The war continues in Ukraine. In the very center of Europe, cities are being bombarded with rockets, civilians are being killed, and culture is being destroyed. Ukraine fights against the enemy and defends European values. We fight for united, free, and peaceful Europe.
In this war, the enemy is deliberately trying to destroy not only the infrastructure and military facilities of Ukraine but also scientific and educational ones. This once again proves that science cannot be considered apolitical. The enemy is trying to deprive us of our right to self-determination and exploration. According to the data of the UAScience survey conducted in April 2022, more than 2,000 Ukrainian scientists (38 %) were forced to move to other regions of the country since the beginning of the war, about 15 % left abroad, and 7 % of them are in active combat zones. For some scientists, there are physical barriers, such as access to laboratories and work spaces, lack of electricity and water, and constant stress. However, they continue their work in the conditions of war, are empathetic and organized, and keep the line. The Ukrainian scientists prove by their own actions and achievements that science, along with the army and diplomacy, is a powerful force in confronting hybrid and hot military threats from the Russian Federation.
On the 86th day since the beginning of Russia's armed aggression on the territory of Ukraine, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, in cooperation with the NGO “Institute of Cross-Border Initiatives” and the Lutsk Volyn Pride Rotary Club, held the 1st International Charity Conference “TOGETHER UNITED: scientists against war”.
The multidisciplinary nature of the event made it possible to ensure the integration of scientists, representatives of various academic disciplines, and all those who are concerned about the consequences of military conflict and restoring development and peace in the third millennium. A scientific and practical platform was created for the exchange of opinions between all conference participants regarding the problems of war and the involvement of the scientific community in charity activities. We all aspire to restore development and peace in Ukraine. After all, one of the key tasks of the event was the collection of funds to support the Armed Forces and people affected by the military aggression of the Russian Federation.
The conference was attended by 123 prominent scientists, practitioners, students-economists, internationalists, historians, mathematicians, managers, political scientists, geographers, philologists, as well as representatives of the Volyn Regional Military Administration, Voluntary VolWest Hub, Kivertsi Museum of Local History, and scientific and educational institutions. Among them Yasar University (Izmir, Turkey), Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Institute of Industrial Economics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, M. V. Ptuha Institute of Demography and Social Research, M. I. Dolishnyi Institute of Regional Studies at National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Vadym Hetman Kyiv National University of Economics, Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University, National Aviation University (Kyiv, Zhukovsky National Aerospace University (Kharkiv), A. S. Makarenko Sumy State Pedagogical University, Lutsk National Technical University, VSP “Liubeshiv Technical Vocational College” of Lutsk National Technical University, and Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University.
Practitioners, organizations and institutions that systematically provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainians in need, took an active part in the work of the plenary session of the conference. A warm atmosphere of friendly communication prevailed. Everyone was united by the theme of the war in Ukraine and participation in a charity event.
The reports highlighted progressive thoughts on the development of science for the sake of the Victory of Ukraine.
The participants of the event collected UAH 10,100. Many thanks to everyone for joining our initiative to direct organizational funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukrainian science in this difficult time. It is very important. We have sent certificates of appreciation to everyone who got interested in the charity event.
Special thanks to the scientific team, which took on all responsibility for the organization of the charity conference:
– to the initiator of the event Iryna Tsimbalyuk, professor of the department of Entrepreneurship and Marketing of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Doctor of Economic Sciences;
– to a conference coordinator Nataliia Khomiuk, associate professor of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Marketing of Lesya Ukrainka University, Doctor of Economic Sciences;
– to a conference coordinator Maksym Voichuk, Deputy Chairman of the Public Organization “Institute of Cross-Border Initiatives” Board, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Head of the Research Department of the Lutsk National Technical University;
– to a conference coordinator Nataliia Naumenko, Associate Professor of the Department of International Economic Relations and Project Management of Lesya Ukrainka University, Candidate of Economic Sciences;
– to the chief secretary of the charity conference Olha Korneliuk, associate professor of the Department of International Economic Relations and Project Management of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, candidate of economic sciences;
– to the manager of the event Vladyslav Kolomechyuk, the head of the International Relations Department of the Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Ph.D. in Economics.
Today, we have all united against aggression and in the face of great challenges. We will win because science is the way to the future. A high-quality educational process is our front. Each of us, an educator or a scientist, must become a leader today. Self-improvement, acquiring new knowledge and experience, inspiring colleagues by one's own example, and encouraging our students are our signposts on the way to victory. And we will rebuild the destroyed buildings of our educational institutions! We will fill them and those that have survived with new content and educational programs that are needed for a revived Ukraine. We remember that tomorrow begins today, despite the pain of loss...
Let's honor the bright memory of the Ukrainian scientists who perished in the war. Let's believe in the power of scientific thought and admire the achievements of Ukrainian scientists. Let's be strong and stick together. Let's march towards victory with dignity, praying to God and with Ukraine in our hearts!
Natalia PAVLIKHA,
the conference coordinator,
Head of the Laboratory of Projects and Initiatives
at Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University,
Chairman of the Board of the NGO “Institute of Cross-Border Initiatives”,
the President of the Lutsk Volyn Pride Rotary Club,
Professor at the Department of International Economic Relations and Project Management,
Doctor of Economic Sciences
