From January 10 to 18, 2025, 11th-grade students Simas Gegužis, Milda Beržinskaitė, Laura Gintautė Norkūnaitė, Salomė Leskevičiūtė, Domas Dubaka, and Jokūbas Dumbliauskas, along with their teacher Simas Ignatavičius, visited Pforzheim, Germany. They participated in the Erasmus+-funded International Biotechnology Congress, where the students conducted microbiome analysis through DNA sequencing.

During the congress, the Lithuanian students took on the role of mentors. Having prepared for the experiment in advance, they guided other participants in successfully completing the task. This experience not only allowed them to deepen their theoretical knowledge but also provided an opportunity to develop important leadership, communication, and collaboration skills. Our team members were recognized for their efforts after completing an exam. Out of more than 100 students, Salomėja Leskevičiūtė tied with a Slovak student for first place, while Laura Gintautė Norkūnaitė secured second place.

An additional highlight of the congress was the opportunity to foster international relationships. The Erasmus+ congress brought together participants from 13 different countries—Lithuania, Germany, Czech Republic, China, USA, Denmark, Slovakia, Spain, Greece, India, France, Turkey, and Poland—spanning three continents: North America, Europe, and Asia. This created a unique opportunity to explore various cultures while also sharing and promoting Lithuanian customs and traditions.

VJG students are among the first in Lithuania and the world to have the opportunity to conduct experiments using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and third generation sequencing methods while in school. This is an important first step into the biotechnology industry, which is extremely perspective. One example of such a prospect: the Swiss pharmaceutical and diagnostic company Roche. Students visited Roche and various other companies during the trip and the opportunity to see how the methods used are applied not only in a school hall, but also in huge firms left a great impression.