How did VIRAC do in 2020?

January 6, 2021

We’ve made quick steps into the new 2021, leaving bright and significant events behind us, that will not be forgotten too soon. Yesteryear has brought every one of us many challenges – we needed a restructure of work life due to the crisis in our country, to be relentless and not give up in the face of hardships, as well as reach new peaks in our professional life in spite of these circumstances. VIRAC has also had a colorful 2020. We offer to look back on the most significant moments in VIRAC during 2020.


In the beginning of the year our lead researcher Artūrs Vrubļevskis participated in the interactive portrait exhibition #ZinātneLatvijai, hosted by the Ministry of Science and Education, the goal of the exhibition was to celebrate the scientific prowess and variety of Latvia, as well as allow to take a peek in the stories of personal videos by Latvian scientists and get to know the better.


At the start of the year a significant event was when we closed a partnership contract with the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), in order to combine VIRAC and SSC competencies and to work together on the RT-16 and RT-32 adaptation for dual application in radio astronomy and distant space communications, creating a possibility for an interdisciplinary application.


“Nowadays we know that Space is much larger and stranger than many might think. However, thanks to the many genius minds, it is becoming much more imaginable, visible and comprehensible – day after day people all around the world are working on the pieces of this incomprehensible puzzle and Latvia is no exception.” – the online “Icebreakers’20” event in 2020 can be described in these exact words, where specialists of the Space Industry participated, one of them – Aleksejs Klokovs, who also moderated this event. In turn, Artūrs Vrubļevskis, participated in the “Icebreakers’20” festival in the October of 2020, by presenting the importance of the fundamental research with examples from Ventspils and MIT.


In 2020 the realization of the Project Draugen, started in 2019, was actively being succeeded – market research was being done, 3D models of magnetic flow in the bicycle generator were being made, as well as the trademark “Friendyno” was registered within the framework of the Draugen project and overall exposition of the project was published in “Uzņēmēju dienas 2020”, moreover, Friendyno was widely presented in the International MINOX exposition, where Vladislavs Bezrukovs and Valērijs Bezrukovs also participated.


VIRAC representatives also participated in important conference blocks like Europlanet Science Congress 2020“Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society”, as well as MTTW’20.


And not only our researchers participate in scientific research or give presentations to the interested in the form of public speaking, but also promote the improvement of high-scholar skills and knowledge within the framework of physics classes, which have been successfully taught by our researcher Artis Aberfelds.


In the later half of 2020 an issue about the Wind turbine park construction and potential electromagnetic interference with radio astronomical research arose, by using IE VIRAC radio telescopes in Irbene – that was what the lead researchers gave an in-depth explanation in public about. Also in September of 2020 the publication “Evaporative cooling of icy interstellar grains. II. Essential parameters” by Juris Kalvāns and Juris Roberts Kalniņš was published in the internationally recognized magazine – Astronomy & Astrophysics.


The most awaited event happened at the end of the year – the Christmas conference, that was held differently than ever before – online. The conference could be joined by anyone interested, from anywhere in the world. At the same time – Ventspils University of Applied Sciences conference “School of Tomorrow” was held.


Even though tours at Irbene in 2020 were limited due to the restrictions imposed in the country, it did not stop the biggest enthusiasts from visiting and getting to know the radio telescopes and the overall territory of Irbene. This year, approximately 3000 people have taken the tour offers.


There you have it, a colorful way to spend 2020. Numerous state financed, ERAF and European Space Agency projects have been started, many gatherings and seminars have been organized. We have participated in publicity events and revealed a collection of articles, as well as celebrated jubilees. We are proud that we have done unique research with unique results, proud for the new opportunities in partnerships and development in 
Latvia and Europe. We, VIRAC, are proud about every single one of our achievements and we will continue to improve on much larger scales not only in 2021, but also onwards.



Share on other platforms

Other news

By Rota Rulle June 25, 2025
The Erasmus+ program offers the opportunity to participate in an innovative and dynamic learning format – the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). This format allows both students and staff to explore a specific topic in depth within an international setting, combining virtual learning with a short but intensive five-day on-site component. Students of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences actively take part in these programs – over the past two academic years, 18 students have participated in BIP courses held in Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, and France. From 26 to 30 May, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences hosted its first Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme titled “Technology Startup Course”. The course was implemented as part of the “Developing by Experimenting II” module within the “Start-up Management” study program, in cooperation with two COLOURS partner universities – Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa (Poland) and University St. Kliment Ohridski Bitola (North Macedonia). During the program, students from Ventspils University collaborated in international teams with peers from Poland, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria to develop innovative, technology-based business ideas. In total, 38 students participated, including 18 international students (six of whom represented COLOURS partner universities), forming 13 project teams. The primary goal of the program was to enhance students' skills in creating innovative, tech-driven business ventures capable of competing in the real-world market. On 30 May, five of the top teams were selected to present their ideas to investors at the TestDevLab headquarters in Riga. The winning team, “SOUNDPACK”, was represented by Ventspils University of Applied Sciences student Ronalds Palacis. The team’s idea focused on using AI to generate fully cohesive, royalty-free sample packs based on natural language prompts, simplifying the workflow for music producers. The Erasmus+ BIP program provided a valuable experience for both students and staff and helped strengthen cooperation with international partner universities. In the next academic year, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences aims to implement two more BIP programs – one for students and one for staff. We encourage all faculties to submit their BIP program ideas by emailing: erasmus@venta.lv
By Rota Rulle June 18, 2025
On June 5, representatives from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission visited Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) to discuss issues related to the development of academic careers in higher education in Latvia. The purpose of the visit was to gain an understanding of the role, challenges, and opportunities of regional universities, including VUAS, in the implementation of new academic career models. During the meeting, experts met with the university’s management and academic staff to discuss topics such as attracting and retaining academic personnel, career development opportunities, support for professional advancement, and potential collaboration with other institutions in Latvia. The international expert group included Gillian Golden, Project Leader in the OECD Higher Education Policy Team; Thomas Weko, an international higher education expert and researcher at the George Washington Institute of Public Policy (USA); and Kristiāna Egle, a policy analyst in the OECD Higher Education Policy Team. The experts greatly appreciated the opportunity to hear a report from the Executive Director of the Ventspils City Council on the university's role within the city’s ecosystem, the university’s experience and staff perspectives, as well as the opportunity to learn about the university’s development strategies in a regional context. The discussions covered both the challenges and potential solutions that could help improve the development of academic careers in Latvia.
By Rota Rulle June 18, 2025
When Information Technology Meets the Universe Space exploration is becoming increasingly important, expanding humanity’s knowledge of the universe, promoting innovation and technological development, and attracting new talent to science. Her work highlights the importance of combining expertise from various fields to address complex scientific questions. At such a point of cooperation between technology and astronomy is the doctoral candidate Mg. sc. comp. Karina Šķirmante, a leading researcher and lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VeA). Karina’s research activities cover high-performance computing and data processing, focusing on space technology projects. She is actively involved in the European Space Agency’s Comet Interceptor project, which aims to launch a probe in 2029 to study a comet that has never come close to the Sun directly in space for the first time. In preparation for this mission, Karina, together with colleagues from the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VSRC) of the Institute of Engineering Sciences of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, is modelling comet activity in the radio frequency band, in collaboration with researchers from the Tartu Observatory (Estonia) and Aalto University (Finland). This international collaboration is helping to develop and calibrate the instruments that will be used during the mission.
By Rota Rulle June 12, 2025
Ventspils University of Applied Sciences recently hosted the forum “Artificial Intelligence – The Fourth Industrial Revolution”, which took place at the concert hall “Latvija”. The forum brought together industry experts, policymakers, university representatives, and others, gathering around 250 participants in total. The next day, a workshop titled “How to Collaborate Across Generations in the Era of AI” was held at the “Saieta nams” in the Pasiekste Windmill, open to all interested participants. During the same week, Ventspils welcomed partners from all COLOURS project countries. Over the course of several days, they worked together to advance the goals of Work Package 3 (WP3). The partners were also introduced to Ventspils University, Latvian culture and traditions, visited the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre in Irbene, and participated in the CoLab. Kristiāna Balode, WP3 coordinator from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, shared: “It was a true pleasure to welcome the COLOURS partners to Ventspils and to share both our professional experience and Latvia’s rich culture and hospitality. I am especially proud that we had the opportunity to present our university and highlight Ventspils’ potential in the field of innovation. This meeting not only strengthened collaboration within WP3, but also sparked new ideas for the future development of science and higher education.”
By Rota Rulle June 10, 2025
From May 25 to 30, an international summer school took place in Ferrara, Italy, with the aim to identify and understand the principles of ecological, social, and economic transitions. The Summer school analysed human activity and the impact of climate change on the environment, and developed innovative solutions for sustainable regional development and effective communication. During the summer school, we got to know the city of Ferrara, participated in workshops and discussions, visited the Po Delta region and worked with experts to generate new ideas and solutions for a sustainable future. The Po Delta region, shaped by river sedimentation processes and human intervention, has proven to be not only an ecologically and economically important place but also a deeply symbolic space, a living landscape of memory, adaptation, and survival, where the past flows seamlessly into the present. From the first settlement of Spina in the 6th century BC to the environmental and social transitions of today, the region tells a story of constant change and the human capacity to adapt. Every bend in the canal, fisherman's hut or line of salt-stained trees speaks of resilience, creativity and the ability of the local people to live with their changing environment. We took part in a fascinating series of lectures on the history, environmental and social transitions of the Po region. We heard different perspectives on how the region's unique landscape and historical processes have shaped community identity and everyday life. In addition to the lectures, we actively engaged in discussions, shared our impressions and developed our presentations, reflecting on what we had observed and offering our visions for future possibilities in such transition areas. Our experience in Italy, especially in the Po Delta region, made us realise that this area is not just in transition - it is in transition itself. It is a threshold between past and future, a space continuously shaped by water, politics, climate and human activity. We learned that such landscapes need to be taken holistically, with respect for their environmental, cultural and emotional dimensions. And we also learned something very important: vulnerability is not weakness. On the contrary, the environmental, demographic and climatic vulnerabilities of a region highlight its complexity, value and potential. Tackling these challenges is not enough technological innovation, it also requires trust, historical understanding and political courage. During the week, we not only learnt and went on educational excursions but also made many new friends and valuable contacts from different European countries. The lively work and conversations outside formal activities created a bond that will be hard to forget. This experience demonstrated the importance of transnational and interdisciplinary cooperation. We learned to listen, to collaborate and to translate different knowledge into a common vision while pursuing one of the strongest values of the European Union: unity in diversity. To sum up the week in one message, it would be this: caring for such places is not just a technical task or a moral obligation, it is a form of belonging. We belong to the stories we inherit, the futures we help shape and the places we choose to care for. When we return to our universities, cities and languages, we bring with us both the memory of the region and a commitment to think and act differently - with respect, responsibility and commitment. Press release about the Summer School on the University of Ferrara website: https://www.unife.it/en/unife-world/colours/news-colours/colours-international-summer-school-wrap-up Prepared by: 2nd-year student of FoTS Master's study programme "Translation and Terminology" Ailenda Bulindža-Leitiete; 2nd-year student of FoTS Bachelor's study programme "Intercultural Communication" Karīna Ganiņa; 2nd-year student of FoTS Bachelor's study programme "Translation and Language Technology" Solveiga Lavrane International Summer School was organised within the European Commision project “COLlaborative innOvative sUstainable Regional univerSities” (project No.101124491).
By Rota Rulle June 9, 2025
On June 6th, students of the “Translation and Language Technology” program defended their bachelor's theses. The State Examination Commission, led by LU habilitated professor Andrejs Veisbergs, listened to students' reports on various research topics related to translation, translation studies, and linguistics. Several theses explored literary translation and audiovisual translation from different perspectives, as well as machine translation and translations generated by AI tools. One thesis examined easy-to-read language in intralingual translation, while another focused on transediting methods. Several studies were dedicated to special lexis and terminology, covering fields such as sound engineering, cynology, and opera art. The State Examination Commission recognized Darina Kokļina's research on idioms with the lexeme “white” in Russian literature and their equivalents in Latvian and English as excellent. The Commission also highly recognized the papers by Samanta Stumbre for her research on the difficulties and solutions in finding equivalents for sound engineering terms and Anastasija Gremčuka for her work on audiovisual translation methods for beauty product advertising. Fifteen students earned professional bachelor's degrees, and the most daring graduates, following the tradition of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, jumped into the fountain after their defenses.
Other news