On 19 June, 161 graduates of the Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU MVZF) received their higher education diplomas, 122 of them completing undergraduate programmes and 39 master's study programmes.
Photographs from the event can be viewed and downloaded via this link.
Those present and the graduates were addressed by Professor Vivita Puķīte, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences (MVZF):
"Today we celebrate excellence, diligence and perseverance, because it is precisely these qualities that have helped you, our graduates, to make this journey from your first day of study at the university to graduation. All the examination boards noted that the final theses were written on topics of current relevance to the industry, and they offered advice to take with you along the way – keep up with changes in regulation, use correct terminology in practice, and do not stop at what you have already achieved. We are proud that graduates of our faculty are sought-after and respected specialists in the labour market. So remember – the path you choose from here on will shape and influence our country's society and environment in the future. I wish you all the best of luck and creative strength in the work ahead!"
Four graduates received their higher education diplomas from the professional bachelor's study programme "Construction", earning a professional bachelor's degree in construction science and the qualification of building civil engineer. In this programme, Inga Kaufmane's thesis "A Sports Facility in Liepāja" (supervisor: Mg.sc.ing. D. Puzānova) was singled out as the best.
In the short-cycle (first-cycle) professional study programme "Construction", one graduate, Emīls Martinovsks, received a diploma; his final thesis "A Warehouse in Roja" (supervisor: Mg.sc.ing. S. Štrausa) was highly commended.
Fourteen new professionals came from the professional bachelor's study programme "Wood Processing". They earned a professional bachelor's degree in engineering sciences in materials science and the qualification of wood processing engineer. Among the graduates, the final thesis board recognised several works as the best – Maija Kalneja's "The Potential of Lignocellulosic Biomass Residues in the Production of Board Materials and Heating Pellets" (supervisors: Dr. sc. ing. U. Spulle and Dr. sc. ing. S. Janceva), Edgars Kalnozols's "The Development of Mobile Living Units and a Production Facility Project" (supervisor: Mg.sc.ing. U. Miončinskis) and Ēriks Narkevics's "Introducing Fire-Resistant and Sound-Insulating Interior Doors at SIA "Mežmaļi+"".
Diplomas were received by 43 graduates of the professional bachelor's study programme "Forest Engineer", earning a professional bachelor's degree in forest science and the qualification of forestry engineer.
The authors of the best final theses were – Amanda Hirte, "First-Year Results of Various Forest Establishment Methods in the Reclaimed "Kapusils" Sand and Gravel Quarry" (supervisors: Ph.D. B. Jansone and Dr.silv. D. Lazdiņa), Jana Korņilova-Lele, "Tree Species Classification Using Sentinel-2 Remote Sensing Data and Machine Learning Algorithms" (supervisors: Dr.silv. Ā. Jansons and Ph.D. G. Goldbergs), Jānis Platacis, "The Reduced Stem Wood Density of Various Poplar (Populus spp.) Clones" (supervisor: Dr.silv. K. Liepiņš), Ģirts Vernavs, "Growth Patterns of Grey Alder (Alnus incana (L) Moench) Stands on Agricultural Land Overgrown with Woody Plants" (supervisor: Dr.silv. A. Indriksons) and Kaspars Pētersons, "Implementing the Principles of the European Union Green Taxonomy in Latvian Forest Management" (supervisor: Dr.silv. D. Dubrovskis).
The ranks of graduates of the academic bachelor's study programme "Forest Science" were joined by 23 new leavers, who earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences in forestry.
The board named the following as the best – Anna Troika's "The Threat Posed by the European Spruce Bark Beetle (Ips typographus L.) in Unproductive and Productive Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst) Stands" (supervisors: Dr. silv. O. Zaļkalns and Dr. biol. A. Šmits), Mihails Deļatinčuks's "Assessing Branch Defects in Birch (Betula sp) Veneer Logs Using Machine Learning Methods" (supervisor: Mg.sc.ing. J. Magaznieks), Mārcis Meiers's "Differentiating Logging Conditions Using Remote Sensing and Felling Site Characteristic Data" (supervisor: Dr.silv. Ā. Jansons), Katrīna Ance Gasiņa's "Mechanised Forest Regeneration Using Plantmax on Drained Narrow-Leaved Mineral Soils" (supervisors: Dr.silv. D. Lazdiņa and Ph.D. S. Kalēja) and Selita Rancāne's "Invasive Fungal Species Causing Needle Cast in Young Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Stands in Latvia" (supervisor: Dr.biol. D. Kļaviņa).
The professional bachelor's study programme "Environment and Water Management" had eight graduates, who earned a professional bachelor's degree in environmental management and environmental engineering science and the qualification of environmental engineer. Two of the graduates received high marks for their final theses – Uldis Griķis, "A Project for External Water Supply and Sewerage Systems for the "Lapiņas" Single-Storey Housing Quarter in Rīga" (supervisor: Ph.D. I. Grīnfelde) and Ingus Vanags, "A Project for the Internal and External Water Supply and Sewerage Systems of a Public Building in Mārupe" (supervisor: Mg.sc.ing. D. Grabuža).
The ranks of graduates of the professional bachelor's study programme "Land Management and Surveying" will be joined by 26 new specialists, who earned a professional bachelor's degree in land management and surveying and the qualification of land management engineer. In this study programme, seven graduates defended their final theses with marks of 9 or 10 – Sintija Osīte, "Developing a Digital 3D Model for a Building in the City of Jelgava" (supervisor: Mg.sc.ing. J. Luksa), Elīza Daktere, "The Disposal of Real Estate of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies" (supervisor: Dr.oec. V. Puķīte), Roberts Saušs, "Developing Automatic 3D Point Cloud Classification for Tree Species Recognition" (supervisor: Mg.sc.ing. E. Pinkovskis), Dāvis Jēkabsons, "The Application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technologies in Surveying the P9 State Road" (supervisor: Dr.sc.ing. A. Celms), Jānis Laiviņš, "Creating a Flood Line Model for the Lielupe" (supervisor: Dr.sc.ing. A. Celms), Andrejs Fjodorovs, "Land Property Consolidation in Connection with the Construction of a Railway Line in Iecava Parish" (supervisor: Dr.oec. A. Jankava), Gints Šeršņovs, "A Thematic Plan for a Solar Panel Park in Krāslava Municipality" (supervisor: Mg.sc.ing. M. Virkavs), Vladislavs Ņekrasovs, "Developing a Digital 3D Model for a Building in the City of Jelgava" (supervisor: Ph.D. V. Celmiņa), Andrejs Ostvalds, "A Test Range Project for Factors Affecting the Accuracy of GNSS Measurements" (supervisor: Dr.sc.ing. A. Celms), Andris Norenbergs, "A Land Management Project in Jelgava Municipality" (supervisor: Dr.oec. A. Jankava) and Ilze Čakle, "Developing a Rogaining Course Map in Ventspils Municipality" (supervisor: Dr.sc.ing. A. Celms).
The ranks of graduates were joined by one international graduate from the academic bachelor's study programme "Ilgtspējīgā mežsaimniecība / Sustainable Forestry".
Five graduates earned a master's degree in engineering sciences in wood processing technologies on completing the academic master's study programme "Wood Materials and Technology". In this study programme, too, one final thesis was singled out as the best: Artūrs Dzenis's "The Effect of a Change in Technology on the Finishing Quality of Profiled Pine Mouldings at SIA "Kokpārstrāde 98"" (supervisor: V. Jakovļevs, lecturer at LBTU Malnava College).
Fifteen graduates joined the ranks of those completing the academic master's study programme "Forest Science", earning a master's degree in agricultural sciences in forestry. The following were noted as the authors of the best theses – Lita Meironaite's "Habitat Characteristics and Spatial Distribution of the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.) in Managed and Protected Forests in Northern Kurzeme" (supervisors: Dr.silv. L. Liepa and Dr.biol. M. Kalniņš), Anna Zadiņa's "Factors Affecting the Initial Spread Dynamics of Surface Fire in Middle-Aged Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) and Birch (Betula spp.) Stands" (supervisors: Dr.silv. Ā. Jansons and Dr.silv. M. Kitenberga), Sandra Ābele's "The Occurrence of the Red-Backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) at Energy Wood Storage Sites and the Factors Affecting Their Occupancy in the Vidzeme Region" (supervisors: Dr.silv. I. Straupe and Dr.silv. M. Kitenberga) and Kristīne Riekstiņa's "The Occurrence of Lammas Shoots in Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and the Persistence of the Stem Defects They Cause" (supervisors: Dr.silv. Ā. Jansons and Dr.silv. U. Neimane).
Nine graduates of the academic master's study programme "Environmental, Water and Land Engineering Sciences" received higher education diplomas and a master's degree in engineering sciences. Several of them were also commended for their theses – Egons Tereško, "An Assessment of the Application of Geodetic Methods in Surveying the River Misa" (supervisor: Dr.sc.ing. A. Celms), Maija Ļaksa, "The Problem of Buildings on Municipal Land with No Established Ownership" (supervisor: Dr.oec. A. Jankava), Laura Reitāle, "An Analysis of the Criteria, Classification and Identification of Degraded Areas in Latvia" (supervisor: Dr.oec. V. Puķīte), Katrīna Muižniece, "Developing a Tool to Promote Sustainable Agricultural Business for Drawing Up a Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Plan" (supervisor: Ph.D. J. Pilecka-Uļčugačeva), Dženeta Veide, "Long-Term Spatial Changes in Air Quality in the City of Jelgava" (supervisors: Ph.D. I. Grīnfelde and Ph.D. J. Pilecka-Uļčugačeva) and Jūlija Dektjarjova, "The Efficiency of Sand and Oil Separators in Treating Stormwater" (supervisor: Ph.D. L. Grinberga).
Nine graduates of the academic master's study programme "Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing" were also congratulated at the graduation ceremony, having earned a master's degree in engineering sciences in architecture and urban planning. In this study programme, Olga Rusiņa was named the author of the best final thesis for her work "The Application of Remote Sensing Methods in the Automated Identification of Watercourse Culvert Locations" (supervisor: Mg.geogr. I. Bergmanis).
One graduate came from the professional master's study programme "Construction", and Gustavs Prolis's thesis "Modelling the Load-Bearing Capacity of Prestressed Hollow-Core Slabs" (supervisor: Mg.sc.ing. I. Preikšs) was likewise recognised as the best.
At the ceremony, LBTU Vice-Rector for Finance Linards Sisenis addressed the graduates with words of celebration:
"I congratulate you at this solemn moment, as you hold in your hands the diplomas you have long awaited. This is certainly a day of celebration – but at the same time an important milestone that marks the beginning of new challenges. You surely remember the moment when you decided to study: everyone's motivation was different – some followed the encouragement of parents or friends, some chose for themselves the field in which they wished to build a career, while for others the decision to study was driven by the need to build on professional experience they already had. Yet you are all united by the ability to overcome obstacles and challenges, and now you are also united by an LBTU diploma, which confirms that from this moment on you belong to your Alma Mater for life. This diploma is not only a mark of quality – employers rate our graduates more highly – but at the same time it also carries a responsibility: to honour and respect the knowledge you have received, as well as the sense that the university is always ready to offer you fresh support and inspiration. So I wish you not only to set new goals and tasks, but also to have enough energy and determination to achieve them. My heartfelt thanks to you all for your endurance – for this stage of life that you have seen through to the end. Thanks also to your families, who supported you along the way, and the greatest thanks of all to the university's staff: the teaching staff and professors, as well as everyone else who ensures that the study process runs smoothly. I wish you a joyful and warm solstice as it approaches!"