Dalia Bankauskaite is a Lithuanian interdisciplinary expert in security policy, strategic communication, and political advisory.

With decades of experience across government, academia, and consulting, Dahlia focuses on advancing the understanding of total defense and a whole-of-society approach to security, including hybrid warfare and influence operations.

Dalia currently serves as a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis. She is also a professor at Vilnius University and an expert at the Swedish Defense University.

In this episode, Dalia delves into the intricacies of strategic communication and its role in societal resilience, security, and disinformation campaigns.

At the podcast, we talk about:

• What is the 'whole-of-society' approach to security?
• The importance of media literacy
• The importance of clear goals and target audience when understanding strategic communication
• Continuous effort that is needed to bridge the gap between government institutions and society
• Envisioning the Future: Societal Resilience and State Crafting
• Dalia’s reflection on the BAFF Experience?

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Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Katrin Õunap is a leading Estonian clinical geneticist specializing in rare diseases and
metabolic disorders.

In this episode Katrin delves into her journey into genetics, starting with her early career and unexpected shift into genetics after Estonia's independence from the Soviet Union. She recounts her pivotal role in introducing newborn screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) in Estonia, emphasizing the collaboration and learning experiences that shaped her path.

The discussion covers Katrin's research in Estonia and abroad, including her significant work in the U.S. with the Center of Mendelian Genomics at Harvard University, aiming to solve unsolved genetic disease cases.

Today Katrin is a professor in Clinical Genetics at the Institute of Clinical Medicine, at the University of Tartu. She is also the Head of the Department of Clinical Genetics, at Tartu University Hospital.

At the podcast we talk about:

• Navigating the complex world of rare diseases
• The definition of a “rare disease”?
• The importance of international cooperation?
• How did Katrin evolve from a pediatrician to a researcher and a genetics specialist?
• What lies ahead for Katrin regarding future projects and European collaborations?
• How did phenylketonuria research got it’s start in Estonia thanks to Katrin?

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

This episode features two guests in the field of in the field of forensic psychology and
violence prevention in the Baltic States.

PhD Zuzana Vasiliauskaite, is from Lithuania. She is an international expert on combating violence against women, a researcher, and a forensic and trauma psychologist.

PhD Kristjan Kask is an Estonian whose reasearh is about issues in investigative
interviewing of victims/witnesses as well as eyewitness identification.

They discuss their backgrounds, expertise in combating violence against women,
investigative interviewing, and the impact of programs like the Baltic American Freedom Foundation on their careers.

In the podcast, we talk about:

• Their personal journeys to forensic psychology and investigative Interviewing
• Collaboration with law enforcement in their field?
• Legal Measures in the Baltics for protection of victims?
• Why they appreciate their international experience so much?
• What they value most about their BAFF experience?

Links mentioned in the episode:
Kristjan Kask’s book: https://argokirjastus.ee/toode/tuttav-voi-tundmatu/

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Paula is a Latvian researcher who focuses on education innovation. Her passion lies in exploring new ideas and sharing them with others. She loves creating and executing new projects and initiatives.

She spent a year in BAFF in Boston at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Where
she was a researcher in the “Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab (J-WEL)” to research
innovation diffusion and change management in higher education.

Today she is a Director at Education Innovation Lab at Riga Business School.

At the podcast we talk about:

• How can one bring innovation to education, without being a teacher?
• Differences between student life in the US and Latvia.
• Co-operation between Riga University and MIT?
• How the commitment of people in the MIT community inspired Paula
• Creating boot camps in Africa

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Mārcis Auziņš is a Latvian physicist, professor at the University of Latvia, and Head of the Department of Experimental Physics and the Laser Center.

He works in the field of quantum physics and is the author of more than a hundred scientific articles published in the world's leading physics journals and several hundred conference reports. During his career, he lived and worked in different countries – China and Taiwan, the United States, Canada, England, Israel and Germany.

In the podcast, we talk about:

• How did school olympiads lead him to his path in physics?
• How is the skill to write grant applications connected with being successful in science?
• Working with European Space Agency, NATO and European Defence Force.
• What helps him to meditate daily for 5000+ days in a row?
• Who tends to use the phrase: “merging properties”?
• What is he excited about for the future of physics?

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Povilas Simonis is a Lithuanian researcher with extensive experience in biophysics, the design of experimental procedures, analytical techniques, and the interpretation of data. He has experience working on multidisciplinary projects and with international collaborators, as well as conducting experiments.

Povilas participated in the BAFF Research scholar program in 2023, doing research titled Polymerization of Nucleic Acids and Emerge of Protocells under Prebiotic Conditions. He is currently a scientist at the Center of Physical Sciences and Technology in Lithuania and was the guest of the Beyond BAFF podcast.

His research during the BAFF program is titled: Polymerization of nucleic acids and emergence of protocells under prebiotic conditions.
In the podcast, hear about:

• How reading a book 10 years ago made him shift his research fields
• What were some of his research findings from working with vulcanic springs?
• Winning the “Dance your PhD competition”
• The future of his field
• How traveling can be something you never knew you needed

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Linda Lancere is a Latvian researcher, who consults on rehabilitation technology development.

In 2019 Linda attended BAFF’s Research Scholarship Program in University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, working on her postdoctoral research project, with the title: Whole-body rehabilitation for lower extremity amputees by means of extended reality and advanced wearables.

Her BAFF project was an essential component of a 3-year postdoctoral research aimed to increase the quality of life following lower extremity amputation, expedite rehabilitation reintegration process, decrease unemployment due to physical restrictions by means of technological advances and medical know-how.

In the podcast, we talk about:

• Can you become a researcher after switching fields multiple times?
• How could the feedback from deep muscles help with physical therapy and exercising?
• Volunteering mindset in the US?
• Different developments in the field of virtual and mixed reality today?
• Ways that researchers and business people can find a common vocabulary?

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org

Vaidas Petrulis is an architecture and heritage specialist with a PhD in Art History. He is also a senior research fellow at Kaunas University of Technology in the Institute of Architecture and Construction.

Last year, in 2023 he spent 6 months in Chicago, Illinois, doing research on the topic: Modernism and National Identity: Lithuanian Architects as (World War Two) WWII Refugees in US.

At the podcast we talk about:

• What makes Lithuanian architecture different?
• Specific examples of buildings in Chicago, that are using Lithuanian architecture.
• How he got an invitation to Jonas Molokas’s home archive?
• What does he wish to see happen regarding architecture in the future?

Sign up to receive occasional emails with new episodes, updates and behind-the-scenes content from the Beyond BAFF podcast: https://mailchi.mp/balticamericanfreedomfoundation/podcast-list

Learn more about the scholarship opportunities provided by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation to help Baltic Scientists fund their research in the United States: www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org