ISEC Dean Atom Mkhitaryan Participates in International Conference on Science and Education
November 13, 2026
From October 10 to 19, an international conference titled "Strategy for the Development of Science and Education in a Changing World" was held in Erice (Sicily), Italy, under the auspices of UNESCO. The event was organized by The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), and the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture.
The International Scientific-Educational Center of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (ISEC NAS RA) was represented at the conference by Dean Atom Mkhitaryan (PhD in Physics and Mathematics, Associate Professor of Pedagogy). He delivered a scientific report and moderated a workshop dedicated to the smooth transition from higher education to scientific research.
The event brought together representatives from the scientific and educational sectors of various countries to discuss contemporary challenges in scientific advancement, the integration of artificial intelligence in education, enhancing public trust in science, and building scientific capacity among youth.
Within the framework of the conference, following Atom Mkhitaryan’s initiative, an international project aimed at engaging youth in science was developed. The project was presented at the plenary session and received the endorsement of academy representatives from the participating countries. He also shared ISEC NAS RA’s best practices in effective higher education management.
Participation in the conference provided an opportunity to establish ties with representatives of the national academies of sciences of France, the USA, Italy, Serbia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, and Tunisia regarding future joint programs, academic exchanges, and prospects for scientific cooperation.
Particularly noteworthy were the meetings with Bruce Alberts, former President of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and Pierre Léna, Honorary President of the French Academy of Sciences. Expressing keen interest in the activities of NAS RA and the prospects for scientific development in Armenia, Pierre Léna stated his readiness to support international collaboration for Armenian scientists and research institutions.
Following the conference, the Erice Declaration was adopted, aimed at promoting the popularization of science and improving the quality of education.
This participation marked another significant milestone in showcasing Armenia's scientific potential on the international stage, disseminating the expertise of ISEC NAS RA, and forging new partnerships.
P.S. Thanks to the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture, Erice has become one of the world’s most prominent hubs and a gathering place for the global scientific elite since the 1960s. Through the efforts of the Center’s founder and president, Antonino Zichichi, Erice has hosted numerous Nobel Laureates and some of the greatest physicists of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Paul Dirac, Richard Feynman, Pyotr Kapitsa, John Bell, Max Born, Robert Oppenheimer, Erwin Schrödinger, and others.
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