OREANDA-NEWS. September 27, 2011. Lithuania’s major chemical industry company ORLEN Lietuva has granted a one-time scholarship of 10,000 Litas to Arturas Katelnikovas, chemistry PhD student of Vilnius University. The young scientist explores synthetic materials necessary for turning the electric power into light, which usage could allow saving enormous amounts of the electric power in the future, reported the press-centre of ORLEN Lietuva.

PhD student Arturas Katelnikovas seeks to synthesize materials which could be used in light-emitting diodes (LEDs). “LEDs are very efficient because about 80% of electric power is being converted into light. Meanwhile the efficiency of the common heat or compact luminescence lamps reaches only a few per cent. By changing heat and luminescence lamps into LEDs, enormous amounts of electric power could be saved. “ORLEN Lietuva” scholarship will give additional motivation for continuing the work that has been started,” said A. Katelnikovas.

The winner of the scholarship, established by „ORLEN Lietuva“ for the occasion of the International Year of Chemistry, 2011, was chosen during the special contest for the PhD students in chemistry field by the Presidium of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences.  

“One of the most important strategic aims of the Academy of Sciences is promotion of the high level scientific researches and studies. I am very glad that more and more enterprises and businessmen in Lithuania understand the importance of education and science to the success of their companies“, said Professor Valdemaras Razumas, President of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. At the same time, the professor noted that, in Lithuania, business expense for the scientific research and development sector is almost six times lower than the EU average.

“Only after understanding the significance of chemistry science to our lives, we could take part in new discoveries, which could be very important for expanding the knowledge, hence motivating economical progress and creating stable environment,” said Ireneusz Fafara, General Director of ORLEN Lietuva.
 
By the resolution of the United Nations, the year 2011 was announced as the International Year of Chemistry. The refining company ORLEN Lietuva joined this initiative with the program of science‘s spread and knowledge, which sponsor is the National committee of UNESCO in Lithuania.  One of the main parts of this program is major attention to the work of young scientists, universities and the initiatives from pupils.