Professor Dr Ieva Plikusienė, a researcher at the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences and the Faculty of Medicine at Vilnius University, as well as at the Centre for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC), has been appointed to the Scientific Advisory Board of UNESCO’s International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP).
According to UNESCO’s Lithuanian National Commission, she is the first scientist from Lithuania to be appointed to this role.
“These duties entrusted to me carry great responsibility and, at the same time, an exceptional opportunity to represent Lithuania on the global stage and strengthen our country’s visibility in international science policy-making,” Prof Plikusienė wrote on her Facebook page.
She emphasised that this appointment offers Lithuania the chance to engage in global scientific initiatives, partnerships and programmes contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“This is not only a major professional recognition, but also a unique opportunity to contribute to shaping global science policy rooted in the basic sciences.”
Prof Plikusienė specialises in the development of advanced optical biosensors, enabling high-precision, real-time analysis of biomolecular interactions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she contributed to research into interactions between SARS-CoV-2 antigens and antibodies, raising the international profile of Lithuanian science.
Her scientific work and leadership have received multiple national and international accolades. In 2021, she was named a laureate of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme. The following year, she was recognised as one of the world’s most promising young scientists, receiving the International Rising Talent Award.
The appointment was announced by UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, Lidia Brito, who noted that Plikusienė’s inclusion in this high-level scientific body represents not only a personal achievement but also significant recognition of Lithuanian science on the world stage.
UNESCO’s International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP) is an initiative aimed at promoting international collaboration in the basic sciences – including mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science – while strengthening national capacities, sharing knowledge, and reducing scientific inequality between countries.
The programme supports a wide range of projects, institutions and initiatives aligned with sustainable development goals.
The IBSP Scientific Advisory Board consists of 12 members, selected from all six UNESCO electoral groups, to ensure broad geographical and scientific diversity.
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