The 84th International Scientific Conference of the University of Latvia

From April 14 to 16, the 84th International Scientific Conference of the University of Latvia (UL) will take place. This year's overarching theme is "The University of the Future – Impact-Oriented Leadership." At the opening Academic Plenary Session, a keynote will be delivered by European Research Council (ERC) grant recipient and Professor of Geoinformatics at the University of Tartu, Evelyn Uuemaa.

As part of the conference, nine thematic plenary sessions will be held on UL's priority research areas. In 52 thematic sections, participants will have the opportunity to explore more than 600 scientific presentations and 185 poster presentations. Researchers from UL, other Latvian institutions, and abroad will participate, and the events are open to all interested attendees.

The opening plenary session, featuring Prof. Uuemaa's presentation "From Excellence to Impact: How to Plan Meaningful Research?", will take place in person on April 14 at 9:00 AM at the UL House of Science, Alpha Auditorium. It will highlight the conference's central theme, strengthening the connection between science and society by emphasising the role of research in addressing contemporary challenges.

In her academic work, Professor Uuemaa successfully combines innovative research with practical societal and environmental impact. Her achievements include the ERC grant awarded in 2023 and her leadership of the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Land Use, funded by the Estonian Research Council.

In her lecture, the professor will address how to integrate scientific excellence with impact, transforming them from competing goals into mutually reinforcing factors, and will encourage broader discussion on the role of research quality in long-term development.

The second part of the plenary session will feature a panel discussion in which researchers and policymakers will analyse how to communicate scientific excellence clearly and effectively to different audiences, academia, policymakers, and society at large. Special attention will be given to scientists' responsibilities and to the role of academic institutions in fostering socially relevant and sustainable research.

About the Conference

The aim of the 84th International Scientific Conference of the University of Latvia is to highlight the significant role of universities in knowledge creation, societal development, and the development of sustainable solutions. The conference programme places special emphasis on nine priority research areas of UL, reflecting the substantial impact of higher education and science on society, the economy, and national development:

• development of human capital and the creation of a healthy, knowledge-based society;
• history, languages, and the resilience of identity;
• technological and digital development of the state;
• strengthening global competitiveness;
• increasing innovation capacity;
• development of the national financial system and capital market, including the tax system and its principles;
• strengthening external and internal security;
• environmental sustainability and mitigation of climate change;
• efficiency of public administration.

The conference will take place in person at the UL Academic Centre (Riga, Jelgavas Street 1 and 3) and online. Participation is free, and registration is open until April 11.

Registration is available on the conference website, where participants can select specific sessions based on their interests.