![]("//site-t7p6yx4x.wsecdn1.websitecdn.com/uploads/o/564f19b42a374aa6ae30371db3d07a97.jpg?v=242211011420")
Image: Old Tbilisi, Winter by Elene Akhvlediani, 1970
The year 2024 is about to end. It is time to say farewell to it and greet the new 2025.
For the AE Tbilisi Hub, the current year was transitional: we welcomed a new AE Member, Prof. Lado Chanturia, to the Science Advisory Board; I took over the post of Academic Director from my predecessor, Prof. David Prangishvili, who led the Hub for four years; Prof. Zaal Kokaia was elected as the new Chair of the Science Advisory Board and Natia Khuluzauri filled the position of Executive Director.
Beginnings are always challenging, especially when the standard set by the previous team is already high. So, we tried to continue projects conceived by the previous team as well as we started some new ones. We also set some priorities which included an upgrade of the Provision of the Hub and preparation of grounds for building the new web platform which will transfer to the active phase at the beginning of the coming year. But, before the plans, let me give you an overview of the current year.
We started with the event titled “Georgian Science Paving the Way to Europe”. This was an important occasion as former Academic Director, Prof. David Prangishivli, the new Chair of the Advisory Board, Prof. Zaal Kokaia, and I decided to meet with the Georgian Academic sector and discuss the role of AE Tbilisi Hub in the internationalization and integration of Georgian scientists with international science institutions and the implementation of the international scientific standards in Georgia. Importantly, the event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia and the Rector of Ivane Javakhisvhili Tbilisi State University. Both of our esteemed guests underlined that for the realization of the scientific potential of Georgia, it is extremely important to collaborate with international scientific institutions and expressed readiness to continue support to the AE Tbilisi Knowledge Hub. The occasion was of crucial value as to move forward we needed to understand the challenges, needs, and demands of our scientific society.
From the projects that took the start with the leadership of Prof. David Prangishvili, I would like to underline "Gelati Academy - the Medieval Centre for Science and Education Amidst Eastern and Western Christianity”. The year of 2023 was marked with the Conference titled "Gelati Academy - Its Era and Heritage,” it provided a supportive platform to young researchers to delve into a spectrum of issues linked to Gelati Academy, while in collaboration with the Society Iveriisa, the year of 2024 was devoted to the preparation of the publication “Gelati – Heritage of the King David the Builder”. The editor of the book is Prof. Zaza Skhirtladze, an Advisory Board Member of the AE Tbilisi Hub and it will be presented to the public in February of 2025.
To say in a few words: Gelati Monastery founded in 1106 also housed the Academy, one of the most important science and education centers of that time in the Region. Gelati Monastery served as the center of both, secular and ecclesiastical knowledge, philosophy, and theology. I currently have the privilege of leading the conservation and renovation project of the Gelati Complex. Which I see as an opportunity to return to Gelaty Academy its historical importance. Here I, also, do see a close collaboration of AE Tbilisi Hub with the renovated complex of Gelati Monastery and its Academy.
Another very important initiative, which I think will grow into a large-scale multidisciplinary international project is the research of the Biocultural history, importance, and challenges of the Ponto-Capsian Region. In collaboration with the Georgian National Museum, the Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) on Cultural Heritage (EU Commission), and the Global Change and Resilient Cultural Heritage (RCH) Partnership (EU Partnership) we organized a series of events on November 21-22 in Baku, Azerbaijan during the UN Climate Change Conference, 2024 (COP29). After the Keynote “The Power of the Ponto-Caspian Bio-Cultural Heritage” discussion panel “Bio-Cultural Heritage for the Future: Mobilizing the Past for the Climate Resilience” was held in the Green Zone of the Conference and all interested stakeholders joined the conversation including the Rewind Initiative, with a very interesting idea of storing the CO2 under the Black Sea for thousands of years.
As a continuation of the topic, in collaboration with Ilia State University, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change and Rewind Initiative we held an international conference “Biocultural History and the Future of the Black Sea” right at the spot – Batumi Shota Rustaveli University. Biologists, ecologists, botanists, and other representatives of bordering fields discussed climate change problems, current challenges facing the unique biodiversity of the Black Sea region, and the ways to solve them. The conference attracted students representing the field related to the topic, which made the occasion a successes as one of our aims was of course to arouse interest among the students who represent the region and in the future are responsible for the continuous care of Biodiversity and Cultural heritage of the Black Sea shore and Caucasus.
It is also notable that in August of the current year in collaboration with Kutaisi International University (KIU) and KIU-GITA Innovation and Startup Acceleration Summer School organized a series of sessions titled: “Innovations in Science and Georgia’s Competitive Fields and Directions”. During the sessions, students had an opportunity to hear from the leading scientists of various fields about the connection between modern technologies and science, culture, climate change, and other challenges of today. At the end of the three-day intensive sessions, we provided a special guided tour around the Vani Archaeological Museum for the participants. Students had a chance to interact with the scientists in the informal environment and develop new ideas regarding using technology in science. I do believe that we need to develop this partnership further and in the coming years transfer from knowledge sharing to collaboration with the new generation.
Not to make my letter too long, I report shortly that we continued tradition of the public lectures, workshops, and conferences this year too. The AE members, renowned scientists and professionals of various fields – culture, medicine, neurology, archeology, law, physiology and communications met with the professional and general public to discuss the cutting-edge developments in their respective fields.
Here, I would like to specially note that the member of the Scientific Advisory Board, of AE Tbilisi Hub, Prof. Kate Chanturia was awarded by the President of Georgia with the National Prize, 2023. I congratulate her and wish her more succusses and new achievements that will be beneficial for science and society.
Last but not least, I would like to note that one of the priorities of the AE Tbilisi Hub is science communication as we do believe that science is beneficial when it is accessible to a general public. This is the reason we tightly collaborate with the National Geographic Magazine – Georgia, the Georgian Public Broadcaster, and EuroNews Georgia who help us to deliver our knowledge to the public. Moreover, having the former Editor in Chief of the National Geographic Magazine – Georgia on board allows us to focus on further development of the direction of popularization of science. As mentioned in the beginning we are about to start building a new website, which will enable us to deliver science to professional and general public in more effective ways.
With this, I am saying farewell to the old year and greeting the new 2025. I wish you all a fruitful, healthy, and successful year.
Happy Holidays!
Prof. David Lordkipanidze, Academic Director of AE Tbilisi Hub