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 Dr. Henrik Rudolph (Frederiksberg, Denmark 1958) received a BA in Chemistry and a MSc in Physics from the University of Copenhagen and   subsequently obtained a PhD from California Institute of Technology (USA). In 1990 he joined Utrecht University (the Netherlands) as an   associate professor of physics and in 2001 he became full professor in atomic and molecular physics. Since 2012 he is employed by the Ministry   of Defense of the Netherlands. His research interests include plasma surface interactions, functionalization of surfaces as well as detailed   chemical reactions at surfaces. 

The presentation Ethics in scientific publishing has as starting point the often-heard expression “Publish or Perish”. It is true that a scientist, who does not publish his or her scientific results in a reputable (electronic) journal, will not receive the necessary recognition or scientific respect as a scientist. In this presentation I will discuss ethical issues in scientific publishing and try to illustrate how these two concepts, bibliometric data and ethics, might result in some tough choices for (young) scientist. The increased usage of bibliometric data in performance measurements require them to keep publishing or indeed perish. We will also discuss the implications of using AI for our research and the ethical boundaries imposed by these so-called Large-Language-Models. This presentation is not discipline specific, however, I will also give you a behind-the-scenes look at one of the larger scientific journals from the publisher Elsevier: Applied Surface Science with more than 16000 submission per year.

 Dr. Cătălina Munteanu is a senior researcher in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management at the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Freiburg and holds a Transilvania Fellowship for Visiting Professors with the Chair of Silviculture, Transilvania University of Brasov. Her research explores the ecological and social drivers and effects of long-term environmental change. Her work crosses disciplinary boundaries addressing questions relevant to remote sensing, forestry, conservation science, landscape ecology and environmental psychology. In her most recent position, she works on synthesizing research output within a large graduate school on Conservation of Forest Biodiversity in Multiple-Use Landscapes of Central Europe in Freiburg, Germany.

Global change, primarily driven by human activities, reshapes ecosystems, landscapes and human’s interaction with nature. But these challenges are not entirely new: over the last century, two World Wars, the Green Revolution, and climate change profoundly altered ecosystems, the species that depend on them and human’s interaction with the natural environment. Such events create legacy effects that may persist for decades or even centuries. Without consideration of historical ecological and human-environmental processes, contemporary decisions on nature conservation, resource management as well as human values may be misunderstood or misinterpreted. In this lecture, I will rely on examples of how crossing interdisciplinary boundaries to integrate landscape history, ecological processes and human interactions with nature can support addressing some of the most pressing environmental challenges we face today. In doing so, I will highlight some of the challenges and opportunities of interdisciplinary research.

Born in Bolzano in 1941, Dr. Luisa Valmarin graduated in Modern Letters in 1966, with a study on Romanian linguistics dedicated to the study of the verb in Laurian’s and Massim’s Dictionary (1871). Since 1982, she has been teaching Romanian language and literature in the Department of Romanian Studies of “La Sapienza” University in Rome, becoming a full professor in 2000. From 2001 to 2006, she coordinated the didactic section of the Modern Languages ​​and Literatures Studies Courses and the Linguistic-Cultural Mediation Courses. From 2006 to 2010 she was head of the Department of Romanian Studies, where she was a member of the teaching council of the PhD in Romance Philology and Literature. She was a member of the teaching council of the Advanced Translation Course, established by the Department of Foreign Languages ​​in 1996. In 1988, she founded and was editor-in-chief of the journal Romània Orientale (property of the “Sapienza” University), which has reached its 36^th year of existence. In 2010, the Institute of the Romanian Language awarded the Diploma of Excellence to the department and to her personally. In 2014, “1 Decembrie 1918” University in Alba Iulia awarded her the HC Diploma in Philology. She was president of the Italian Association of Southeast European Studies (AISSEE); founding member of the Italian Association of Romance Studies (AIR), of which she was also president. She is a curently a member of the Italian Society of Romance Philology (SIFR).

Starting from Alberto Manguel’s observation that: “The true nature of translation is sequential - one version replacing another, the previous one, as in a palimpsest, without ever claiming to be the last” (p. 33) - we end up labeling translations as free, literal or as ‘beautiful infidels’, because the translators - and the readers alike - continuously transform the texts. What is more, they take over cultural items from the source in order to enrich their own cultural environment.

This observation is relevant for the Romanian literature and, more generally, that of the cultural area that relates to Slavic-Byzantine Orthodoxy. As happens throughout the European world, especially in the Western one, the use of the vernacular language as opposed to the language of culture is asserted due to impressive translation work of sacred texts. It is also the case of the Romanian language, which has shifted from the initial and rudimentary manners of expression to works in which the literariness of historical or religious texts is imposed displaying increasingly specific stylistic features. This is how the transposition of works that introduce models, ideologies and literary trends have reached the Romanian literature. From popular books to neo-Greek and Italian lyric poetry, to the unattainable model of Dante’s Comedy, translations fill the cultural void that history has imposed in the Carpatho-Danubian space, modernizing in a European sense a literary culture located between the Byzantine tradition and Western modernity. The concerns that derive therefrom are coined as correctness, fidelity, ‘perishability’ of translation, to name just a few. 

These ‘traditional’ reflections are complemented by the current-day transformations, reflecting what the title of the presentation claims: translation has been a window open to the world throughout the centuries in which it appeared and imposed itself. And above all, it is important that the one who accomplishes this gigantic work does not embody the mocking topos of the ‘traitor translator’.

 4. Keynote Speech: Deep Learning Methods in Classical Mechanics,

presented by Dr. Ovidiu Calin, Eastern Michigan University

5. Author Workshop: Scientific Writing and Publishing – succeeding as an aspiring author 

Dr. Marta M. Alves completed her course on Chemistry in 2003 at the Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico and earned her PhD in Biochemistry in 2010 at Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica. She currently works as a researcher at Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts, supervised numerous MSc and PhD theses, and supported several short-term fellowships. Her primary research area is functional materials, which involves exploring the interaction between metallic materials and biological systems to promote the development of biocompatible and eco-conscious solutions to facilitate greener societal transitions.

Besides her active research work, Marta M. Alves has also acted in other areas. She has served as a reviewer of international scientific articles and projects, as an Editor of a high-impact journal in the field, and as an organiser of scientific meetings. Additionally, she is a member of the executive committee of her research center, Centro de Química Estrutural (CQE).

Scientific writing and publishing are essential skills for young scientists, enabling them to build networks, foster collaborations, and access the resources necessary for advancing their careers. This workshop aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the publication process while equipping participants with practical tools to succeed in manuscript preparation, submission, and peer review.

The workshop explores the journey of a manuscript through the scientific journal system, highlighting the responsibilities of authors, editors, and reviewers while addressing challenges such as the "publish-or-perish" phenomenon. Participants will gain insights into transforming research findings into high-quality manuscripts and learn strategies to enhance the likelihood of acceptance in reputable journals. The tips and tricks are not discipline-specific. The importance of peer review is also emphasized, with discussions on becoming a reviewer, the ethical responsibilities involved, and the benefits it offers to researchers. A practical component enables participants to apply techniques by drafting and evaluating scientific content, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and discuss issues during and after the workshop. 

By the end of the workshop, attendees will have gained a deeper understanding of the scientific publishing landscape and will be equipped with skills to contribute effectively as authors and reviewers, thereby fostering a culture of informed, ethical, and impactful scientific communication.

 6. Telling the story of your research: A workshop for engaging presentations,

The University’s Academic Writing Center offers an interactive workshop designed for PhD students who want to enhance their oral presentation skills. This workshop focuses on structuring and organizing ideas effectively, as well as communicating them clearly to an audience. Topics such as crafting a concise summary, designing impactful visual materials, and mastering body language, tone, and emotional control will be explored, ensuring that you can deliver presentations that are both clear and compelling.