To celebrate this day, we invite you to get to know three scientists from different generations.
Emeritus Professor Dr. Marija Burinskienė – Learning Through Practice
Professor Burinskienė admits that she initially wanted to pursue architecture. However, fate led her to urban studies.
"I enjoy engineering urbanism. I like to think that I have some understanding of cities and can discuss and analyze them. I serve on both the arts and science commissions because I believe in versatility. Of course, some researchers dive deep into a single field and make major discoveries. My approach is slightly different—I believe urbanists cannot be specialists in just one area; they must have a broad perspective. The subject is too vast to be broken down into isolated parts," she explains.
For many years, Professor Burinskienė taught urban development, integrating real-life case studies into her lectures. This hands-on approach helped students better grasp challenges and practical solutions.
"While working at the Institute of Territorial Planning, I was involved in many projects, and I shared this experience with my students. I believe it is not enough to simply be a lecturer and rely only on textbook knowledge. When a professor is actively engaged in real projects and can transfer that knowledge to students, learning becomes truly alive."
Students, in turn, contributed to real-world projects, collaborating on the general plans of Lithuanian municipalities.
"We worked together to shape concepts, strategies, and visions for different municipalities. After all, not every region can focus on tourism or agriculture. It was crucial to consider residential areas, their development, industry, and changes in street networks," the professor recalls
The scientist recalls that she was often the only woman in many spaces—the only one in her department, the only female lecturer—and she constantly had to prove her abilities and worth.
"A man often assumes that just by showing up, he is naturally competent. But for a woman or a girl, intelligence still has to be proven. In general, when it comes to women in science, I believe that women tend to be more diligent and hardworking. They have to invest much more time, effort, and perseverance than men to prove they are capable. That’s why women often end up working longer and harder—on top of managing family and children."
As advice, the emeritus professor adds:
"Every person, every specialist, has an innovative spark. If you want to create something unconventional, something different, you have to approach it differently—you can't just replicate what has already been done. Your creativity and ideas should be reflected in planning, in the city, and in your decisions."
Kotryna Šileikytė: The Joy of Learning and Discovery
Kotryna Šileikytė is the head of laboratories at the Faculty of Mechanics, a lecturer in Welding, and a third-year PhD student. Currently, the young scientist is developing a real-time rehabilitation system.
"My goal is to create a system that allows doctors to instantly see numerical data indicating whether a person's body movements are within the normal range or if there are deviations. As the patient performs a movement, the system immediately shows whether it is executed correctly. This could help solve the issue of subjectivity, where a patient's condition may be underestimated or overestimated due to the examining specialist’s level of expertise, experience, empathy, mood, or well-being on that particular day," explains the PhD student.
Kotryna chose to study Medical Engineering (previously known as Biomechanics) out of her love for the natural sciences, and engineering itself is somewhat of a family tradition—both her grandfather and father studied at VILNIUS TECH (then known as VISI). She has no regrets about her decision, as working in the scientific field brings her the joy of discovery.
"I love the feeling of solving a problem, searching for an answer, and finally finding a solution. Of course, it doesn’t happen immediately—some equations need to be refined, modified, adjusted for variables, and so on. But when you finally get results, you feel like you’ve accomplished something."
Another aspect of her studies that brings her joy is meeting like-minded individuals, forming new connections, and gaining access to international opportunities.
Currently, K. Šileikytė teaches Welding at the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. Her young age often surprises students, but it also helps her connect with them. After just one semester, students nominated her for an award in elections organized by the Student Union.
"Now that I’ve started teaching, I realize how important the connection with students is and how we, as lecturers, can present material in a way that makes it easier for them to understand. Especially nowadays, as each generation seems to be more sensitive and needs subjects to be explained and taught differently. In the past, lecturers were seen as superior, which made students afraid to ask questions. But now, teaching is more flexible, adapting to students' needs. I enjoy that students trust me, communicate with me, come to talk, and search for solutions together," says the lecturer.
For young women considering a career in engineering, K. Šileikytė offers this advice:
"Don’t be afraid to make decisions. Women are just as capable of solving engineering problems as anyone else. Don’t listen to external voices or stereotypes suggesting that women aren’t capable of understanding, calculating, or achieving in this field. Women can do everything just as well. I believe that if you trust yourself and know that you can do it, then you shouldn’t stop—keep going and pursue your goals."
Indrė Bernatavičiūtė: A Love for Bioengineering
"I have been interested in science since childhood because I was always curious—how does nature work? How does the human body function? Science helps answer fundamental questions about the universe, life, and human nature. That realization made me want to pursue a future in science and the knowledge it provides," says Indrė Bernatavičiūtė, a master’s student in Bioengineering.
Her passion for this field began in high school when university representatives introduced various study programs. Indrė recalls that the only word that truly caught her attention and stayed with her was Bioengineering. From that moment, she started researching study opportunities, the field’s benefits, and its future prospects.
*"I realized that bioengineering offers broad opportunities and encompasses many different disciplines. It allows scientists to contribute to cutting-edge medical technologies, improve people’s quality of life, and solve pressing issues—such as developing new medicines, addressing climate change, tackling food shortages, and creating sustainable energy sources.
I was also motivated by the constant evolution of this field. Every year, new technologies emerge, enabling the development of more advanced biomedical devices, tissue engineering solutions, and artificial enzymes for industrial use."*
Both during her bachelor's and now in her master's studies, Indrė has been conducting research at the Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory in the Faculty of Fundamental Sciences at VILNIUS TECH. The lab focuses on encapsulating bioactive compounds.
She recalls being immediately drawn to this research topic during her undergraduate studies, and after enjoying her practical work there, she decided to stay and continue her research at the master's level.
"For my bachelor's thesis, I studied the stability of the antioxidant activity of β-carotene-encapsulated particles. Now, in my first year of my master’s, I am researching natural dyes extracted from beetroot waste and developing transport systems for them. Both studies focus on protecting and stabilizing environmentally sensitive pigments that are beneficial to human health by encapsulating them in suitable materials. My current research on natural dyes from beetroot waste also aligns with the sustainable use of agricultural resources."
Encouraging More Girls in Science
When discussing how to encourage more young women to pursue science, Indrė believes that early exposure is key.
"We need to inspire girls to explore different scientific fields from a young age by developing engaging school programs, organizing hands-on workshops, and offering extracurricular activities like science clubs, robotics groups, or camps. Additionally, sharing the success stories of female scientists and engineers can help increase visibility and inspire leadership. Women should have more opportunities to speak at conferences, participate in expert discussions, and receive academic recognition. One of the most important things is ensuring that companies implement fair hiring and promotion policies based on competence rather than gender."
For young women considering a career in STEM, Indrė offers words of encouragement:
"Don’t be afraid to chase your dreams and do what you love. Believe in yourself, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve something. The beginning might be challenging, but the more you learn and practice, the stronger you’ll become. Have faith that your knowledge will one day lead to new discoveries and open even more opportunities for the future."
