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Prof. Ieva PlikusienÄ— from the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences and the Faculty of Medicine of ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ (VU) has been appointed to the Scientific Advisory Board of the UNESCO International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP). She is the first scientist from Lithuania to be invited to join this top-level expert group.

‘This appointment comes with great responsibility, offering a remarkable opportunity to represent Lithuania on the global stage and enhance our country’s visibility in international scientific decision-making processes. It is a significant professional recognition and a unique chance to contribute to shaping global science policy grounded in fundamental research,’ said the scientist.

The Professor describes the appointment as a pleasant surprise – her nomination was submitted some time ago, and the final decision took a while to arrive. According to her, the Board brings together leading experts from around the world.

‘The appointment of the VU scientist to the UNESCO Scientific Advisory Board confirms that the research carried out at the University is both relevant and visible on an international scale. We hope this will open up more opportunities to advance interdisciplinary research, engage in global initiatives, and contribute to shaping decisions on issues of global scientific importance,’ said Prof. Gintaras Valušis, VU Pro-Rector for Research.

‘In this role, I will focus not on showcasing individual competencies but on representing Lithuanian science in the field of fundamental research. This is particularly important for building societal resilience to long-term crises, such as pandemics, climate change, and energy shocks. It is also a chance for Lithuania to participate more actively in international scientific initiatives, projects, partnerships, and programmes that contribute to the sustainable development goals,’ listed Prof. Plikusienė.

According to the scientist, her work on the Board will involve strengthening national competencies through centres of excellence and promoting international exchange of knowledge and experience. One of the programme’s goals is to support countries in building scientific potential through such centres, which can provide Lithuania with an opportunity to become more actively involved, particularly in the development of emerging centres of excellence in advanced medicine and high technology, where VU is among the key partners.

An example of this is the Centre for Advanced Disease Modelling, which will be established by VU in partnership with VU Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Utrecht University, and the University Medical Center Utrecht (the Netherlands). The centre will develop alternative disease modelling technologies based on cellular and molecular models, enabling the replacement of laboratory animals and allowing more personalised insights into diseases. The second initiative is the Centre of Competence for Terahertz and Hybrid Semiconductor Chips – a collaboration between VU, the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, and the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC) (Belgium). This partnership is focused on the development of high-frequency terahertz (THz) chips and advanced semiconductor compounds.

Prof. PlikusienÄ— specialises in developing advanced optical biosensors that allow for highly precise real-time analysis of biomolecular interactions. Her research covers surface plasmon resonance and ellipsometry methods, as well as the application of nanostructured materials in diagnostics and biotechnology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the scientist contributed to research on the interactions of SARS-CoV-2 antigens and antibodies, which helped raise the international profile of science in Lithuania.

Her scientific work has been recognised with numerous national and international awards. In 2021, the researcher became a laureate of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme; in 2022, she was named one of the world’s most promising young scientists, receiving the International Rising Talents Award. She is also actively engaged in mentoring the next generation of scientists, supervising doctoral students, and fostering interdisciplinary research.

The Scientific Advisory Board of the UNESCO IBSP is a top-tier expert group that contributes to shaping science policy on a global scale.