THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE SZEGED SCIENTISTS ACADEMY INTO THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENTIST EDUCATION
In 2013, the Foundation for the Future of Biomedical Sciences in Szeged established the Szeged Scientists Academy. Based on the results listed over the years, it came to the point in 2021 where - with the support of the Hungarian government – the name of the Foundation was changed to National Biomedical Foundation and the program expanded to National Academy of Scientist Education (NASE) program, to include all cities with institutes of higher education in human life sciences (Budapest, Debrecen, Pécs, Szeged).
The short-term goal of the program remained to embrace talented young people interested in biomedical research, to support their scientific work, to make the career model of scientists more attractive, as well as to keep young researchers in Hungary in the long-term.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENTIST EDUCATION
One of the essential innovations of the educational processes of the Szeged Scientists Academy, and then of the National Academy of Scientist Education is that it guides students who are talented in research through the steps of becoming a scientist from their secondary school years.
The 7 National and the 23 Regional Education Centres
The principal education of the secondary school pupils takes place in seven National Education Centres (in Debrecen, Gödöllő, Hódmezővásárhely, Pécs, Szeged and Szombathely) and 21 Regional Education Centres.
The Regional Education Centres are led by the Szent-Györgyi Senior Teachers whose primary task is to find and mentor the pupils within their region who are particularly interested in natural sciences and are later planning to choose a research career.
The professional background to the regular theoretical and practical trainings organized by the Senior Teachers is constantly provided by the Academy.
The NASE’s Scientific Partner Institutions
The university students are trained in four cities (Budapest, Debrecen, Pécs, Szeged), in six Scientific Laboratories, at the best-equipped laboratories in the country, under the professional supervision of the best mentors (the socalled Szent-Györgyi Mentors). In each laboratory, a group of mentors awaits the students, who will also start research work along with their university studies. On the educational side, some university students are helped with an individual curriculum, so students can independently plan being in the laboratory when necessary for their research work. Of course, high-quality research activity cannot come at the expense of educational obligations.
The work of the Szent-Györgyi Mentors is supported by an International Mentor Team of nearly 60 members including outstanding researchers, even several Nobel Laureates.
The first dormitory of the Academy was opened in Szeged and has been available for the university students since September 2022.
THE BERT SAKMANN DORMITORY
The aim of the Academy is to ensure that the program’s conditions meet high professional expectations, and that those participating in the program are placed in a highly motivating, quality environment.
This idea has already been realized in Szeged when the NASE’s first dormitory – the Bert Sakmann Dormitory – was opened in the spring of 2022. In addition to several student rooms, there is also an international mentor room, where Nobel Laureates and other internationally renowned mentors can comfortably spend time in the company of young people. In addition to these rooms, a community and educational space has been created, where cultural programs, professional forums and trainings are organized for the students of the Academy.
The aim of the Academy is to educate broad-minded intellectuals who, in addition to their excellent professional knowledge, will be useful members of society.
In the summer of 2022, Professor Bert Sakmann donated the original duplicate of his Nobel Prize medal and diploma to the Academy, which are exhibited in the dormitory named after him, to the delight of the visitors and the students living there.
