Interview with students participating in the "International Student Scientific Conference"

The University of Tirana organized the "International Student Scientific Conference", for the first time of this size, with the participation of 295 students and researchers from 29 public and private institutions, where a total of 128 studies and works from all fields were presented: linguistics, Albanianology , legal science, social science and natural science.

We are bringing the opinions of some of the young people who participated in this conference.

Erikson Nikolli, has recently finished his studies for a Master of Science in Archeology at the Department of Archeology and Cultural Heritage at the Faculty of History and Philology (UT).

What topic did you choose for your paper?

The topic I have chosen to address at the International Student Scientific Conference is about some works of art by the author Max Velo which were censored during the communist period, after the author was convicted of agitation and propaganda. About 468 different works of art were burned by Max Velo and only 35 survived. Today we are happy that to these 35 works belonging to the first artistic period of the author, 5 more are added which were recently discovered by us. The author's signature was covered with ink so that it could not be read by viewers, as he was already considered an enemy of the regime and influenced by modern art trends.

Why did you choose this topic and why did you choose to devote yourself to research?

I chose to address this topic because of the great importance these works have to complete the artistic activity of Max Velos. These works are a part of the author's life, they are historical evidence of the period in which he lived, a period where freedom of expression in different forms was limited and had to follow its paradigm. Therefore, these works of art speak with their silence and present to us viewers, a panorama of the savage regime of the past, but at the same time with their discovery we manage to revive the author and their resistance to the dust of time emits hope and the message that freedom always prevails. . So we were very determined to finish this study and present it to our colleagues and the future generation to appreciate the importance of scientific research and that its products bring to light new information that helps to discover the unknown. , of the forgotten and the secret.

How difficult is it today to deal with studies or scientific research?

Today, the opportunities to conduct studies or scientific research are numerous and every day more spaces and facilities are created for us young researchers to undertake research initiatives. A concrete example was the International Student Scientific Conference, which served as a medium and environment that promotes scientific research, in which many young researchers participated. Also, communication with specialists in the field in order to get advice and information has become easier today and they are always open to help the new generation of researchers. 

Of course, there are problems such as the impossibility of seeing specific funds deposited in different institutions due to bureaucracy, so their digitization and access to the general public would allow more facilities to undertake scientific research as well as to have as comprehensive a study as possible.

A message to other young people?

I would encourage all young people to take up scientific research in order to advance our respective fields of study as well as factor the importance and role our generation has in the scientific sphere, which is a dynamic and energetic impulse ready for the future.