European ISC Members

Annual Meeting 2025

ISC Europe Annual Meeting
Tirana, Albania
October 20-21, 2025

Practical information (pdf)

AGENDA

OCTOBER 20
9:30–10:00Welcome Coffee
10:00–13:00Session 1. OPEN SESSION
10:00–10:20Opening words (Chaired by Acad Neki Frashëri)
Acad. Tarmo Soomere, chair of ISC Europe Group, Estonian Academy of Sciences
Acad. Skënder Gjinushi, President of the Academy of Sciences of Albania
• Representative of Ministry of Education of Albania
Dr. Robert Dumi, National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation, Albania
Prof. Dr. Anila Paparisto, University of Tirana, Deputy Rector
Prof. Dr. Ilir Kapaj, Agriculture University of Tirana, Deputy Rector
Dr. Redion Luli, Mediterranean University, Director of Doctorate School
Dr. Belfjore Qose, Head of Youth Academy. Presentation PDF
10:20–11:45Presentations (Chaired by Tarmo Soomere)
Challenges for Science in the region.
Acad. Ilirjan Malollari, Academy of Sciences of Albania. Presentation PDF
Acad. Gëzim Hoxha
Acad. Arben Merkoçi, prof. dr. Majlinda Vasjari
Acad. Genc Sulçebe, acad. Ilia Mikerezi
Acad. Mimoza Hafizi, prof. dr. Fatmir Hoxha
The hidden contributions of Women in Science. Prof. İlkay Erdoğan-Orhan, Turkish Academy of Sciences. Presentation PDF
Impact of science on Estonian economy. Acad. Tarmo Soomere, Estonian Academy of Sciences. Presentation PDF
Mathematics as public good. Prof. Manuel de León Rodríguez, Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, Spain (remotely). Presentation PDF
11:45–12:10COFFEE BREAK
12:10–13:00Panel discussion „How to convert science as public good into driver of economy of small countries” (Moderated by Tarmo Soomere).
PARTICIPANTS:
Jūras Banys, President, Lithuanian Academy of Sciences;
Zuzana Panczová, Vice President, Slovak Academy of Sciences;
Muris Čičić, President, Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
Svjetlana Terzic, Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts;
Ilirjan Malollari, Academy of Sciences of Albania
13:00–14:00LUNCH
14:00–17:30Session 2. SCIENCE MEETING. Scientific Freedom: the view from Europe
14:00–15:20Introductory presentations (Chaired by Tarmo Soomere)
The history of science in Europe and scientific freedom. Simone Turchetti, President of the European Society for the History of Science. Presentation PDF
The roles of disciplines in a healthy European research base. Anna Mauranen, University of Helsinki. Presentation PDF
Science as a public good: a European view. Geoffrey Boulton, University of Edinburgh. Presentation PDF
15:20–15:45COFFEE BREAK
15:45–16:45Round table discussion (Moderated by Jūras Banys)
Participants:
Neki Frasheri, Simone Turchetti, Anna Mauranen (remotely), Geoffrey Boulton, Manuel de Leon (remotely)
16:45–17:15General Discussion (Moderated by Geoffrey Boulton)
17:15–17:30Summary of proposed actions
Vanessa McBride, ISC Science Director, Acting Head of the Centre for Science Futures
18:30–21:30NETWORKING DINNER (in the city of Durres)
OCTOBER 21
9:00–12:00Session 3. BUSINESS MEETING. Members only
Chaired by Tarmo Soomere. Presentation PDF
1. Approval of the minutes of the 2024 Annual Meeting
2. Report from the European ISC Members Management Group. Tarmo Soomere
3. Discussion of the document “Scientific freedom”
4. Overview from European ISC Member Organisations
1) Academy of Sciences of Albania
2) Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts
3) Turkish Academy of Sciences
4) Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts PDF
5) Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina
6) Lithuanian Academy of Sciences PDF
7) National Research Council CNR Overview PDF, Highlights PDF
8) Royal Society PDF
9) Slovak Academy of Sciences (video)
10) Estonian Academy of Sciences (PDF)
5. Presentation from ISC Secretariat. Vanessa McBride, ISC Science Director, Acting Head of the Centre for Science Futures. Presentation PDF
6. Future of the leadership of European ISC Members
▪ Expansion of the Management Group
▪ Determination of the location of Annual Meeting 2026
▪ Elections of the new host country and the chair or
▪ Mandate to the Management Board to continue without host country
12:00–13:00 LIGHT LUNCH