November 10 is the international day of science. On this date, on the initiative of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, the award ceremony for the winners of the competition “Leonardo and Vinci” and for young and talented scientists was held at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.
Alexander Tsuladze, Minister of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia, participated in the event, addressed the audience, congratulated the award participants on the International Day of Science, and discussed the importance of promoting science in the country’s development.
During the event, the winners of the Student Inventors Competition, “Leonardo and Vinci” – Grand Prix winners I, II, and III, were awarded prizes and cash awards.
Specifically, the creation team of the project “Eco-friendly smart fish farm” was awarded 10,000 GEL, the authors of the project “Water oil cleaning unmanned boat” received 5000 GEL, the second place project “Space purpose V class membrane cinematic pairing technology” received 3000 GEL, and the third place project “THE TATMAN” creating team – 2000 GEL was given.
It is noteworthy that 19 innovative projects passed the final stage in the 2024 competition, which was attended by pupils of VII-XII classes of Georgian public and private schools.
At the awards ceremony, prizes and badges for extraordinary achievements and contributions to science were given to Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation’s 2024 prize laureate scientists. These are the ones:
- David Shengelia – Doctor of Geology-Mineral Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia, Director of the Department of Petrology, Mineralogy and Lithology of the Alexander Janelidze Geology Institute.
- Elene Machavariani – Doctor of Arts Sciences, Professor, Chief Scientist-Associate of the Department of Art Science of the National Center of Georgian Manuscripts named after Korneli Kekelidze.
- Otar Gamkrelidze – Doctor of Legal Sciences, Professor, Ivane Javakhishvili State University, named after Tinatin Tsereteli State University, and Senior Scientist-Fellow of Law Institute, Chairman of the Scientific Council.
- Nodar Kakhidze – Doctor of History Sciences, Professor, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University Niko Berdzenishvili Scientific-Research Institute of Ethnology and Sociological Research.
- Young researchers and scientists actively involved in scientific projects and programs will also be awarded the award.
- Ketevan Kankava – Doctor of Sciences, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics of Tbilisi State Medical University
- Leri Tavadze – Doctor of History Sciences, Assistant Professor of TSU Faculty of Humanities
- Levan Tielidze – Doctor of Geography, Ilia State University
- Irakli Lomidze – Doctor of Physical Sciences, Scientist-Fellow of the Institute of Quantum Physics and Engineering Technologies of Technical University of Georgia
- Nino Pochkhidze – Doctor of Biology, Scientist-Associate of Ivane Beritashvili’s Experimental Biomedicine Center
- Elisabed Zaldastanishvili – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Giorgi Eliava Institute of Bacteriophagy, Microbiology and Virology
In addition, participants in one of the innovative projects were awarded the National Center for Intellectual Property of Georgia—”Sakpatent”—and other special prizes.
Shota Rustaveli, General Director of the National Science Foundation of Georgia Teimuraz Dochvir and Rector of Tbilisi State University Jaba Samushia, addressed the event participants dedicated to the International Day of Science.
The award ceremony was attended by David Gurgenidze, Rector of the Technical University of Georgia; Irakli Natroshvili, Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University; Academician Roin Metreveli; Chairman of the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia Soso Giorgadze; and President of the Business Association of Georgia Soso Pkhakadze.
UNESCO founded the International Day of Science in 2001. The day aims to raise public awareness of the importance of science and promote community engagement in discussing current scientific issues.
