The 9th International USERN Congress and Prize Awarding Festival: Day 1

Opening Ceremony: Unity Through Science

The 9th international USERN congress and Prize Awarding Festival was officially started on November 8th, 2024 at 14 PM Plovdiv time at Auditorium I, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The opening ceremony highlighted USERN’s incredible growth and impact with the theme of "Bringing Science to Life".

This ceremony started with the warm welcome from Professor Angel Uchikov, Rector of the Medical University of Plovdiv he mentioned: "This forum demonstrates that Bulgaria is part of global science. It provides an incredible opportunity to present and develop strategic research and innovation. I wish you fruitful cooperation and a pleasant stay in Plovdiv, the oldest living city in Europe."

The memorandum of understanding between USERN and Medical University of Plovdiv was re-signed by Prof. Tommaso Dorigo (USERN President) and Prof. Angel Uchikov (Rector of MU-Plovdiv).

In his welcome message, Professor Tommaso Dorigo, USERN President, reflected on the congress's mission in light of global challenges: "Borders divide us, but science unites us. USERN’s vision is to overcome these artificial constraints by promoting science across borders. In these times of global uncertainty, our work is more important than ever." He also emphasized the need to guide artificial intelligence responsibly to maximize its positive impact on research and society.

Next, Professor Nima Rezaei, USERN Founder, welcomed the audience and celebrated a milestone achievement: "Over 10,000 articles have been published with USERN affiliation, and over 3,000 indexed in Scopus in less than a decade. This success proves the power of networking and collaboration to advance science without borders.”. He also reviewed the congress scientific program in details.

The congress’s academic sessions began with two captivating keynote lectures:

Professor Timothy Lyons (USA) took participants on a journey through Earth’s ancient history, sharing insights into the origins of life and NASA’s ongoing search for life on other planets. He emphasized the importance of studying ecosystems like the Red Sea to understand life’s evolution.

Professor Frank Sellke (USA) presented groundbreaking research on minimally invasive heart treatments and exosome therapy, highlighting their potential to improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and regenerate heart tissue. His talk also explored how diabetic medications like SGLT2 inhibitors offer unexpected benefits for heart failure patients.

The day also featured the closing ceremony of the 10th International Festival of Paintings for Pediatric Patients (IFPPP). The best three paintings in each age category were celebrated, showcasing the artistic talents and creativity of young patients from around the world. Here is the list of young creative painters that their great work of art has been appreciated in the closing ceremony of 10th IFPPP.

Group 3-6 years old:

1. Delsa Sedighi, Iran

2. Vihan Azizian, Canada

3. Mia Ninova, Bulgaria

Group 7-10 years old:

1. Monna Zebilianova, Bulgaria

2. Shayrad Asadi, Australia

3. Ayana Varun Metha, India

Group 11-14 years old:

1. Sofia Pencheva, Bulgaria

1. Nakshi Jagdish Panchal, India

2. Mikaela Chepeleva, Bulgaria

2. Anita Balnour, Iran

3. Melis Ada Uyanik, Turkey

3. Maryam Aliyrva, Azerbaijan

Group 15-18 years old:

1. Sama Keshavarzi, Iran

2. Viara Pencheva, Bulgaria

3. Khushi Suresh Ramani, India

3. Nazanin Komeili Pour, Iran

Afternoon sessions offered dynamic opportunities for learning and collaboration:

Art Agar Workshop: Participants combined science and art by creating designs using bacteria and fungi.

AI-Assisted Design Workshop: Chaired by Prof. Dorigo, experts Dr. Pietro Vischia, Dr. Tilman Plehn and Lara Lloret Iglesias discussed the societal impacts of artificial intelligence.

The day concluded with a vibrant poster session and virtual lectures on topics ranging from sustainable materials to AI in biomedical research, accessible to participants worldwide.