Two research teams of Riga Technical University (RTU) were congratulated at the award ceremony of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) competition «The Most Significant Scientific Achievements in 2023». The LAS recognised the silicon photonics optical modulator technology developed by researchers at the Institute of Photonics, Electronics and Electronic Communications of the RTU Faculty of Computer Science, Information Technology and Energy as one of the most significant achievements in theoretical science of the past year. One of the achievements in applied science is the development of research in the field of wastewater epidemiology in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, carried out by the Water Research and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory of the RTU Faculty of Science and Technology in collaboration with other research organisations.
The past year has been an amazingly productive one for research, with areas such as digitalisation, robotics, artificial intelligence, biological process understanding and disease control, smart and green energy, and food technologies developing rapidly. The contribution of researchers in the humanities and social sciences has also been consistently high, says LAS President Ivars Kalviņš.
Silicon photonics is an innovative field that is developing rapidly, making a major contribution to the efficiency of data centres, 5G and 6G networks and the development of artificial intelligence. The silicon photonic optical modulator technology developed at RTU is characterised by high energy efficiency and the ability to provide higher bandwidth in micrometer-sized devices. This enables data transmission speeds of up to 170 Gbit/s, which set a world record. The RTU solution benefits from tight integration with existing microelectronics platforms and energy-efficient data transmission.This achievement strengthens Latvia's position in the global science and technology market, offering high added value products and services, contributing to economic growth and supporting sustainable development. The scientists' achievements have also been recognised internationally, as evidenced by the world record, publications in prestigious scientific journals and participation in international conferences, such as the IEEE SiPhotonics 2023 conference in the USA. A patent application has also been filed.
Authors: tenured professor, academician Oskars Ozoliņš, Mg.sc.ing. Armands Ostrovskis, Ph.D. Aleksandrs Mariņins, Mg.sc.ing. Ints Murāns, Mg.sc.ing. Arvīds Sedulis, Mg.sc.ing. Kristaps Rubuls, Ph.D. Toms Salgals, Corresponding Member of the LAS, Professor Jurģis Poriņš, Ph.D. Xiaodan Pang, LAS Corresponding Member Professor Sandis Spolītis, Dr.sc.ing. Vjačeslavs Bobrovs. Institution: RTU
Also of significant importance is a series of studies by the RTU Water Research and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre and the Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment Research Institute «BIOR» on the use of wastewater research in public health assessment and infectious disease prediction. The first study in the series demonstrated the applicability of wastewater in biomarker assessments of different drug consumption and population numbers, the second evaluated its use in monitoring changes in the incidence of Covid-19, and the third in predicting the incidence of Covid-19. The results were used as a basis for the development of a permanent wastewater monitoring system in Latvia, which is currently being used to monitor disease prevalence and SARS-CoV-2 variants in Latvian cities.
Researchers from the University of Latvia and the Latvian University of Biosciences and Technology, as well as industry partners from «Exponential Technologies Ltd.» and «Latvijas Mobilais Telefons» Ltd. Representatives of water utilities in 16 different cities are actively involved in collecting most of the wastewater samples used in the studies and analysed as part of the monitoring system.
Authors: LAS academician, Professor Tālis Juhna, Ph.D. Brigita Dejus, Dr.sc.ing. Sandis Dejus, Mg.sc.ing. Mārtiņš Strods. Institution: RTU. Mg. Pāvels Cacivkins («Exponential Technologies Ltd.»). Mg.biol. Dita Gudrā, Mg.biol. Maija Ustinova, Mg.biol. Ance Roga, Mg.biol. Līga Birzniece, Bc.biol. Edmunds Skinderskis, LAS Corresponding Member Dāvids Fridmanis. Institution: Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre. Mg.biol. Juris Ķibilds, Mg.Biol. Guntis Boikmanis, Mg.biol. Karīna Ortlova, Mg.Biol. Laura Krivko, Dr.chem.Iveta Pugajeva, Dr.chem. Vadims Bartkevičs, LAS academician Aivars Bērziņš. Institution: Scientific Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment «BIOR». Dr.med. Dr. Uga Dumpis. Institution: University of Latvia
In order to promote the achievements of Latvian science more widely, the LAS started to collect and evaluate the achievements in all fields of science in 2002.
Forty-nine entries were evaluated in the 2023 competition: 17 in the natural, medical and health sciences, 14 in the material and engineering sciences, 14 in the humanities, arts and social sciences, and four in the agricultural and forest sciences. Ten scientific papers representing the main fields of science were named winners by the LAS.
