OREANDA-NEWS. December 19, 2008. The Company will also invite other companies to join the activities of the Fund, reported the press-centre of Lietuvos Draudimas.

In 2009, the Fund will grant bonuses to students of VU Faculty of Natural Sciences for performed studies and other research activities. Themes of scientific papers and studies – effects of climate change on Lithuania. Scholarships, in the first year amounting to the total amount of LTL 10,000, will be granted to students of all three levels of bachelor, master and doctor’s degree. In 2009, 6 students will be awarded – two from each level.

“Students of VU Faculty of Natural Sciences actively participate in different environmental campaigns and projects and in their preparation. In my opinion, the establishment of special scholarships for the best scientific papers on the subject of climate change in Lithuania will be a good impetus for them to be more active in this field which is of high relevance both, for the academic community and for the public“, - said Prof. Kestutis Kilkus, Dean of  VU Faculty of Natural Sciences.

The 2009 bonus fund will be financed by AB Lietuvos Draudimas, but future plans include active involvement of larger numbers of companies and organisations which support environmental ideas.

“We want to help in addressing the problems relevant for the society. Environmental protection is one of the key problems; the future of our children depends upon how we treat the nature today. As the initiators of positive changes we hope to encourage more companies to joint the activities of the Fund“, - said Kestutis Serpytis, Director General of the Insurance Company.

“The problem of climate change is not only the naturalists' concern. Business community and policy-makers also have an important role to play in investigating the environmental and economic impact of climate change, because their attitude towards environmental protection predetermines the great majority of economic and political solutions.

The dialogue with young scientists and involvement of different interest groups in the Fund's activities is expected to stimulate the achievement of joint strategic goals in adapting to climate change and to facilitate the realisation of tasks aimed at satisfying current needs“, - said Arunas Bukantis, Head of Hydrology and Climatology Department, introducing the global warming effects for Lithuania during the meeting.

In future, when the number of the Fund's sponsors becomes larger, financing will be provided for eco-projects and summer camps organized by students of VU Faculty of Natural Sciences during which students engage in different environmental protection related activities (e.g., measurements of pollution of rivers, etc.).

Students seeking the Fund's support for 2009 will have to submit relevant papers until 1 June 2009. Evaluation and selection of their papers will be carried out until 1 September 2009. The winners will be announced and the Fund's support will be disbursed within one month of the end of selection.

Bonus applicants will have to include in their works the results of their personal research conducted on the subject of climate change tendencies in Lithuania, effects of climate change on the environment, fauna and flora; awards will also be granted for scientifically grounded proposals how to mitigate implications of climate change for the environment and biota.

Student papers will be selected by special commission formed from the Faculty lecturers, Lietuvos Draudimas and student representatives. Selection criteria: relevance, high academic standards, possibilities to continue research and – what is the most important – clear and concrete research results providing society with realistic and releasable know-how.

Lietuvos Draudimas, the leader of the country's insurance market, belongs to RSA – one of the largest insurance groups which provides insurance services in 130 countries to more than 20 million customers in the whole world.