Science Day celebration in Ukraine

Science Day has been celebrated in Ukraine every third Saturday of May for 25 years in a row. In this regard, on May 20, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine held a Zoom conference, which hosted Ukrainian scientists, including employees of Odesa National Medical University (video of the event can be seen at https://fb.watch/d9HmRoV6bO/).
The meeting was opened with a welcoming speech by the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Serhiy Shkarlet, who wished the audience peace, health and further success in science, and also noted the effectiveness of the Ukrainian Startup Fund.

Next, the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Anatoliy Zagorodnii addressed the audience. He spoke about the damage caused by the Russian aggression to scientific institutions – it is enough to note that 68 institutions were partially damaged, 2 institutions were completely destroyed, 9 more institutions are located in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, and he spoke about scientific developments that strengthen the country’s defence capabilities and promote the protection of civilians and the military. Then the Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oleksii Shkuratov spoke about the Info Science Bot launched on the Telegram, which contains information for scientists on grants, academic mobility, etc .; on the implementation of the Horizon for Ukraine project, which can help carry out research in Ukraine during the war.

The National Research Fund of Ukraine (NRFU) has been recently established in Ukraine. Olga Polotska, the executive director of the NRFU, spoke about the fund’s work. Volodymyr Pavlikov, Vice-Rector of the National Aerospace University (Kharkiv), spoke about the development of ion-plasma engines and helicopter blades. The platform “Science and Business” (http://s2b.nauka.gov.ua/)has been opened, which provides additional opportunities for mutual understanding and cooperation between scientists and business – said Oksana Krukevych, Acting Head of the Expert Group on Innovation Development of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Scientists have recently introduced a new concept of “open science” in the lexicon, which includes transparent and accessible knowledge that is shared and developed through networks of cooperation. You can learn more about the new concept from the report of Hryhorii Mozolevych, the head of the expert group on integration into the European Research Area of ​​the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. The National Plan for the Implementation of Open Science provides for open access to scientific results, scientific and technical information and research infrastructure. In turn, the achievement of these objectives should contribute to the reliability and reproducibility of research results, increase the level of academic integrity, and increase the impact of research on the development of science and society. Roman Nebesnyi, the Head of Research at Lviv Polytechnic National University, shared his successful experience in developing hydrogel dressings for the treatment of wounds and burns, from creating and proving biological efficiency to mass production and dissemination of this useful development. The last speaker was Olesia Vashchuk, the Chairman of the Council of Young Scientists at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, who called for continuing scientific activities and bringing maximum benefits to the native country in these difficult times!

Happy Science Day, dear colleagues!