Dr I. Gabriūnaitė from the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences at VU visited MIT

During March 16–21, Dr Inga Gabriūnaitė, a lecturer from the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences at Vilnius University (VU), together with representatives of the Lithuanian consortium (representatives of Lithuanian universities, research institutes, and businesses), visited one of the most prestigious science and engineering universities – the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT. During the visit, the development of a pilot study module was discussed with MIT consortium partners. This module will be available for third-year bachelor’s students from various study programs at Lithuanian higher education institutions.

The module, which will include courses from MIT, will focus on energy and the development of soft skills (working in interdisciplinary groups, entrepreneurship, etc.). The module is being developed together with MIT lecturers and seven Lithuanian higher education institutions (Vilnius University, VILNIUS TECH, Kaunas University of Technology, Vytautas Magnus University, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Klaipėda University, and Mykolas Romeris University). During the visit, it was discussed with Dana Doyle, director of MIT Open Learning.

MIT is located in Cambridge, USA, and has been attracting the brightest scientists, engineers, and innovators for more than a century and a half. Dr I. Gabriūnaitė visited the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, which helps researchers transform technologies developed in laboratories into real business solutions.

Photo from personal archive.

“The centre’s director, Rana K. Gupta, presented how researchers are helped to commercialise technologies developed in laboratories, with the involvement of business representatives. The director emphasised that MIT’s approach is based on collaboration rather than competition in pursuit of shared goals. For example, Harvard University is located nearly 3 kilometres from MIT, and although they are competing institutions, researchers and students share library resources,” said the scientist.

Dr I. Gabriūnaitė had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the MIT library, who shared research conducted by the library: “Director Chris Bourg spoke about how, due to reduced visitor numbers in libraries following the COVID-19 pandemic, one library building (out of 5) is being closed and will be repurposed for other MIT activities. She also shared research on how MIT saves funds that can be redistributed to other needs.”

The lecturer visited the Northway Biotech office in Boston, where she learned about their activities and the development of new cancer medicine. The scientist also took part in a tour of the nuclear reactor laboratory, which houses a 6 MW reactor used for scientific research. This is the second-largest such reactor in the country. “They carry out various scientific and commissioned research projects. It is the only institution in the country where students can directly participate in scientific activities related to nuclear reactions. We also had the opportunity to attend presentations of students’ research projects,” said Dr I. Gabriūnaitė.

The Lithuanian Consortium for Engagement with MIT brings together leading Lithuanian universities, research institutions, and companies, including Euromonitor International, Ignitis Group, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Lithuanian Railways, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Klaipėda University, Kaunas University of Technology, Mykolas Romeris University, Northway Biotech, Novian, Vytautas Magnus University, Vilnius TECH, Vilnius University, and Vilnius Academy of Arts. Consortium activities are supported by the Research Council of Lithuania.