20th International Conference-School “Advanced Materials and Technologies 2018” was held in Palanga

Traditionally on August 27-31, 2018 the 20th International Conference-School “Advanced Materials and Technologies” was held in Palanga (Lithuania). It was organized by the Institute of Materials Science of Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas Science and Technology Park, Lithuanian Materials Research Society, Vilnius University, University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, University of Tartu, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (Lithuania). This year the conference-school was organized jointly with “Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials” (PCAM) European doctorate network.

18 lectures were given by the specialists from around the world. Among conference topics were atomic-scale friction, corrosion mechanisms and protection against corrosion, electrolytic oxidation, functional nanocomposites, helium ion microscopy, lanthanum manganite, optical coatings, organic light-emitting diodes, solar energy devices, ultrafast plasmonics, X-ray tomography.

The students presented their research in a poster session and had the opportunity to participate in the Best Poster competition. International jury evaluated presentations and have chosen seven best posters:

• Kazimieras Badokas (Vilnius University, Lithuania) “All-Printed Gas Sensor for Space Manufacturing”;
• Maria Mitronika (Institut des Matériaux Jean Rouxel, France) “PECVD Process and Chemical Synthesis to Design TiO₂/SiO₂ Thin Films”;
• Agnė Mikalauskaitė (Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Lithuania) “Magnetic Properties of Amino Acids-Mediated Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles”;
• Eisuke Fujiwara (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan) “Pressure-induced Variations in Fluorescence Properties of Polyimide Films Displaying Excited-state Intramolecular Proton Transfer”;
• Mindaugas Juodėnas (Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania) “Investigation of Ag Nanoparticle Assemblies in Porous Anodized Alumina”;
• Maija Sjomkāne (University of Latvia, Latvia) “Environmental Stability of Bismuth Chalcogenide Thin Films with Different Thickness and Morphology”;
• Erika Rajackaitė (Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania) “Synthesis and Analysis of Ultrafast Excited State Dynamics of Graphene Mono and Polylayers”.

One more participant was awarded the Public Prize (selected by secret voting by all participants) – Antanas Zinovičius (Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania) with a poster titled “Effect of 9,10-Phenanthrenequinone on Physical Properties of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae”.

In total, 135 researchers from 16 countries participated in the conference-school: Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Taiwan, Ukraine, United States of America.

All participants received certificates. KTU students were provided with the possibility to acquire ECTS for participation at the summer school.

“It is a pleasure that this anniversary conference has remained popular and has attracted a large group of young scientists. Over the past two decades, it has become a truly international and renowned in a world of science. I am very grateful to colleagues from other universities and research centers who have contributed to the successful organization of the conference. The conference is not only high-level lectures, but also successful communication with colleagues from other countries, new relationships and ideas,” said Professor, Chairman of the Conference-School Program and Organizing Committees Sigitas Tamulevičius.

More information here