LU konference
In his speech opening the staff meeting, Prof. Indriķis Muižnieks reflected on the accomplishments and emphasized the large-scale projects completed at the turn of the year and contributing to the development and sustainability of the UL. The rector also outlined some changes planned for 2016 to stimulate the growth of the University.
The award for achievements in science was given to six scientists. Prof. Jānis Bičevskis from the Faculty of Computing and Prof. Juris Bojārs from the Faculty of Law received the award for establishing a science school. The leading researcher of the Department of Physical Chemistry Donāts Erts and Prof. Oļģerts Nikodemus from the Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences were praised for the results stemming from their original research. Jānis Rūmnieks was given the award for his excellent doctoral thesis ‘Research on the Structure of Single Thread RNA Proteins and Genomes’. Toms Ķikuts was also given the same award for his thesis ‘The Forming of Latvian Farmer Colonies in the European Part of the Russian Empire (1840s - 1914)’.
The award for achievements in science aims to advance the UL towards attaining the status of a science university. It is given to staff members of scientific institutes belonging to UL structural units and agencies.
The awards in science communication are divided into several categories: Assoc. Prof. Linda Daniela from the Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art was awarded as ‘Researcher of the Month’ (article ‘RESEARCHER OF THE MONTH Linda Daniela: Good Teachers are the Foundation of any Field’, October 2015). However, researcher Zane Vincēviča-Gaile from the Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences Department of Environmental Science was awarded in the ‘Research’ category for her work ‘How Micro- and Macroelements in Latvian Food Products are Affected by Environmental Conditions’ (article ‘RESEARCH Reveals the Level of Pollution in Latvian Food’, May 2015). Ludmila Judina (author of the article in‘Researcher of the Month’) and Lauma Abramoviča (author of the article in ‘Research’) from the Faculty of Humanities have received acknowledgements in the respective categories.
The goal of the ‘Researcher of the Month’ award is to help promote scientific activity and praise UL researchers able to reach a wider audience with their work. The nominees for this award are researchers who have been interviewed by the UL and whose interviews about themselves, their scientific and educational work have been published in a series of ‘Researcher of the Month’ online articles. The award in the ‘Research’ category is given to researchers, recognizing their scientific performance and the ability to explain complex research while promoting discoveries made at the UL. The nominees have discussed their research in the ‘Research’ series. The winner is determined by combining the votes of UL homepage readers and the award committee.
The ‘School of the Year’ award was given to Riga Secondary School #64, Riga Hansa Secondary School, Liepāja State Gymnasium 1, Ventspils State Gymnasium 1, Preiļi State Gymnasium, Daugavpils State Gymnasium, Valmiera State Gymnasium, Gulbene Municipality State Gymnasium, Jelgava Spīdola Gymnasium, Dobele State Gymnasium. This award singles out and supports Latvian schools that have significantly contributed to preparing students for studies at the UL.
The ‘Employee of the Year’ award was handed out to the Director of the UL Department of International Relations, Alīne Gržibovska. This award is given to non-academic staff, whose work results in student, employee or collaboration partner satisfaction, while manifesting values, such as meeting the desires of students, employees or collaboration partners,, and displaying flexibility and a creative approach towards their work.
