prescribed in the employment contract, or, for example, the clinician-scientist is defined as a separate category in legislation (as is currently the case in Spain). An MD-PhD programme has also been developed, in which doctoral and residency studies are combined with the latter in shortened form because students doing research in their clinical field improve their clinical competencies, too. There is also a negative incentive model in which students cannot apply for a challenging residency speciality or job without a doctoral degree.

In Lithuania, however, we can work part-time at a hospital, but that doesn't oblige us to dedicate the rest of our time to research. We don't have security or flexibility due to the ever-changing circumstances. This is closely related to limited and sometimes short-sighted health and science system funding, rigid labour laws and requirements imposed upon hospitals and universities by their regulating institutions. Two separate career paths form, where no one is ensuring work continuity or the vision of where these two roads will take us. We should follow the good practices of other countries and try to adopt some of them in Lithuania. At least, as the views on the management of the healthcare system and facilities are changing, we are finally starting to talk about clinician-scientists and discuss the issue with our closest clinical partners. I'm sure that through cooperation with healthcare leaders and entertaining a common vision, we will find ways to overcome the barriers and lay the foundations for clear and sustainable clinician-scientist prospects in the future.

Using a Unique Method, VU Astronomers and International Partners Have Discovered an Exceptional New Planet

2025-06-16T05:30:25+03:00

Dr Marius Maskoliūnas and Assoc. Prof. Edita Stonkutė.

Scientists from ��鶹 (VU) Faculty of Physics, together with colleagues from Poland and other countries, have identified an exoplanet – a gas giant located far from the Galactic Centre. This is only the third such discovery in the entire history of observations. The discovery is even more exceptional due to the method used – the phenomenon known as microlensing. The results of the observations have been published in one of the most prestigious astronomy journals “Astronomy & Astrophysics”.

Third Such Case in History

“This kind of work requires a lot of expertise, patience, and, frankly, a bit of luck. You have to wait for a long time for the source star and the lensing object to align and then check an enormous amount of data. Ninety per cent of observed stars pulsate for various other reasons, and only a minority of cases show the microlensing effect,” says Dr Marius Maskoliūnas, the head of the Lithuanian research team.

Gravitational microlensing is a rare phenomenon, first predicted by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century. It occurs when a massive body, such as a star or a dark, invisible object, briefly positions itself directly in front of a more distant star. The light from the latter then becomes amplified, as if magnified by an invisible magnifying glass. This temporary light “pulsation” is what astronomers search for while analysing vast amounts of data.

According to the scientist, the collaboration and discovery itself happened almost by chance. It all began during a visit to colleagues at the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Warsaw. One of the method’s enthusiasts, Prof Lukasz Wyrzykowski, suggested preparing a joint Polish-Lithuanian project. His idea was simple – to analyse data from the European Space Agency’s “Gaia” telescope, verify it, and supplement it with ground-based observations. The telescopes at VU’s Molėtai Astronomical Observatory are suitable for this purpose.

The phenomenon that hinted at the location of planet AT2021uey b was first observed in 2021. After scientists carefully verified and analysed the data, they were finally able to determine that it is a gas giant located 3,262 light-years away, with a mass that reaches 1.3 times that of Jupiter. It orbits around a so-called M dwarf – a relatively small and cool star, completing one orbit every 4,170 days. Their unusual size ratio also contributed to the planet’s discovery – detecting an Earth-type planet would have been much more difficult.

As Assoc. Prof. Edita Stonkutė, the leader of the joint Polish-Lithuanian project in Lithuania, notes, no less interesting is where it was detected.

“Most microlensing effects are recorded at the densest part of the galaxy – in its centre and disk. However, we managed to find this microlensing phenomenon quite far from the centre, in the so-called galactic halo. This is only the third planet in observational history to be discovered so far from the Galactic bulge,” states the researcher.

A Promising Search Method

The very first planet orbiting a star was discovered exactly three decades ago, in 1995. Since then, nearly 6,000 more have been confirmed. Nevertheless, this science is still considered relatively young, and astronomers are constantly expanding their knowledge about what planets and their systems might look like.

“When the first planet around a sun-like star was discovered, there was a great surprise that this Jupiter-type planet was so close to its star. As data accumulated, we learned that many types of planetary systems are completely unlike ours – the Solar System. We’ve had to rethink planetary formation models more than once,” explains Assoc. Prof. E. Stonkutė.

The microlensing method is promising because it allows the detection of what is unexpected or even invisible. Dr M. Maskoliūnas reminds us that if we were to add up all the visible mass of the Milky Way, we would obtain, at best, one-tenth of the total mass. In other words, the remaining 90 percent is still invisible to us. Microlensing enables us to unveil this mystery partially.

“What fascinates me about this method is that it can detect those invisible bodies. Other methods work like selective receivers, which, as if with a magnifying glass, focus on a specific cosmic zone that interests you. But in this case, you’re essentially measuring shadows. A very simplified comparison – you’re measuring the duration of some moving object’s shadow. Imagine a bird flying past you. You don’t see the bird itself and don’t know what colour it is – only its shadow. But from it, you can, with some level of probability, determine whether it was a sparrow or a swan and at what distance from us. It’s an incredibly intriguing process,” says the scientist.

The University of Graz Invites Arqus Students to the Micro-Credential Module “Artificial Intelligence & Society”

2025-06-13T08:50:00+03:00

The University of Graz invites students from all disciplines at the Arqus universities to participate in this virtual mobility opportunity free of charge.

This innovative complementary qualification programme, “Artificial Intelligence & Society”, is a 16 ECTS micro-credential (also called micro-degree), demonstrating our commitment to future-oriented education that bridges disciplinary boundaries. Interested students must register before 27 June 2025.

Do you want to understand how artificial intelligence (AI) works and spice up your degree programme with a special qualification? This is your chance to gain additional future-oriented qualifications in a highly relevant field by participating in online courses as part of a virtual mobility experience at the University of Graz.

Programme highlights

Designed for students from all disciplines
Participation is free of charge for all virtual mobility students from Arqus Universities
Built as a complementary qualification alongside primary study programmes
Internationally recognised certification that documents cross-disciplinary AI competencies
Interdisciplinary approach covering technical, ethical, legal, economic, and educational aspects of AI
Practice-oriented curriculum balancing theory with hands-on application
Emphasis on responsible and critical engagement with emerging technologies
Offered as virtual mobility to students from partner universities
Language of instruction: German or English

This interdisciplinary qualification responds to the transformative potential of AI technologies, equipping students with both theoretical foundations and practical skills. Students will learn to understand, critically evaluate, and responsibly implement AI systems across various domains, gaining essential key competencies for their future professional lives.

For more information and registration, click here.

International Corpus Linguistics Conference to Take Place at ��鶹 Next Week

2025-06-13T07:07:37+03:00

The 46th ICAME (International Computer Archive of Modern and Medieval English) Conference, “Per Corpora ad Astra: Exploring the Past, Mapping the Future”, will be held at ��鶹 (VU), Faculty of Philology from 17 to 21 June 2025. More than 100 researchers from 19 countries will take part in the conference, which will focus on corpus linguistics, the latest language technologies, as well as statistical, diachronic, and synchronic language research.

Keynote lectures will be delivered by Prof. Rūta Petrauskaitė (Vytautas Magnus University), a pioneer of corpus linguistics in Lithuania, and Prof Rosa Lorés (University of Zaragoza), a researcher in digital science communication – a rapidly expanding area of interest within linguistics and communication studies. Dr Lukas Sönning (University of Bamberg) will present data visualisation techniques, and Prof. Sebastian Hoffmann (University of Trier) will discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with using audio data in corpus linguistics.

“It is highly significant that the International Computer Archive of Modern and Medieval English Conference is finally taking place at VU,” says Prof. Jolanta Šinkūnienė, ICAME Board member and Chair of the ICAME46 organising committee. “VU continues to keep its strong position in the field of humanities in the latest global university subject rankings, QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025”. Linguistics at VU has the highest ranking of all fields, 251–300th in the world. This international corpus linguistics conference will provide opportunities to strengthen ties between VU and scholars from leading research centers in Europe and beyond. Establishing new international networks is extremely important in the increasingly competitive international research arena”, Prof. J. Šinkūnienė notes.

The ICAME46 Conference will commence with three pre-conference workshops on 17 June and will run until lunchtime on Saturday, 21 June.

Conference website:

Conference programme:

Book of Abstracts:

��鶹 and Partners to Establish Two International Competence Centres

2025-06-12T08:25:01+03:00

The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania has approved the list of International Competence Centres. Among the selected initiatives are two new centres in which ��鶹 (VU) is a national partner.

The initiative to establish International Competence Centres is a strategic investment in Lithuania’s internationalisation and scientific research potential in the fields of advanced medicine and high technology. Together with internationally recognised partners, the centres will establish new research teams that will attract talented researchers.

One of the centres – the Centre for Advanced Disease Modelling – will be created by VU in partnership with ��鶹 Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Utrecht University, and the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands. The centre will develop alternative disease modelling technologies based on cellular and molecular models, which allow for a reduction in the use of laboratory animals and support a more individualised understanding of diseases. The teams aim to create a high-level, internationally competitive translational science platform that will contribute to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools, as well as to the advancement of personalised medicine and new medical technologies.

The second centre – the Centre of Competence for Terahertz and Hybrid Semiconductor Chips– brings together VU, the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC), Eindhoven University of Technology, and the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre IMEC in Belgium. This partnership focuses on the development of high-frequency terahertz (THz) chips and advanced semiconductor compounds. By combining expertise in materials growth, design, and integration, the centre will create a new generation of electronic-photonic devices with the potential to significantly contribute to the advancement of semiconductor technologies.

In total, five International Competence Centres have been approved in Lithuania. Up to €40,000,000 has been allocated for their establishment. The initiative is part of the measure No. 12-001-01-02-01 “Strengthening Innovation Ecosystems in Research Centres” under the Science Development Programme of the Lithuanian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, implemented within the 2022–2030 Development Programme.

Delegation of Scientists from Japan Visits VU Medical Science Centre

2025-06-12T06:00:41+03:00

A high-level delegation of scientists from the Central Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life Sciences in Japan – Prof Makoto Suematsu, Dr Erika Sasaki, and Dr Terumi Yurimoto – recently visited the ��鶹 Medical Science Centre (VU MMC).

The guests were welcomed by Prof Tomas Poškus, director of the Translational Health Research Institute, and Dr Andrius Kaselis and other representatives of the Faculty of Medicine.

During the visit, the delegation was introduced to the facilities of the MMC, including newly equipped laboratories, unique equipment, and the highest-standard animal research unit, the Vivarium, where the first residents had already settled. The Japanese guests, world-class experts in animal research, provided insights and cooperation in strengthening the Vivarium activities and developing complex animal models.

Prof Makoto’s team also met with scientists in the fields of oncology and abdominal surgery and discussed joint projects aimed at better understanding the mechanism of cancer development in order to provide research with both animals and humans.

Dr E. Sasaki gave a special lecture during the visit titled “Development of Alzheimer’s Disease Non-Human Primate Models by Genome Editing”, which outlined the progress of her team in developing animal models of Alzheimer’s disease using advanced genome editing methods. Prof E. Sasaki is a widely recognised scientist who leads the Department of Advanced Physiology at the Central Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life Sciences in Japan. She is also a Senior Visiting Scientist at the RIKEN, a prestigious brain science institute, and a Professor at Keio University.

Prof M. Suematsu is a long-time partner of the VU Faculty of Medicine and a friend of the Lithuanian biomedical science community. He is an internationally renowned biomedical researcher, former President of the Japanese Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), an active member of international scientific organisations, and a member of the International Advisory Board of the Faculty of Medicine of VU.

The delegation, together with Assoc Prof Karolis Ažukaitis, Vice-Dean for Science and Innovation of the Faculty of Medicine of VU, Prof T. Poškus, director of the Translational Health Research Institute, and Jūratė Jūrevičienė, visited the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Lithuania. During the meeting with the advisors to the President of the Republic of Lithuania, issues of cooperation in the fields of education and science were discussed, emphasising the strengthening of ties between Japanese and Lithuanian institutions and a strategic partnership in the context of innovation, scientific research and the development of higher education.

The VU Student Cap – An Authentic University Tradition

2025-06-11T10:11:13+03:00

The graduation season is just around the corner, when St Johns’ Church and other venues chosen for the official diploma-awarding ceremonies will be filled with the joyful bustle of graduates. As we approach this celebration, please be reminded that you are welcome to wear a VU cap during the ceremony.

‘The student cap is a special symbol for all students. It is a distinctive sign that allows us to identify with our Alma Mater even more and carry forward the spirit of studenthood with determination. By wearing the cap, we show that we are part of the ��鶹 community, which embraces and cherishes the University’s traditions and values,’ President of VU SA Klėja Merčaitytė said.

The end of the academic year celebration is an excellent opportunity to remember our academic roots and show our pride in the VU community. The cap distinguishes VU graduates from those of other higher education institutions and also helps maintain a uniform and recognisable style. Moreover, it is also a much more comfortable option for summer graduation ceremonies.

The VU cap is a symbol that reflects the academic spirit of VU, respect for knowledge, and community spirit. The cap was one of the most important signs of belonging to the academic community of the University, which the Jesuits founded in the 16th century. It reflected a student’s dedication to scholarship, the pursuit of knowledge, and respect for the University. These shared values have inspired the revival of the tradition of student caps today.

VU caps and other merchandise are available from the online shop and at the physical VU merchandise store at Šv. Jono g. 12, Vilnius (entrance from Pilies Street).

VU Physicist Dr Mindaugas Šarpis Receives a Prestigious Grant to Strengthen Lithuania’s Competences in Particle Research

2025-06-11T06:42:13+03:00

Dr Mindaugas Šarpis, a researcher at the Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Physics, ��鶹 (VU), and leader of the LHCb Vilnius group, has been awarded a prestigious ERA Fellowship grant under “Horizon Europe” funding programme for his postdoctoral research. The funding, amounting to almost 200,000 Eur, will strengthen Lithuania’s competences in particle physics and lay the foundations for further research at VU.

Using a novel method, this grant will enable a 2-year research project called PHANTOM (Pentaquark Hunt by Applying Neutral Track Over-constraint Method) to search for particles, specifically pentaquarks.

This funding became possible due to the new EU funds redistribution mechanism, which allows up to 5% of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) resources to be directed to the “Horizon Europe” program. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lithuania allocated 18.5 million euros for the 2024-2025 period, part of which can be used for highly-rated MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships projects that did not receive funding due to the limited call budget.

The new funding mechanism is one of the EU initiatives aimed at strengthening countries' participation in the “Horizon Europe” program and increasing the success rates of scientific projects.

Benefits of the Grant

The project focuses on sharing one’s knowledge, where the researcher shares his competences acquired abroad with the VU Faculty of Physics, and the university becomes the environment where the researcher can develop his soft skills. According to the researcher, this will encourage the transfer of knowledge from CERN (in French Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire) and the LHCb (Large Hadron Collider beauty) experiment infrastructure to VU and the Lithuanian scientific community. It aims to foster collaboration and development, speed up idea generation, and reduce the isolation of scientific knowledge

“This grant is designed to promote the mobility of researchers. In science, it is important not to be stuck in one place – by working in different teams and institutes, researchers gain the experience they need and continuously develop as individuals. After almost 10 years in different foreign universities, I am happy to return to Lithuania and continue my research activities at ��鶹,” says Dr M. Šarpis.

Lithuania Is Among the Few Countries with This Type of Research

“If we compare a second to the “lifetime” of a pentaquark, that second would be longer than the lifetime of the Universe. Pentaquarks are exotic particles made up of five quarks, unlike the protons and neutrons we are familiar with, which are made up of three. Very little is known about this exotic form of matter, so by studying pentaquarks, we are delving into the very nature of matter and the interactions between particles. Such studies can reveal previously unknown mechanisms of particle interactions, such as formation and decay,” explains Dr M. Šarpis.

The researcher has been analysing particle physics data for more than 10 years and, together with his brother, was the first Lithuanian member of the LHCb collaboration. Dr M. Šarpis says that the detection and study of pentaquarks is extremely difficult, with experimental and theoretical studies being carried out in only a handful of countries, such as Japan, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and now also Lithuania.

Novel Method

At CERN, the probability of a proton colliding to form a pentaquark is less than 1 in tens of millions, and it takes years of data collection with the LHCb detector to build up a dataset that is expected to find at least a few hundred pentaquarks.

“At the LHCb, we use sophisticated algorithms to find over a thousand pentaquarks from quintillions of particles among a huge amount of data. We can now analyse their decay mechanisms and understand how and why they are created.

The method used in PHANTOM allows us to reconstruct the particles into which the pentaquarks can decay from partially reconstructed data. By looking at their spectra, we can find traces of pentaquarks,” explains Dr M. Šarpis.

The physicist recently presented this advanced approach at the “Hadron Physics 2025” conference in Japan. This is one of the largest particle physics conferences in the world, bringing together representatives from various CERN experiments and theoreticians.

CERN, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, unites scientists from over 100 countries. Located on the border between Switzerland and France, it enables researchers to conduct experiments to understand elementary particles and their interactions better. Particle collisions occurring in the 27-kilometre-long Large Hadron Collider (LHC), situated 100 metres underground, allow scientists to search for new particles and phenomena, helping to unravel more of the Universe’s mysteries. The Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb) experiment specialises in investigating the slight differences between matter and antimatter by studying a type of particle called the “beauty quark” or “b quark”.

At CERN, Dr M. Šarpis was responsible for the preparation and technical implementation of the release of the open data set for the LHCb Run1 experiment (2011-2012). In 2024, Lithuania became an Associate Member of CERN.

Dr Paulius Jurčys: A New Social Contract. Reclaiming Ownership of Our Data

2025-06-10T13:38:40+03:00

In the age of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI), where powerful algorithms can predict human behaviour and changes in the world around us, we find ourselves in a paradoxical situation: we live under the illusion that our personal data belongs to us, yet in reality, it remains beyond our reach. We have little genuine influence over how technology companies like Facebook, Amazon, OpenAI, Google, Apple, and others use our data.

Who really controls our data?

This raises a fundamental question: if we do not own our data, then who does?

Picture this: a few months ago, someone bought the latest Japanese Mitsubishi Outlander model. Every time the engine is started, a message appears on the screen: ‘All your vehicle data is collected for product development and research purposes. If you wish to limit data transmission to Mitsubishi Motors, press the INFO button...’ A car used daily has suddenly become more than just a vehicle – it is now a mobile data collection platform. However, is it really desirable for our driving habits and even personal routes to end up stored in the databases of large corporations?

Another example concerns the fairness of social media platforms. In September 2024, LinkedIn quietly updated its terms of use and announced that users’ posts and other profile information would be used to improve the AI models used by LinkedIn. When the news was revealed by ‘The Verge’ journalists, many of LinkedIn’s 930 million users felt betrayed. ‘Why wasn’t I asked for consent?’ they wondered, sparking debates around fairness in the data market. This case again demonstrated how users are often excluded from decisions that directly affect their privacy.

There are many similar incidents. Consider a controversial case of Scarlett Johansson. In autumn 2024, OpenAI introduced a new voice-controlled version of the ChatGPT app. One of the voices available to users sounded strikingly similar to the voice of Johansson’s character from the movie ‘Her’. The actress publicly expressed her disappointment: after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman invited her multiple times to record her voice and she firmly declined, OpenAI went on to find another actress with a nearly identical vocal tone, whose voice was then ‘coincidentally’ used. This incident raises the question: can AI truly be considered to have creative freedom if it is based on imitating someone else’s work or identity?

These examples symbolically illustrate the inequality in the digital world: the data people generate is raw material for technological advancement. The current data system is designed to consolidate the status of tech companies. These corporations act as data controllers, while the rights granted to users under legislation, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), are limited and ineffective. For some time now, it has been quietly acknowledged that the ownership of user data is more of an illusion than a reality – the data generated by users of digital platforms and smart devices, in fact, belongs to the big companies.

What is the real value of our data?

Everyone knows that every step we take and every click in the digital space is tracked. Tech giants like Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, and others also monitor our heart rates, movement across the city, and even our facial expressions. They spend billions of dollars each year to ‘improve’ their services, while collecting our data under so-called ‘legitimate’ grounds, just like Mitsubishi’s use of data for research and development purposes. At the same time, these corporations attempt to convince users that their digital footprint is essentially worthless. Public reports show that basic personal data, such as age, gender, and location, is typically valued at only a few cents, while sensitive data, e.g. payment history or health information, might be worth just a few dollars per month.

Yet people tend to value their personal data much more highly. Recent studies by Harvard University Professor Cass Sunstein and Angela Winegar highlight a massive gap between how companies and individuals perceive data value. Using concepts from behavioural economics – willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to accept (WTA) – the researchers found that while study participants were willing to pay just $5 per month to protect their data privacy, they would insist on as much as $80 per month to give up access to that same data.

This 16:1 ratio is among the highest ever recorded in behavioural economics and demonstrates how highly individuals value their personal data (more than clean water or air!). The scientists explain this phenomenon through the endowment effect, where people place greater value on what they already own compared to what they do not.

Data ownership has become one of the key issues discussed in the era of AI breakthroughs. Public debates increasingly emphasise that personal data should be treated as pers

onal property. Our data has become an integral part of our digital identity. Rapid technological progress is now making it possible to design a new data model that is human-centred rather than business-oriented. This model’s basic assumption and guiding principle is that all personal data is private by default and accessible only to its owner.

What if all data truly belonged to us?

Imagine a world where our data is truly private, i.e. no one has access to it except us. In this world, we would have complete dominion and control over our data and decide who can access it. Individuals would gain real power to manage their data and could benefit from it directly. This idea of data dominion and ownership is grounded in a technological transformation of the current data system; the essence of the revised model is to ensure that the data is owned and managed by the individuals themselves rather than corporate entities.

One of the main aspects of this idea is a personal data storage account. Each person would have their own digital wallet – a kind of personal data vault – in which data from different sources could be stored: social media and app usage histories, banking and payment patterns, health records, data from smart wearables and IOT devices, etc.

By allowing individuals to consolidate their data and leveraging AI technologies, individuals could ‘communicate’ with their data, meaningfully interacting with it and using it to their advantage. For instance, health data might help detect early signs of health issues, financial information could support better planning and budgeting, and other types of data could assist in making informed decisions in everyday life.

Another important aspect of this idea is complete control over personal data. A human-centric data architecture would shift from the current opt-out model, where users must constantly ask companies not to collect their data, to an opt-in model, giving users control to decide who can access it. This data privacy and ownership model is already gaining traction in tech ecosystems worldwide and opening up new markets for personalised services and products. These emerging ways of using personal data provide a glimpse into a future that we will share with new AI-powered life forms: robots, personal AI twins, and AI assistants.

Welcoming AI assistants and agents

Just a few years ago, engaging with virtual spaces primarily meant logging into digital networks or game platforms where we could create avatars and immerse ourselves in imaginary worlds. But over the past decade, the line between the virtual and the real world has begun to blur. Today, we all carry the digital realm in our pockets through smartphones and ubiquitous connectivity through perpetual internet access.

In the age of AI breakthroughs, we must recognise that new synthetic forms of life are already among us: smart devices (e.g. robot vacuum cleaners or wearable health trackers like smartwatches or rings) and AI-powered assistants that can answer any question or even plan our summer vacation for us. In Japan, ‘weak robots’, whose primary function is to reduce social isolation, are becoming increasingly popular. For example, the round and cuddly robot named ‘Nicobo’, which has been developed by Panasonic, is designed to communicate with humans and provide emotional support. In Tokyo, there is a unique café called ‘Cafe DAWN’ that uses robots and AI tools to take customer orders with assistance from remote employees with reduced mobility, while some of the meals are prepared and served by the robots themselves.

The Japanese government has long acknowledged that in a rapidly ageing society, the notion of ‘zero-risk technology’ is an illusion; every technology comes with its own set of advantages and drawbacks, and some degree of risk is inevitably involved. Nonetheless, the Japanese authorities and partners from both the public and private sectors are working to harness emerging technologies to unlock new opportunities for addressing the most complex social problems.

The coexistence of humans and AI agents

How should we welcome the new synthetic forms of life entering our world? Did AI truly come to destroy humanity? Or will it actually help us overcome global challenges by, for example, reducing environmental pollution or slowing climate change? Let’s look at this issue pragmatically and see how AI and smart technologies can already change our lives.

To start, consider the provision of healthcare. Today, the US healthcare system is extraordinarily costly and primarily controlled by private insurance and pharmaceutical companies. It pays little attention to improving the quality of life or preventing diseases. Instead, an ill person pays for an expensive surgery, and is discharged to recover at home – a ‘repair-and-fix’ model. However, if people could use smart devices and receive guidance, insights, and encouragement from AI assistants on better care for their health, we could expect longer and healthier lives.

Another example is demographic change. Let’s face it: society will never have enough teachers, doctors, and nursing staff. AI could offer support here as well. Imagine a nurse visiting a patient at home using AI technologies to quickly fill out the diagnosis form and register the necessary data. That would allow more time for human connection, like a warm touch and words of comfort.

A new social contract

Amid the current technological transformations, pressing concerns inevitably emerge, compelling us to ask pertinent questions reflecting on our values and the guiding principles needed to address the ethical, social, and economic challenges posed by AI. At the historic crossroads of eras, societies return to fundamental values: human dignity, social justice, inalienable natural rights, and property protection. As we stand at the intersection of AI innovation and ethical considerations, one truth becomes clear: we should not fear that AI will completely replace us. On the contrary, we must have the courage to experiment boldly, continue to develop and innovate, and integrate cutting-edge technologies so that we can use them to shape the future we wish to live in.

In this future vision, humans and data become the cornerstones of a new social contract. Only through constant exploration, bold experimentation, and the courage to ask new questions can we build a stronger social structure based on mutual trust, respect, and shared responsibility for the future of our world.

Feel free to ask questions related to the topic of this article directly to Paulius Jurčys’ AI knowledge twin here.

One Health and Climate Change: Exploring Pathogens, Parasites, and Vectors

2025-06-09T12:39:15+03:00

The Arqus Climate Change and Sustainable Development Living Lab will organise an online scientific symposium on 17 June. Titled “One Health and Pathogens, Parasites, and Vectors”, this one-day event will explore the One Health approach in the context of climate change, with a special focus on antimicrobial resistance, vector-borne pathogens, parasites, and microbial biodiversity.

Arqus researchers, students and professionals are invited to attend this online symposium and workshop. The deadline to register is 16 June. The symposium “One Health and Pathogens, Parasites, and Vectors” is designed to foster transdisciplinary collaboration, the symposium aims to spark innovative research ideas and lay the foundation for joint grant proposals in this critical and evolving field.

Participants will have the opportunity to present their research areas and methodologies. Due to time constraints, the number of presentations will be determined based on the volume of submissions.

What is One Health?

One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach that recognises the deep interconnection between human, animal and environmental health. It emphasises that the well-being of people is inseparable from the health of animals and the ecosystems we all share.

In the face of climate change, emerging infectious diseases, including mosquito- and tick-borne infections, and rising AMR, the One Health approach is more vital than ever. It empowers scientists, policymakers, and practitioners to work together across disciplines to:

Detect and prevent disease outbreaks
Understand how environmental changes affect disease dynamics
Promote sustainable and resilient health systems
Develop integrated solutions to global health challenges

For more information and registration, click here.

VU Faculty of Physics Alumna from Greece: “Scientific Research Can Be a Form of Creativity”

2025-06-09T06:17:03+03:00

Lithuania stands out globally for its rapidly developing light technology industry, with lasers playing a key role in this important ecosystem. The laser infrastructure at ��鶹’s (VU) Faculty of Physics is equally renowned for its international outlook and open science practices. Long-standing collaboration between the academic community and industry here drives innovative solutions.

Students at the Faculty gain hands-on experience already during their undergraduate studies and are encouraged to contribute to scientific research, forming early connections with future colleagues in the laboratories. This attracts not only Lithuanian but also international students.

One such example is Aikaterini-Maria Gkouzi from Greece. Although she initially came to Vilnius for just half a year, she later decided to stay longer, completing a bachelor’s degree in light technologies at the Faculty of Physics this January. The alumna shares her challenges, experiences, and discoveries at the Faculty.

What inspired you to choose the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) field? Why did you decide to become a physicist?

I was deeply interested in physics. I used to stay up late watching videos about particle physics and cosmology. I would attend any seminar or event I could find. It all gave me a sense of purpose. Looking back, I realise that perhaps it wasn’t physics itself that mattered most, but the sense of wonder it sparked in me – physics opened the door to things beyond regular comprehension and everyday talk.

Why did you choose to study at the VU Faculty of Physics in Lithuania?

The path that led me to Lithuania was quite intricate. In Greece, gaining admission to university can be challenging. After three attempts over three years, I was finally admitted to the Physics Faculty at the University of Patras, where I studied for another three years before leaving for an Erasmus exchange in Lithuania. Initially, I planned to stay for just one semester, but that semester turned into a year, and eventually, I decided to fully enrol.

During my studies in Greece, I realised that my academic journey wasn’t working for me, and I became increasingly demotivated. At one point, I even considered dropping out. I remember confiding in a friend about my despair, and she strongly encouraged me to go abroad, believing it might help in my situation. That conversation led me to consider the Erasmus exchange. Lithuania was one of the few options with matching courses that I was eligible to choose from, so I went for it. At first, it was more of a passive choice, but within the first two months of my mobility, I made a conscious decision to stay.

What motivated you to complete your degree at ��鶹 after beginning your studies elsewhere? What obstacles did you encounter during this transition?

One of my most memorable moments was a train ride from Vilnius to Mažeikiai. As my Erasmus experience was ending, I felt tense about returning home. Talking to the same friend who had encouraged me to go abroad, she simply said: “Don’t come back”. Those words reflected what I truly wanted at that time and gave me the strength I needed.

From that moment, I was determined to stay, though it wasn’t just willpower – I was lucky and received immense support. To remain, I had to engage in research, which led me to spectroscopy. I reached out to a professor, who introduced me to his colleagues in a lab where I worked for the next two years. This hands-on experience was invaluable, allowing me to see research work first-hand rather than just imagining it like most students. More importantly, I had the privilege of working with people who valued my contributions, believed in me and my potential, and treated me with respect.

What was your experience studying in Lithuania?

For most of my stay in Lithuania, I lived in the dormitory in Saulėtekis. This dorm room became my home. I was waking up and going to sleep with the view of the forest trees. I was blessed to witness that view. Sometimes, I could see the sunset hidden behind the trees, leaving a vibrant rose colour, the sky perfectly complimenting the dark green shades of the pines. I am not in Lithuania anymore, and I deeply miss the forests I love.

While studying Light Engineering, I found certain aspects interesting and enjoyed studying in English. I was drawn to the respectful manner of some professionals and appreciated that they treated me as an equal. The best part of my studies experience was writing my bachelor’s thesis. Even though the process was exhausting – conducting research, writing on the topic, planning, and carrying out experiments – it was all worth it in the end.
Throughout that journey, I realised that research can be a form of creation.

What guidance would you offer to someone uncertain about their next steps in life?

After graduating, I knew that chapter of my life had come to an end. It took me two more months to accept it, and then I left. Now, I am in Greece without a particular plan, but I have never been much of a planner. Deep down, I have faith in the process. Things turn out the way they do.

My message to anyone reading this is that it doesn’t matter what others think of your life. If university is your path – if it is your own conscious choice – then go for it. If not, take your time to get to know yourself. Nurture the things that bring you a sense of purpose. Everything else will follow, but first, tend to your roots. And as a final thought, taking the occasional leap of faith can lead you to incredible places – just as it led me to Lithuania.

Tell Your Mobility Story: Get Ready to Share Your Journey

2025-06-06T08:39:49+03:00

Are you an exchange student, maybe just dealing with your travel arrangements or already enjoying your stay abroad? Share the highs, challenges and surprises of your international mobility experience!

Tell Your Mobility Story (TYMS) is a contest inviting you to create a short video — up to 90 seconds — showcasing your unique journey, from pre-departure plans to classroom adventures and lifelong friendships.

Unleash your creativity and let us hear and see your story!

How it Works:

Submit Your Video: Capture any aspect of your exchange experience and submit it by
23 June 2025!
Get Votes: In July 2025, all videos will go live on the Arqus YouTube channel. Rally your friends and let them vote for your story!
Be Featured: The best videos will become part of the Arqus official promotion of international mobility and the most-voted creators will be awarded with special prizes!

Choose the category for your video!

Green Mobility – Would you like to share how you crossed Europe by train, decorated your flat with second-hand furniture or engaged in any other green habit during your mobility?

To celebrate the launch of the new Interrail Pass for Erasmus+ we have partnered with Eurail and Coimbra Group, promoting sustainable mobility as a remarkable part of an exchange.

Best entries in this category will win an Interrail pass: you can have the chance to continue your adventures in a sustainable way!

Apply here

Start planning, get filming and show us how you have made the world you.

For more information contact .

Open Calls for Arqus BIPs and Twinning 2.0

2025-06-05T08:26:30+03:00

Arqus is glad to launch a joint call for Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP) and a call for Arqus Twinning 2.0 projects. These two calls are aimed at academic staff to reinforce the collaboration between the members of the Alliance and to propose short-term mobility opportunities for students and staff.

The two programmes you can apply to are:

Erasmus+ BIP are short, intensive programmes that use innovative ways of learning and teaching, including the use of online cooperation. These programmes for students and staff must comprise a short-term physical mobility abroad combined with a compulsory virtual component, facilitating a collaborative online learning exchange and teamwork. The programmes have to be developed and implemented by at least three partners from Erasmus+ programme countries, and in this case, at least two universities from the Arqus Alliance. BIPs have been designed and are funded by the Erasmus+ programme.
Twinning 2.0 is an international mobility initiative involving groups from two Arqus universities, made up of 1 lecturer and 3-5 students each, reciprocally visiting each other’s partner institution to carry out a common programme and share mutual learning experiences.

Selection criteria

Learning outcomes (clearly explained and linked to the field of study of the students and/or the tasks carried on by the staff);
Implementation strategies;
Innovativeness of the contents and/or methods;
Sustainability of the action (follow-up and further development of the project);
Expected impact on the participants and the institution;
Applications related to the main Arqus II themes (European Identity heritage, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, climate change and environmental sustainability) are prioritised. Applications based on other topics will also be considered.

Application deadlines and procedures

Arqus BIPs – Joint call:
Academics can apply by filling out this application form. The form must be submitted by the coordinator on behalf of the partners.

The call is open until 15 July 2025.
Eligible period for activities: from December 2025 to 31 July 2026.

Twinning 2.0 call:
Academics can apply by filling out this application form. The form must be submitted by one of the lecturers on behalf of both partners.
The call is open until 15 July 2025.

Eligible period for activities: from September 2025 to 30 June 2026 or 15 December 2025, depending on University funds.

For more information, click here.