My Journey to Germany: From Research to Inspiration
At the beginning of the summer, Mariam Kevkhishvili and I, along with two German students, were selected for a 6-month research project, the main goal of which was to assess the knowledge, health risk perception, and practice of air pollution and its impact on health among the population of Tbilisi.
As a result of this research, we were invited to Akkon University for Human Sciences in Berlin, Germany, where we had the opportunity to present our research at the Young Researchers Symposium.
The symposium was held on October 11-12, and it was a truly unforgettable experience. We got to know the research of young people from different countries around the world, exchanged ideas, and established new scientific and cultural connections, which will help us deepen international cooperation in the future. This experience has significantly broadened our perspective on research, given us new knowledge and skills, strengthened us professionally and personally, and given us even more motivation to continue our research activities, especially in the field of public health.
On October 11, we also attended the Virchow Prize 2025 ceremony, which annually awards people who have made outstanding contributions to global health.This year's laureates were Professor Qureisha Abdul Karim, for her pioneering research on the prevention of HIV infection in women, and Dr. Zulfiqar Butta, who has been fighting for decades to improve maternal and child health. The ceremony was very impressive. The people gathered there, and the stories they told reminded us of the great power of science and compassion together.
On October 12-14, we also participated in the World Health Summit, one of the most influential forums in the field of public health. The summit brought together scientists, medical experts, and policymakers from all over the world to discuss topics such as climate and health, equity, innovation, and digital medicine.
As a future gynecologist, the sessions focused on women's health were particularly interesting to me. Through them, I saw how little research is done on women's diseases and how little attention we, as doctors, give to their symptoms.
For me, this meeting was more than just a conference. It was an experience that showed me how global ideas are connected to local actions and how even small research can be part of a big change.
