160 students of Semmelweis University participated in the Medical and Health Sciences Section of the National Scientific Student Conference (OTDK) held at the University of Szeged. Out of the participating Semmelweis students, 32 won 1st prize, 42 won 2nd prize, and 22 won special prizes.
This year, the National Scientific Student Conference (OTDK) was organized for the 35th time and its Medical and Health Sciences Section was hosted by the University of Szeged. During the event organized between 6-9 April, students representing 13 Hungarian and higher education institutions from the neighboring countries took part in the event with 20 project works in 77 sections. Semmelweis University was represented in the largest number by 173 presentations and was followed by the University of Debrecen with 114 presentations.
According to the event report prepared by the University of Szeged, the most popular topics were physiology, pathophysiology, cardiovascular medicine and neuroscience. The international jury consisted of 236 members, including members from Romania, Austria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, who evaluated the 10-minute presentations held via Zoom. 45 senior lecturers and researchers of Semmelweis University were among the jury.
“They do not compete with each other but with themselves. Here they understand and learn what is the most important about spending a meaningful life: getting to know and using the creativity within ourselves. It is often said that modern medicine is built on adherence to properly executed protocols. But the real challenge is to create new protocols involving modern knowledge. For those who participate in the National Scientific Student Conference, this opportunity opens up”, said Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged.
Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategy held a greeting speech. The participating students and their supervisors, as well as those interested were also greeted by Dr. György Lázár, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Szeged, Dr. György Kosztolányi, full member and Vice-President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Péter Szendrő, President of the National Scientific Student Council, Dr. László Mátyus, Chairman of the Professional Committee, and Dr. Zoltán Rakonczay, the Executive Chairman of the section.
160 students of Semmelweis University participated in the competition, 95 of them earning a recognition. 31 students won 1st prize, 41 won 2nd prize, and 22 won a special prize. The new feature of this year’s event was that the winners of the section have been granted the right to participate in the 16-section competition of presentations, which is expected to take place in the first week of September and will be held traditionally (in person).
At the opening ceremony held on 6 April, Dr. Botond Roska, Director of the Institute of Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), a world-renowned neurobiologist, visiting professor of Semmelweis University, awardee of the Semmelweis Budapest Award held a presentation. On the closing day of the event, as a joint program with the Szeged Scientist Academy, those interested could listen to the presentation of Sir Tim Hunt, a Nobel Prize-winning researcher.
A short summary of the project works can be found in the official publication of the Medical and Health Sciences Section of the 35th National Scientific Student Conference.
The result list is available by clicking here.
Ádám Szabó, SZTEinfo
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University (illustration)
Translation: Katalin Illés-Romhányi
