News from the MCAA - Bridging Minds, Building Futures: The MCAA Central European Event 2025 - December 2025
The MCAA Central European Event 2025, held in Warsaw on 26–27 September under the motto Bridging Minds, Building Futures, brought together researchers, policymakers, and science advocates from across the region to address pressing challenges and opportunities in research, policy, and mobility.
Michael Nones is the Chair of the MCAA Poland Chapter and has contributed to connecting MCAA with Polish institutions such as NAWA, as well as international organisations like ALLEA. He is an Associate Professor in the Hydrology and Hydrodynamics Department at the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Poland. He is an expert on fluvial morphodynamics and geomorphology.
Building capacity and connecting science with society
The event opened on Friday, September 26, with welcoming remarks from Gian Maria Greco, MCAA Chair; Michał Karpiński, MCAA Poland Chapter Vice-Chair; Bela Fiser, MCAA Hungary Chapter Chair; and Marta Muter from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange. Michael Nones, Chair of the MCAA Poland Chapter, moderated the opening session.
Béla Fiser is the Chair of the MCAA Hungary Chapter. He currently works at the Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Lodz in Poland and at the Institute of Chemistry, University of Miskolc in Hungary. He received his first PhD in chemistry from the University of the Basque Country in Spain. He is a keen supporter of science communication and believes that science is for everyone.
Research funding and the widening participation agenda
A session moderated by Roxana Radu and Andrada Lazea Stoyanova from the MCAA Romania Chapter highlighted best practices for leveraging funding opportunities in widening countries. Speakers emphasised both the untapped potential of the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region and the persistent challenges of underfunding and bureaucracy. The session concluded with a strong call to increase scientific capacity and improve administrative support, drawing on successful regional models.
Science diplomacy and policy in Central and Eastern Europe
Split into three segments, another session of the event explored the role of scientists in shaping policy, building trust in science, and promoting mobility across disciplines, sectors, and borders.
Contributions ranged from Paweł Rowiński from All European Academies (ALLEA) and the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) and Jean-Christophe Mauduit from University College London (UCL) and the EU Science Diplomacy Alliance to experts in AI policy and young researcher networks across the region.
A recurring theme was the need for scientists to play a more active role in policymaking, especially in fast-evolving fields such as AI. Speakers illustrated how mobility and networking can serve as practical tools of science diplomacy, connecting research with society.
The first day concluded with a networking dinner, where participants continued discussions in an informal setting, strengthening cross- border collaboration within the CEE scientific community.
Brain drain, brain gain, and brain circulation
On Saturday, 27 September, the focus shifted to mobility and talent flows with a single, but highly interactive, session moderated by James Jennings, MCAA Austria Chapter Chair.
The panel, including representatives from doctoral associations, research institutions, and the MCAA, debated the pressing issue of brain drain from CEE countries. While acknowledging the challenges, the session emphasised the concept of brain circulation, where mobility creates lasting networks and collaborations that benefit both sending and receiving countries. Speakers stressed that addressing brain drain is not just about retention, but about building ecosystems that encourage return, reintegration, and long-term connections.
Beyond the sessions: Exhibitions and cultural engagement
Throughout the event, attendees explored the exhibition The Marie Curies of the Mediterranean, which celebrated women in research through the lens of the MSCA fellowships. On Saturday, posters from the exhibition were also displayed during the Polish Science Festival at the University of Warsaw, engaging the public and expanding the event’s reach.
To close the event, participants enjoyed free entry to the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Museum, a symbolic visit that connected the discussions on mobility, science diplomacy, and gender in science to the legacy of one of the most influential scientists in history.
Looking ahead
The MCAA Central European Event 2025 highlighted the importance of collaboration, mobility, and dialogue in strengthening the role of Central and Eastern Europe in global research. By focusing on widening participation, science diplomacy, and brain circulation, the event not only tackled regional challenges but also underscored the shared responsibility of researchers, policymakers, and institutions in shaping a sustainable scientific future.
Michael Nones
MCAA Poland Chapter, Chair
poland.chapter@mariecuriealumni.eu
Béla Fiser
MCAA Hungary Chapter, Chair
