Photo: Smiltene Secondary School

At the beginning of December, Andris Šutka, tenured professor and Director of the Institute of Physics and Materials Science at Riga Technical University (RTU), visited Smiltene Secondary School. Within the LACISE project, he leads the RTU research team working on sustainable hydrogen production solutions. The event brought together students from grades 10–12 who have chosen to study chemistry in depth.

Andris Šutka is a graduate of Smiltene Secondary School (2004), and this visit was a special reunion with his former school and chemistry teacher, Jānis Celmiņš. During the meeting, the professor shared his experience in science, spoke about research directions, and explained how scientific achievements are made – step by step. He emphasized that STEM fields are not only full of challenges but also offer broad opportunities for growth and diverse career paths.

Addressing the students, Prof. Šutka inspired them by saying that science is not just theory; it is also creativity, innovation, and a real chance to shape the future. He encouraged young people not to be afraid and to choose their own path in the diverse world of STEM. The meeting was a great opportunity for students to see that science begins right there – at school – and can lead to world-class discoveries.