Gergely Röst at the Belgian EU Presidency
In the first half of 2024, Belgium holds the presidency of the European Union, from which Hungary takes over the baton for the year's second half. One of the important events of the Belgian EU Presidency was the "Europe United Against Old and New Pandemics" conference held in Antwerp on May 14-15, to evaluate the EU's pandemic preparedness and determine future actions.
In the near future, a European partnership with a budget of 200 million euros will be launched along these goals, which was also one of the central topics of the event. About two hundred participants took part in the event, including high-ranking people such as Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, directors of various European Commission directorates, WHO was also represented, as well as the recently established HERA, the European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority. In addition, renowned European experts gave lectures, including mathematician Gergely Röst, head of the Department of Applied and Numerical Mathematics at SZTE, and professional leader of the National Laboratory for Health Security, HUNGARY, as the only invited speaker from the entire Eastern and Central European region (including Austria and Germany).
Gergely Röst mathematician, head of the Department of Applied and Numerical Mathematics at SZTE
In the field of epidemic modelling, leading experts from three countries: Belgium, France, and, thanks to Gergely Röst, Hungary were able to present their results. In his presentation, Röst talked about the National Laboratory for Health Security and the work carried out by its predecessor, the COVID-19 Mathematical Modelling and Epidemiological Analysis Task Force during the pandemic. One of the leaders of the EU Directorate-General Joint Research Centre assessed that the Hungarian National Laboratory for Health Security is a "best practice" in the establishment and maintenance of multidisciplinary research networks, which can be set as an example for other countries.
It was a clear demand among the event’s participants that, due to the importance and ongoing actuality of the topic, meetings discussing pandemic preparedness should be organized during every EU presidency. The conference evaluated the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted the importance of European partnerships, coordination, data and knowledge sharing, and the "One Health" approach. This is based on the recognition that the health of people, animals, and ecosystems are interconnected, and therefore a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach is needed to address health risks. The National Laboratory for Health Security also operates in this spirit. In addition to the presentations, the program was supplemented by numerous panel discussions with the participation of European decision-makers, and as a curiosity, a visual storytelling artist drew live what happened at the conference.
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SZTE Experience
Dianne - Faculty of Science and Informatics
I am a PhD student and a Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holder from the Philippines. I am currently pursuing my PhD in Environmental Science and I happen to be in my 3rd year of studies. I chose University of Szeged because its one of the top ranked research university in Hungary known for its good reputation in the fields of health and natural sciences. Coming from the Philippines with a warm climate, I had huge preference of Szeged for my studies, the city having the most rays of sunshine and considered to be the warmest place in Hungary. I would advise all the prospective students to join University of Szeged’s diverse and vibrant community! Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone, try to find and establish your niche in a new place like what I did. I didn’t regret coming to Szeged as it continuously provides me an enabling learning environment for various reasons, has affordable cost of living, very safe and calm university town, organized transport system, beautiful and clean surroundings with the very sightly Tisza River which adds to its appeal, and also holds many festivals throughout the year. After graduation, I am planning to go back to my home institution and continue my teaching duties at the University of the Philippines Los Baños
Olney Rodrigues - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
My name is Olney Rodrigues de Oliveira and I am from Brazil. I am currently pursuing my PhD studies in the Doctoral School of Education at SZTE. I chose the University of Szeged because it’s one of the best universities in Europe, especially in the field of education. I personally love Szeged because it is safe and I love the architecture, the cultural events, the local Market Mars Tér and so many other beautiful destinations. For my studies I wanted to have an excellent university in a good quality life city and Szeged offers me that. It’s neither too big nor too small, I can ride my bike to go to my classes and practically everything is within a walking distance. I would advise the prospective students to enjoy the city during their stay, the cultural and historical events, know other international students and make a lot of friends, visit other cities in Hungary and make good memories. I am pretty sure that you will be proud of this priceless experience. Before coming to Hungary I worked several years as a teacher. I love the academic environment, the libraries, relationship with students and the feeling to be involved in the acquisition of new knowledge. That is why I plan to be part of a University as a professor as well as to keep researching in different aspects of the process of education. I am so thankful to be here and I believe that the Universe brought me to Szeged because the city and the University are the experience that I need in my life now.
