During their visit, His Excellency Ravshan Usmanov, Deputy Head of MIssion Suhrob Vaseev, and 3rd Secretary, Jasur Valiev met with Professor ELena Korosteleva, IGSD Director, to discuss opportunities for further collaboration with the Universities of Uzbekistan, and the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in particular. This was a follow-up talk after Elena's visit to the country in 2023, and fruitful discussions with a range of Universities there, as well as the Agency for Innovation and Development, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan. The delegaton, during their visit, also toured the world-class facilities offered bin Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG); discussed teacher-training and intercultural training for students and professionals with the School of Education, Learning and Communication Sciences (SELCS); and explored opportunities in hospitality education with our partners, the University College Birmingham. For more information see here: https://warwick.ac.uk/global/news/prof_stuart_croft

Tieza Santos, ECR STS 2.0 alumnus and a Doctoral candidate at Technische Universitat Dresden, EUTOPIA Alliance, has been chosen as a Lead Ambassador for the NASA SciH Team programme 2024-26. The NASA SciX Ambassadors are community advocates working with the NASA SciX staff. Together, they are building a better interdisciplinary digital library system. NASA SciX makes research in astrophysics, planetary science, heliophysics, and earth science more findable and accessible. An Ambassador’s responsibilities include:

§ Facilitating a robust network among their cohort and the broader NASA SciX community.

§ Engaging with their local and professional communities to promote the values and goals of NASA SciX.

§ Contributing to the NASA SciX blog and online forums, sharing their insights and experiences.

Tieza joined IGSD STS 2.0 in April 2024, and swiftly became its most member. We congratulate Tieza, an 'accidental scientist' as she calls herself, on this great award, and look forward to working together in building a robust community of ECRs for more a sustainable future!

On Monday 13th May, Dr Pitidis chaired the an online Special Joint Session on Climate and SustainabilityLink opens in a new window. The Session was organised as part of the first EUTOPIA Day and included a discussion among 8 experts from EUTOPIA participating Universities. The session was also streamed live on EUTOPIA's youtube channel and is available through the following linkLink opens in a new window.

Research Fellow Dr. Aijan SharshenovaLink opens in a new window (SHAPEDEM-EULink opens in a new window project team) joined the Early Stage Researcher Induction ProgrammeLink opens in a new window provided by the Leadership and Management DevelopmentLink opens in a new window team at the University of Warwick. This programme is designed to help early and mid-career researchers begin to orientate their research and career trajectory within complex research ecosystems. The programme enables to find a starting point and build a thought-through career path.

SHAPEDEM-EU organised an online expert discussion to explore the root causes and future implications of the ongoing mass protests in Georgia against the adoption of the "foreign agents" law. The discussion featured an in-house expertise - Dr. Nona MikhelidzeLink opens in a new window (Istituto Affari Internazionali), Kristina Pitalskaya (EaP Civil Partnership), and Dr. Aijan Sharshenova Link opens in a new window(University of Warwick).

The discussion took place on May 10th via zoom and was open to the public.

The SHAPEDEM-EU Link opens in a new windowProject unites 12 academic, research and civil society institutions in an effort to rethink and reshape EU democracy support in the Eastern and Southern neighbourhoods.