News

On April 30th, Dr. Ozcan Gulacar will visit the VU Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences to deliver a presentation titled "Chemistry Through a Systems Lens: Navigating Global Challenges".

Dr. Ozcan Gulacar is a distinguished educator and researcher who aims to advance STEM education by applying innovative teaching methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches. He is currently a Professor of Teaching in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Davis, where he has served in various academic capacities since 2015. Dr. Gulacar holds a Ph.D. in Science Education, a Master's in Physical Chemistry and a Bachelor's in Chemistry Education.

From March 16 to 21, Dr. Inga Gabriūnaitė, a lecturer at the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences at Vilnius University, together with representatives of the Lithuanian consortium (representatives of Lithuanian universities, research institutes, and the business sector) visited one of the most prestigious universities for science and engineering—the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). MIT is located in Cambridge, USA, and has been attracting the brightest scientists, engineers, and innovators for more than 150 years. The visit took place for collaboration purposes – work is underway with MIT consortium partners on the development of a pilot module. The module, which will include courses from MIT, will be focused on the field of energy and the development of soft skills (working in interdisciplinary groups, entrepreneurship, etc.). It will be available for third-year bachelor's students from various study programs across Lithuanian higher education institutions.

The Center for quality assessment in higher education conducted an external expert evaluation of the physical geography program at Vilnius University, covering first-cycle programs (Geography, Cartography and geographic information systems, and Climatology and Hydrology) and second-cycle programs (Cartography and Climate System Studies). We are pleased that the physical geography program has been accredited for the maximum period of seven years.

This international evaluation confirms that the physical geography program meets the highest quality standards, and that study aims, learning outcomes and curriculum are relevant and valuable. The highest rating provides a guarantee of quality for prospective students and indicates that the knowledge and skills acquired during their studies will be relevant and applicable in today’s job market.

The Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education has carried out an expert external evaluation of the Bachelor's and Master's biochemistry study programmes conducted by Vilnius University. We are delighted that the biochemistry studies have been accredited for the maximum period of seven years.

The international evaluation of the programme confirms that the biochemistry studies meet the highest quality requirements, and that its content, applied teaching methods and achieved study outcomes are relevant and valuable. Furthermore, the accreditation provides a quality guarantee for prospective students – it demonstrates that the knowledge and skills acquired during the studies will be significant and applicable in the modern market.

On March 20, 2026, the national scientific conference "Chemistry and Geosciences 2026", organized by the VU Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, successfully took place. This year's event was dedicated to marking the centenary of the establishment of the Vilnius University geography departments.

The conference was opened with a welcoming speech by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dr. Justina Gaidukevič. The event featured three oral presentation sessions where scientists from the VU Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences and other institutions shared the results of their latest research, ranging from recent geological discoveries to the application of chemical methods and materials for improving the quality of life.

After completing dental studies at Kyushu University in Japan, where she earned her PhD, dr. Maab Abdulsamad Ahmed Elsheikh worked as a dentist in Sudan and Saudi Arabia for three years, and has now been working as a postdoctoral fellow at the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences at Vilnius University for over a year. During the interview, the scientist talked about her projects, her experience over the past year at our faculty, what challenges she faced, and what experience she gained. The full interview is available below.

The European Commission has announced the results of the 2025 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships) call. We are happy to announce that Dr. Megha Deshmukh has been awarded an ERA postdoctoral fellowship grant. Her supervisor is prof. Arūnas Ramanavičius from the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences at Vilnius University. 

The project aims to develop an advanced electrochemical system that would simultaneously produce urea, an important raw material for fertilizers, and treat wastewater.

The Smart Internship for Vilnius University (VU) students is a space for new experiences and professional growth. Solving real-world problems faced by companies and institutions allows students to gain practical skills and broaden their horizons. In this interview, VU student Simona shares her experience: what an internship at the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the FCIS looks like, why it is worth stepping out of your comfort zone, and the value of connecting with students from other fields of study.

The Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences at Vilnius University is organizing the third national scientific conference „Chemistry and Geosciences 2026" to present the latest scientific research and mark the centenary of the founding of the geography departments at Vilnius University. We invite you to participate!

The conference will take place on March 20, 2026, at the Institute of Chemistry of the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences of Vilnius University (Naugarduko g. 24) in the Inorganic Chemistry Auditorium (auditorium 141).