After visiting VGTU, U.S. Ambassador says: ’’I would like to be a student again“

February 18, 2014
After the meeting with students of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU), the U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Deborah Ann McCarthy said that she would like to be a student again. The Ambassador delivered a lecture for the University community on global economic trends, visited auditoriums and appraised modern technologies and equipment used by scientists.



‘‘Sincerely, I would like to be a student again. The University atmosphere and talented young people encourage to study and acquire new knowledge, “– said U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Deborah Ann McCarthy during her visit at VGTU.



Delivering lecture on economic challenges and trends, Ambassador Deborah Ann McCarthy emphasized the global importance of the innovations and modern technologies. ‘‘VGTU has got the human and technical basis to create and export innovations in order to change the world. This process depends on the enthusiasm of people, their talent and international cooperation, but not the size of a country, “- said U.S. Ambassador after the University auditorium excursion. 



Speaking about the importance of modern higher education, Ambassador Deborah Ann McCarthy affirmed that students nowadays are more privileged and have many opportunities for gaining experience behind the University and Lithuania borders, and she advised to use them. Recently VGTU has got more than 400 partners from higher schools abroad, and during the last years, entered into relations with the universities of high rating, such as Rochester, Huston and California Polytechnic Universities.  Together with the U.S.A. universities, visits of student groups and scientists are organised in Lithuania, lecturers deliver lectures, common summer schools and scientific projects are organised.



As the Ambassador to Lithuania, Deborah Ann McCarthy was inaugurated more than a year ago. Till then,  2010-2013 she worked as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs and was responsible for global economic cooperation and negotiations.



Entire lecture of the Ambassador Deborah Ann McCarthy named ‘‘Global Economic trends and U.S. Foreign Economic Policy” is attached here ».

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New doctoral dissertation
New doctoral dissertation
VILNIUS TECH Library invites you to follow the published new dissertations. The dissertation „Resistance of technological waste-modified concrete to freeze–thaw cycles and alkaline corrosion“  („Technologinėmis atliekomis modifikuoto betono atsparumas užšaldymo ir atšildymo ciklams bei šarminei korozijai“) prepared at VILNIUS TECH by Edvinas Pocius. The dissertation was prepared in 2021–2026. Scientific consultant – Prof. Dr Džigita Nagrockienė. The dissertation was defended at the public meeting of the Dissertation Defence Council of the Scientific Field of Materials Engineering in the Aula Doctoralis Meeting Hall of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University at 10 a.m. on 8 June 2026. The dissertation investigates concrete modified with glass processing waste, concrete sludge, and a crystallizing additive. The goal is to develop concrete that is resistant to freeze–thaw cycles and alkali–silica reaction (ASR) by replacing part of the cement with glass waste and sand with concrete sludge. By selecting the optimal amount of technological waste, the aim is to improve the basic properties of concrete while maintaining its resistance to freeze–thaw cycles and alkali–silica reaction. The tasks addressed in the work include the analysis of glass processing waste and concrete sludge, evaluating their impact on the properties of the cement paste. After determining the recommended waste content, the physical and mechanical properties of the modified concrete are investigated, focusing on resistance to freeze–thaw cycles and alkali–silica reaction. This research sequence aims to substantiate the basic properties and resistance to freeze–thaw cycles and alkali–silica reaction of the newly developed material. The dissertation consists of an introduction, three chapters, general conclusions, a list of references, a list of the author‘s scientific publications, and a summary in English. The Introduction discusses the research problem and relevance, describes the object of research, formulates the aim and tasks, and outlines the research methodology, scientific novelty, practical significance, and statements for defence. The First Chapter discusses active mineral substances, their formation and use in concrete production. It discusses the generation of concrete sludge and glass waste, as well as the impact of their use on the physical and mechanical properties and durability of concrete. The durability of waste-modified concrete and the assessment of carbon dioxide emissions are also described. Conclusions are formulated, and the objectives of the dissertation are refined at the end of the chapter. The Second Chapter presents the materials used, their properties, and their formation. It describes the research methods and equipment chosen to investigate the structure and properties of the concrete and to calculate its CO2 emissions. The Third Chapter substantiates recommended dosages of glass waste and concrete sludge and their effects on cementitious systems. Glass waste was found suitable for cement replacement, and dry sludge for fine aggregate. An environmental impact assessment was also performed. Five scientific articles were published on the dissertation topic in the Web of Science database, Science Citation Index Expanded, peer-reviewed publications with a citation index. Doctoral dissertation readers can search via VILNIUS TECH Virtual Library.
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