Professor Kujawski delivers lecture on innovative approaches in membrane applications at YSU

Professor Kujawski, who visited YDU as part of the Armenian Higher Education and Science Committee's "Program for the Advancement of Women Leaders," delivered a lecture on a specific field of physical chemistry that focuses on the membrane separation processes. He explained that the potential applications of membranes are varied, extending from drinking water purification to the use of artificial kidneys in medicine. 

"Today, membranes are used not only in water purification or for protein separation in the dairy industry but also in medical applications such as hemodialysis and oxygenators. They proved especially effective during the COVID-19 pandemic," the professor stated.

He particularly emphasized the importance of membrane production technologies, methods for exploring their structure and properties, as well as a comprehensive analysis of their application areas. Professor Kujawski also highlighted the significance of "open-mindedness" in science, stressing that in today's scientific landscape, the ability to think without limitations—along with strong language skills, especially proficiency in English—is essential for international collaboration and scientific advancement. 

"It is vital for young researchers to participate in various programs and engage with people from different cultures and mindsets, as such interactions broaden worldviews and foster the emergence of innovative ideas," he underscored.

This marks Professor Kujawski's third visit to Armenia. According to him, each visit reinforces his belief that Armenians are hospitable and warm-hearted people. He confirmed his willingness to continue collaborating with the scientific community of Yerevan State University, noting that joint research is already underway with the Faculties of Biology and Chemistry at YSU, focusing on the physicochemical analysis of biogenic nanoparticles. "We have not only one joint project, but two," he emphasized.

Lilit Gabrielyan, Associate Professor in the Chair of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Biotechnology at YSU, Head of one of the winning projects of the "Program for the Advancement of Women Leaders – 2024" competition, added: "I first met Professor Kujawski five years ago through the Erasmus+ program, and we have continued to collaborate since then. We have published a joint article and gradually developed the idea of implementing a joint project. When the Armenian Higher Education and Science Committee launched this program to support the advancement of women scientists, we proposed that Professor Kujawski become the foreign partner of our project. We chose the topic, but to our surprise, the professor also expressed interest in it, despite it having been within his field of study previously. He proposed applying membrane separation methods to isolate biogenic nanoparticles, thereby providing new insights into the relationship between the size and properties of nanoparticles."