The University of Rijeka and the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts – Department of Biomedical Sciences in Rijeka are organizing an Interdisciplinary Scientific Conference COVID-19 MESSAGES. The conference is organized and the program devised by the University of Rijeka and the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts – Department of Biomedical Sciences in Rijeka. The conference is devised as a cycle of five one-day sessions to be held from September to November 2020. The conference is to be held in a hybrid form, including onsite and online lectures, and the working language of the conference is English.
COVID-19 Messages
The scientific community, alongside other social stakeholders, is currently centered on finding the solution for the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Current research focuses primarily on biomedicine, healthcare, and the natural sciences, where scientists endeavor not only to understand the nature of the virus, and to develop a vaccine but to explore the value and the future role of public healthcare in preventing disease and protecting citizens. No less mobilized are researchers in other branches of science. Experts in the social sciences are examining the social consequences of this global shock, especially concerning the field of education, which has undergone an unprecedented technological transformation. Comparable activities can be seen in the areas of legal, economic, and sociological scholarship, in political science, and in the humanities, which are now reflecting upon the threats, challenges, and opportunities linked with building the new world order. For experts in the technical sciences, this crisis has posed the critical questions of the future development of informational-communication technologies, artificial intelligence, and cybernetic security. Research in energetics and sustainable development is pushing new frontiers. Emergency communication in the world of social networks, and trust in experts, institutions, and leaders, have emerged as the most important of topics. It seems as if the absolute social shock that has struck the world requires new and exhaustive research that transcends strict disciplinary boundaries, and, more urgently than ever, demands a multi-disciplinary or inter-disciplinary approach, alongside intense global collaboration. Our students – future researchers and the future citizens of a better world – are, along our side, reflecting upon the challenges of new mobility, a new engagement, new communication, and new socialization. We have found ourselves in a unique social moment that has us question the whole of science and the potential of scientific research to improve all segments of society, and the quality of life of citizens throughout the world.
We are facing today the dilemma of whether this crisis will be fleeting, and have us return to our “normal” lives, or whether it will cause irreversible changes to our way of life in some “new normal.” Scientists at the University of Rijeka have followed all responsible and progressive researchers and citizens in wanting to deliberate about a genuinely brave new world, which we are now in a position to build. The COVID-19 MESSAGES scientific conference and its program were organized and designed by the University of Rijeka and the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Art – Department of Biomedical Sciences in Rijeka. The conference will take the form of a cycle of five daylong scientific gatherings that will take place in the period from September to November 2020. Each meeting will be dedicated to scientific research from four different areas – biomedicine, education, technology, social sciences, and humanities – as well as students’ perspective on the pandemic’s consequences. The final, fifth meeting will enable students to voice their dilemmas and reflections upon the future of higher education and society at large. Before the beginning of each session, a book of extended abstracts will be published. Finally, following the end of the cycle, we will produce a document titled COVID-19 UNIRI MESSAGES, which will contain our conclusions about the direction and importance of further scientific research and social agency. By publishing COVID-19 UNIRI MESSAGES, the University of Rijeka, supported by the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Art – Department of Biomedical Sciences in Rijeka, wants to contribute to the exchange of ideas that aims to make us more apt to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, and to stress the University’s devotion to our public mission of social responsibility.
I – Advancement in Virology Research – an Opportunity to Improve International Impact of the University of Rijeka – 24 I 9 I 2020
Popis sudionika
| 9.00 – 9.30 | Registration/Welcome coffee |
| 9.30 – 10.00 | 0pening/Introduction
· Snježana Prijić Samaržija / Rector, University of Rijeka / COVID-19 SYMPOSIA: THE AIMS AND SCOPE |
| 10.00 – 10.45 | I. Keynote lecture Chair: Stipan Jonjić · Ivan Đikić, Goethe University Frankfurt and Max Planck Institute for Biophysics / Papain-like protease regulates SARS-CoV-2 viral spread and innate immunity |
| 10.45 – 12.15 | II. Virology research at the University of Rijeka Chairs: Pero Lučin and Bojan Polić · Stipan Jonjić / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine / Scientific achievements and international impact of research in virology at the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka · Bojan Polić / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine /Center for translational medical research (TransMedRi) – Prerequisite for successful development of immunology and virology in Croatia · Pero Lučin / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine / Cellular physiology of viral infection · Igor Jurak / University of Rijeka, Department of Biotechnology / From Basic to Applied Research in Virology – Emergency Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| 12.15 – 13.00 | Break for refreshment |
| 13.00 – 14.00 | III. COVID-19: Clinics, Epidemiology and Diagnostics Chairs: Tomislav Rukavina and Igor Jurak · Tomislav Rukavina /University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine / Epidemiological aspects of SARS-COV-2 infection · Vanda Juranić Lisnić / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine / Diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 in Rijeka: transforming research laboratory and expertize into clinics · Đurđica Cekinović Grbeša / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine / COVID-19 clinical aspects – experience from Infectious diseases Clinic at the Clinical hospital center Rijeka |
| 14.00 – 14.15 | Coffee break |
| 14.15 – 15.00 | IV. Research Projects funded by the Croatian Science Foundation Chairs: Maja Abram and Vanda Juranić Lisnić · Ilija Brizić / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine / No more hiding CoV-2: Establishment of SARS-Cov-2 mAbeom · Astrid Krmpotić / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine / Highly attenuated β-herpesvirus with potent immunomodulatory capacity as vaccine vector against SARS-CoV-2 · Felix Wensveen / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine / Memory manipulation; development of novel strategies to enhance the memory CD8 T cell response against COVID-19 following vaccination · Ana Meštrović / University of Rijeka, Department of Informatics / Multilayer Framework for the Information Spreading Characterization in Social Media during the COVID-19 Crisis · Dalida Rittossa / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Law / Life in the time of COVID-19 – social implications on the security and well-being of vulnerable groups in the European context |
| 15.15 – 16.00 | Session 4: Panel Discussion – Reaching Common Grounds Panelists: · Ivan Đikić / Goethe University Frankfurt and Max Planck Institute for Biophysics · Stipan Jonjić / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine · Bojan Polić / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine · Pero Lučin / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine · Igor Jurak / University of Rijeka, Department of Biotechnology · Vladimir Mićović / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine · Daniel Rukavina / Croatian Academy of Sciences and Art, Head of the Department for Biomedical Sciences in Rijeka · Snježana Prijić Samaržija / Rector, University of Rijeka |
II – Higher Education in COVID-19 Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities – 6 I 10 I 2020
| 8.30 – 9.00 | Registration/Welcome coffee |
| 9.00 – 9.30 | Opening/Introduction · Snježana Prijić Samaržija / Rector, University of Rijeka / COVID-19 SYMPOSIA: THE AIMS AND SCOPE · Daniel Rukavina / Croatian Academy of Sciences and Art, Head of the Department for Biomedical Sciences in Rijeka / COVID-19 MESSAGES IN HIGHER EDUCATION · Marta Žuvić / Vice-Rector, University of Rijeka / LEARNING &TEACHING AT UNIRI 2020/21 – FACING NEW NORMAL |
| 9.30 -12.00 | Keynote speakers: Higher Education: New insights in crisis time? Chair: Marta Žuvić · Wim Van Petegem / Catholic University of Leuven / THE AGILE DIGITAL SCHOLAR. NEW COMPETENCES FOR TEACHING IN THE DIGITAL AGE · Michael Gaebel / Higher Education Policy Unit at European University Association / DIGITALLY ENHANCED LEARNING & TEACHING – IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND BEYOND · Sandra Kučina Softić / University of Zagreb, University Computing Centre SRCE / GOING ONLINE – LESSONS LEARNED FROM CROATIAN HE PERSPECTIVE · Ulf-Daniel Ehlers / Baden-Wurttemberg State University in Stuttgart / THE FUTURE OF LEARNING AND HIGHER EDUCATION |
| 12.00 – 13.00 | Break for refreshment |
| 13.00 – 14.30 | Session 1: Experiences and Good Practice at University of Rijeka Chair: Marta Žuvić · Nataša Hoić Božić / University of Rijeka, Department of Informatics / E-LEARNING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RIJEKA – POTENTIALS OF COVID-19 CRISIS · Vanja Smokvina / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Law / UNIRI AND COVID-19 CRISIS, A CHANCE WE SHOULD TAKE · Nelida Črnjarić-Žic / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Engineering / DISTANCE LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN LARGE STUDENTS’ GROUP · Vedrana Mikulić Crnković / University of Rijeka, Department of Mathematics / OPPORTUNITIES IN MOODLE BASED E-TEACHING OF MATHEMATICS |
| 14.30 – 15.00 | Coffee break |
| 15.00 – 17.00 | Session 2: Panel discussion – Challenges and opportunities of COVID-19 crisis in HE Moderator: Marta Žuvić Panelists: · Wim Van Petegem / Catholic University of Leuven · Manel Jimenez Morales / Universitat Pompeu Fabra · Sandra Kučina Softić / University of Zagreb, University Computing Centre SRCE · Nataša Hoić Božić / University of Rijeka · Snježana Prijić-Samaržija / University of Rijeka |
| 17.00 – 17.30 | Closing remarks |
III – Stem for Human Species Survival – 22 I 10 I 2020
| 11.30 – 12.00 | Registration/Welcome coffee |
| 12.00 – 12.30 | Opening/Introduction · Snježana Prijić Samaržija / Rector, University of Rijeka · Daniel Rukavina / Croatian Academy of Sciences and Art, Head of the Department for Biomedical Sciences in Rijeka · Senka Maćešić / Vice-Rector, University of Rijeka |
| 12.30 – 14.30 | Session 1: Survival challenges: the big picture Chair: Senka Maćešić · Marin Karuza / University of Rijeka, Department of Physics and INFN Sezione di Trieste/ Physics of space travel: prospects of humans as multi planet species · Neven Duić / University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture: COVID-19, climate change and energy transition · Edgar Roldan / International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste / Lecithin as a putative biodegradable inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 · Ivan Štajduhar / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Engineering / BirdbrAIn genius – the Reach and Limitations of Machine Intelligence |
| 14.30 – 15.00 | Coffee break |
| 15.00 – 17.00 | Session 2: IT against COVID-19 Chair: Jonatan Lerga · Mislav Malenica / Mindsmiths d.o.o. / Companion Healthcare – a new paradigm in the treatment of chronic patients · Ana Meštrović / University of Rijeka, Department of Informatics / A multilayer network approach for fake news detection during the COVID-19 crisis · Kristijan Lenac / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Engineering / Blockchain solutions for postpandemic society · Goran Mauša / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Engineering / Application of soft computing in peptide design |
| 17.00 – 17.30 | Coffee break |
| 17.30 -18.30 | Keynote lecture Chair: Senka Maćešić · Igor Mezić / University of California, Santa Barbara / Predictions and black swans |
| 18.30 – 19.30 | Session 4: Are we equipped for our futur Chair: Senka Maćešić · Mladen Pejković / Atlantic group · Igor Mezić / University of California, Santa Barbara · Neven Duić / University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture · Mislav Malenica / Mindsmiths d.o.o. |
| 19.30 – 20.00 | Closing remarks |
IV – Brave New World? Democracy, Rights and Justice in COVID-19 Era – 12 I 11 I 2020
| 8.30 – 9.00 | Registration/Welcome coffee |
| 9.00 – 9.30 | Opening/Introduction · Snježana Prijić Samaržija / Rector, University of Rijeka · Daniel Rukavina / Croatian Academy of Sciences and Art, Head of the Department for Biomedical Sciences in Rijeka · Elvio Baccarini / Deputy Rector, University of Rijeka |
| 9.30 -10.30 | Keynote speaker: · Snježana Prijić Samaržija / Rector, University of Rijeka / Brave new world |
| 10.30 – 12.30 | Session 1: Ethical perspective on COVID-19: Public Health and Research Chair: Elvio Baccarini · John McMillan / University of Otago, New Zeeland / WHY WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE METHODS IN BIOETHICS · Massimo Reichlin / University of San Raffaele, Milan / THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE HYPOTHESIS OF AGE-RATIONING. AN ETHICAL ANALYSIS |
| 12.30 – 13.30 | Break for refreshment |
| 13.30 – 16.00 | Session 2: COVID-19: Societal and Institutional Challenges Chair: Snježana Prijić Samaržija · Alen Ružić / Deputy Rector, University of Rijeka and Director of Clinical Hospital Rijeka / TRANSFORMATION OF HEALTHCARE DURING COVID-19: FROM LOCKDOWN TO THE NEW NORMAL · Sanja Barić / Deputy Rector, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Law / STATE OF QUASI-EMERGENCY, COMPETENCE, PROPORTIONALITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, JUDICIAL CONTROL · Elvio Baccarini / Deputy Rector, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences / HOW TO INTERPRET BASIC RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES IN STATE OF EMERGENCY? · Saša Drezgić / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, Head of the Centre for Smart and Sustainable Cities / ECONOMIC AND FISCAL IMPACTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMICS · Nebojša Zelič / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Head of Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies / INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND INSTITUTIONAL SOLIDARITY IN TIME OF COVID-19 |
| 16.00 – 16.30 | Coffee break |
| 16.30 – 18.30 | Session 3: Panel Discussion COVID-19: Communication between experts and society Moderators: Snježana Prijić Samaržija and Elvio Baccarini · Alen Ružić / Deputy Rector, University of Rijeka, and Director of Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka · Sanja Barić / Deputy Rector, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Law · Elvio Baccarini / Deputy Rector, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences · Saša Drezgić / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, Head of the Centre for Smart and Sustainable Cities · Nebojša Zelič / University of Rijeka, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Head of Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies |
| 18.00 – 18.30 | Closing remarks |
V – COVID-19 From Student Perspective: Impact, Analysis and Recommendations
| 8.30 – 9.00 | Registration/Welcome coffee |
| 9.00 – 9.30 | Opening/Introduction · Snježana Prijić Samaržija / Rector, University of Rijeka · Daniel Rukavina / Croatian Academy of Sciences and Art, Head of the Department for Biomedical Sciences in Rijeka · Tea Dimnjašević / Student Council, University of Rijeka |
| 9.30 -10.30 | Keynote speaker: · Gohar Hovhannisyan / Robert Napier/ (ESU)/ Student life during COVID – 19 pandemic – Results of the survey
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| 10.30 – 12.30 | Session 1: YUFE students’ perspective on COVID-19 Chair:· Jessica Winter/ (YUFE), University of Bremen · Jens Matthens/ (YUFE), University of Antwerp · UNIRI student |
| 12.30 – 13.30 | Break for refreshment |
| 13.30 – 16.00 | Session 2:
Digital era: Are we ready for the new normal? · E-learning
· Renato Nović / Croatian Student Council, University of Zadar · Student Council of University of Rijeka
· Tea Dimnjašević / Online student elections at the University of Rijeka
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| 16.00 – 16.30 | Coffee break |
| 16.30 – 18.30 | Session 3: Panel Discussion COVID-19: Beyond the COVID-19: Uncertain future
· University Counselling Center |
| 18.00 – 18.30 | Closing remarks |
COVID-19 Messages – Conference Program Committee
Prof. Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, Ph.D. 
Daniel Rukavina, Academician 
Prof. Alen Ružić, M.D., Ph.D. 
Prof. Senka Maćešić, Ph.D. 
Prof. Marta Žuvić, Ph.D. 
Prof. Elvio Baccarini, Ph.D. 
Tea Dimnjašević
COVID-19 Messages – Conference Organizational Board
Andrea Mešanović, Head
Nina Kolaković
Danijela Bradamante
Slobodan Šolaja
Željana Mikovčić