On 8-10 May, Zenonas Dabkevičius, vice president of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Vidmantas Stanys, chair of the Division of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFS), and Giedrė Samuolienė, chair of the Section of Agronomy Sciences of the DAFS, met with Skënder Gjinushi, President of the Academy of Sciences of Albania, Prof. Nazim Gruda, a distinguished member of this academy, and other members of the Academy of Sciences of Albania to sign a cooperation agreement between the two academies.
Left to right, Zenonas Dabkevičius, vice-president of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, and Vidmantas Stanys, chair of the Division of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences.
The Academy of Sciences of Albania was founded in 1972 and in the 1980s, several research institutes set up at the University of Tirana were brought under the Academy's jurisdiction. The Academy consists of 53 Albanian Academicians, 18 foreign members, and 26 honorary members. The Academy has two sections: Social Sciences and Albanology and Natural and Technical Sciences.
Participants in the forum.
The representatives of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences also took part in the forum “Innovations for Sustainable Agriculture in Lithuania and Albania”, during which topical issues in agricultural sciences were discussed. Prof. Dabkevičius spoke of the aspects of the agricultural sciences, the education system in Lithuania, and the dissemination of knowledge to farmers. Prof. Stanys drew attention to the importance of plant breeding and trends in horticulture development, while Dr Samuolienė discussed the latest technological aspects and trends in greenhouse and indoor plant production.
Broader opportunities for cooperation in the field of agricultural sciences were discussed with Prof. Fatbardh Salak, rector of the Agricultural University of Tirana, and Prof. Erinda Lika, vice-rector for research and project activities. During the meeting, opportunities for closer cooperation in agronomy, forestry, ecology, veterinary medicine and agro-economics were explored and identified.
Left to right, Prof. Anila Paparisto, vice-rector for research of the University of Tirana, Prof. Zenonas Dabkevičius, Prof. Artan Hoxha, rector of the University of Tirana, Dr Giedrė Samuolienė, Prof. Vidmantas Stanys, Prof. Nazim Gruda, Neki Frasheri, Head of Section of Natural and Technical Sciences at Academy of Sciences of Albania.
The delegation of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences also established contacts with the University of Tirana. The similarities and differences between the Lithuanian and Albanian policies on research and management of studies were discussed at the meeting with Prof. Artan Hoxha, rector of the University of Tirana.
The Lithuanian delegation was also shown around the University Botanical Garden and introduced to the country's plant biodiversity.
Dr Giedrė Samuolienė, a full member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences
Photos by the author
Top photo, left to right: Prof. Vidmantas Stanys, Prof. Anila Hoda, Prof. Zenonas Dabkevičius, President Skënder Gjinushi, Dr Giedrė Samuolienė, Prof. Nazim Gruda, Prof. Shaban Sinani.