The traveling exhibition "Research Latvia 2025" offers an opportunity to get to know 12 Latvian science personalities and their contribution to the development of society and research. Emphasizing the importance of culture and arts in developing research activities, from November 7 to 27, this diverse exposition created by the Ministry of Education and Science will be on display at the Gara māja of the Latvian Academy of Culture, 58A Miera Street, Riga.
Throughout the year, the traveling exhibition can be viewed at various higher education institutions, as well as other public and cultural venues across Latvia. By scanning QR codes, anyone interested can watch all 12 video stories. This initiative promotes both science recognition and strengthens society's connection with science.
In November, this diverse exposition highlights specifically the Latvian Academy of Culture and the contribution of its researchers, particularly emphasizing the contribution of culture and arts to science and research.
"Research into various cultural and artistic processes allows me to see the big picture – the structure in which these processes take place, but at the same time – in close-up, to perceive micro-processes and their impact on society's life," says Ph.D. Baiba Tjarve, Deputy Director and Leading Researcher at the Latvian Academy of Culture's Institute of Culture and Arts.
Twelve science personalities representing 12 leading Latvian scientific institutions demonstrate the strength and diversity of Latvian science in the European Research Area. The calendar and exhibition "Research Latvia 2025," created in collaboration with the science communication platform researchLatvia, reflect the questions studied by Latvian scientists that affect our society, environment, and culture.
Each scientist represents their unique research field, including choreomusicology, national defense and security, pharmacogenetics, protection of rare and endangered species, reduction of water body overgrowth, research on comets and their activity, art science, simulation modeling, the internal logic of modern society from a philosophical perspective, cultures, as well as book studies, library science, and the history of the written word.
12 science personalities – six female researchers and six male researchers – with their unique research work contribute to the development of interdisciplinary national and world-level science centers:
- Dr. art. Diāna Zandberga (Vice-Rector for Scientific and Creative Work at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Director of the Joint Professional Doctoral Programme in Arts of Latvian Art Higher Education Institutions, pianist);
- Dr. sc. pol. Toms Rostoks (Director of the Center for Security and Strategic Research at the National Defence Academy of Latvia, Associate Professor);
- Dr. biol. Renāte Ranka (Tenured Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Rīga Stradiņš University, Leading Researcher at the Institute of Public Health);
- Dr. biol. Artūrs Škute (Professor at the Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Daugavpils University);
- Ph.D. Rūta Ozola-Davidāne (Associate Tenured Professor at the Institute of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies);
- Mg. sc. comp. Karina Šķirmante (Leading Researcher at Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, doctoral student);
- Art. D. Ansis Rozentāls (Lecturer at the Art Academy of Latvia, IT specialist, painter);
- Ph.D. Oskars Java (Director of the Institute of Social and Technical Systems Engineering, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, researcher);
- Dr. phil. Raivis Bičevskis (Tenured Professor in the sub-field of social philosophy in the field of philosophy, ethics and religion at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Latvia);
- Dr. sc. ing. Sergejs Gaidukovs (Tenured Professor at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Riga Technical University);
- Ph.D. Baiba Tjarve (Deputy Director and Leading Researcher at the Latvian Academy of Culture's Institute of Culture and Arts);
- Mg. art., Mg. soc. Dagnija Baltiņa (Director of the National Library of Latvia, doctoral student).
Modern science inspires, surprises, and creates a knowledge society! May the achievements of the Palace of Light, Latvia's science, arts and culture, as well as applied sciences universities and colleges continue to inspire us all – to seek, create, and grow!
The science calendar was developed within the framework of European Regional Development Fund project No. 1.1.1.1/1/24/I/001 "More Effective and Smarter Implementation and Management of Latvian Science Policy" implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science. Developers: SIA "Entuziasti Digital", including Mārtiņš Pavasaris, video director Kristaps Mozgirs and photographer Mārtiņš Goldbergs, with participation from the researchLatvia creative team.
