Žydrūnas, your journey at Klaipėda University has lasted many years. Where did it begin?
I was born in Telšiai and later moved to the Skuodas district, where I graduated from Pranciškus Žadeika Gymnasium. I came to Klaipėda University to study and completed my Bachelor’s degree in Biophysics as well as a Master’s degree in Engineering of Technical Systems. At present, my plans include preparing and defending my doctoral dissertation.
I have been working at the university as an employee for about 15 years now. It seems like a long time, but it passed very quickly. There have been ups and downs. I see university life from two perspectives – the study process and scientific research. One constantly has to balance between these two areas.
You actively involve students in your activities. Why is this important to you?
In the past, active student involvement in scientific research was not a common practice. However, together with my colleagues, we noticed that some students possess deep knowledge and are capable of generating valuable ideas. Naturally, the question arose – why not involve them? Over time, we nurtured students who later became our colleagues.
Today, we strive to involve students as actively as possible in university life. They can apply for funding from the Study and Science Promotion Fund, which supports various research activities. Profound and meaningful scientific work is most often born in a team – you cannot be a lone warrior in the field, and this is especially true in the university environment.
You are a co-author of three inventions. Could you tell us more about them?
All inventions were created together with colleagues. One of them is related to bioengineering and biomedicine – a blood pressure measurement device designed to measure aortic blood pressure.
The second invention is related to pneumatic energy, which is transformed into electrical energy. It is oriented toward vehicles, especially electric ones, with the aim of extending their driving range. Both inventions are patented at the European Patent Office.
The third invention has currently been submitted to the European Patent Office, and all examination procedures have already been completed. The patented idea is related to automatic control processes, their optimisation, and adaptation to the selected material being processed. It is planned that the European patent certificate will be obtained in the third quarter of 2026.
Have these inventions already found practical application?
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After creating an invention and patenting it, significant investments are required for commercialisation – five-digit sums, as it is necessary to develop a final, demonstrative product. For example, it would be difficult to commercialise the transport-related invention in Lithuania due to the lack of the necessary industrial infrastructure. However, it is quite common for businesses to approach the university with ideas they are unable to implement independently. Such projects are usually complex and long-term, but they are extremely valuable from a scientific perspective. We are currently also carrying out a project with a company, developing artificial intelligence-based methods for predicting certain phenomena. Due to confidentiality, I cannot disclose details. |
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What are today’s KU students like? What generational changes do you observe when working with young people?
On the one hand, today’s younger generation is not always as inquisitive as one might wish. However, it is clear that to engage them, material must be presented innovatively, using modern equipment – formulas on paper alone will not spark their interest.
On the other hand, first-year students often arrive with a great deal of knowledge. In some areas, they even surpass lecturers, especially when it comes to applications, game development, or digital tools. Therefore, it is crucial for us to continuously improve ourselves and delve into new sources of knowledge.
In informatics engineering, there is a lot of programming, so students need higher-level tasks and real projects. When they are involved in creation, genuine interest emerges. At the same time, lecturers themselves must remain curious, constantly improve, keep pace with the younger generation, and take an interest in how they live and how they best absorb information.
How do joint scientific works with students emerge?
Grades are important to students, but results are even more important. Informatics engineering allows one to create not only software, but also tangible devices, components, or systems. Having a real product is highly motivating.
Student groups can receive up to approximately EUR 2,500 in funding for projects, enabling them to purchase components and develop prototypes. These works are demonstrated at exhibitions. We work in small groups, and the university’s size allows us to create excellent conditions for studies and self-realisation.
We are very pleased to see students grow, later establish businesses, or realise themselves in various companies. We receive only positive feedback about our graduates.
Did you always dream of becoming a scientist?
A significant influence on my decision to stay at the university was Professor Dr Albinas Stankus (of blessed memory) – my first mentor. He recognised my potential and involved me in university life. Today, together with colleagues, we strive to do the same with our students.
Immediately after my studies, I was employed as an engineer, later began assisting in laboratory work, and gradually accumulated experience and knowledge.
We are also involved in activities with Klaipėda University’s “Žemyna” Gymnasium and Klaipėda Baltic Gymnasium – working with school students, delivering modules, and allowing them to experience university life up close.
What makes the Informatics Engineering programme distinctive?
Informatics is more oriented toward software and application development, whereas informatics engineering also includes a “hard” component – robots, real systems, and devices. Together with students, we design and model both virtual and physically tangible solutions. Currently, for example, we are developing a science-based thermochemical heat reactor, as well as a robotic disinfection system adapted for hospitals to eliminate viruses.
We often jokingly call informatics engineering a “universal” field – one that “participates everywhere”. Whether we talk about banking, education, logistics, or any other sector, all of them today are inseparable from IT solutions, systems, and technological products.
Alongside direct university activities, we also carry out various applied projects: developing solutions for healthcare systems, thermoregulation systems, and seeking more efficient heating technologies. These projects are funded from various sources and implemented both independently and in cooperation with partners – researchers from universities in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden – through consortium-type solutions. Such experience allows us to continuously learn, share knowledge, and avoid being confined to a single field. This is precisely what is appealing about the university – the opportunity to grow through diversity, understanding that not everything is measurable in monetary terms: without us, there would be no students, and without students – no future innovations.
