ARA - 47 PROGRAM
TENTATIVE AGENDA      

47th Congress of the American Romanian Academy of Arts and Sciences

📍 Transilvania University of Brasov

       Sergiu Chiriacescu Aula, Iuliu Maniu Street, number 41A, Brașov, Romania
📅 June 30-July 01, 2026

Day 1 – Tuesday, June 30, 2026

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9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Registration & Check-in 

Attendees collect materials & badges.

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Opening Remarks

• Dr. Ruxandra Vidu, ARA President

• Prof. univ. loan Vasile ABRUDAN, Rector, Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania

• Mihnea Costoiu, Rector, NUST POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Romania

• Lect. univ. Ligia Deca, ViceRector, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest, Romania

• Prof. univ. Doina Banciu, President, Academy of Romanian Scientist, Romania

• Prof. univ. lulian ANTONIAC, NUST POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Romania

• Prof. univ. Daniel MUNTEANU, ViceRector,  Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

70 years of Romania in UNESCO – Past Lessons, Future Horizons

Part I: High-Level Dialogue with University Rectors and high-profile academics (60 min)

Chairs: Ligia Deca, Ioan Vasile Abrudan

A moderated opening session featuring rectors and senior academic figures, addressing the role of universities in advancing Romania’s cultural and scientific diplomacy and their contribution to UNESCO-related initiatives.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Invited Plenary Lecture Session I

🎤 Speaker 1: Prof. Gabriel GRUIONU

Indiana University School of Medicine, U.S.A.

🎤 Speaker 2: Prof. Daniel MUNTEANU

Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Lunch Break + Group photo + Free networking time.

​1:30 PM – 4:00 PM

70 years of Romania in UNESCO – Past Lessons, Future Horizons

Part II: Roundtable Discussion (90 min)

Chairs: Gabriela GABOR, Augustin SEMENESCU

An interactive discussion gathering diplomats, scholars, cultural professionals, and specialists in international relations. This session will reflect on lessons learned from Romania’s UNESCO legacy and consider new directions for strengthening Romania’s role in multilateral diplomacy.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Oral Presentations - Panel Sessions* (60 min each)

PANELS*

• Technical Science and Engineering (Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Construction, Forest Engineering, Industrial Engineering)

• Medical and Health Sciences

• Formal Sciences (Mathematics, Systems Theory, Statistics, Computer Science)

• Natural Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Silviculture)

• Social Sciences (Economics and Business, Law, Political Science, Military, Security and Law Enforcement, History, Education)

• Arts and Design, Language and Literature, Theology and Religious Studies, Philosophy

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Coffee Break & Poster Session

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6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Oral Presentations - Panel Sessions* (60 min each)

PANELS*

• Technical Science and Engineering (Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Construction, Forest Engineering, Industrial Engineering)

• Medical and Health Sciences

• Formal Sciences (Mathematics, Systems Theory, Statistics, Computer Science)

• Natural Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Silviculture)

• Social Sciences (Economics and Business, Law, Political Science, Military, Security and Law Enforcement, History, Education)

• Arts and Design, Language and Literature, Theology and Religious Studies, Philosophy

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Congress Welcome Reception

Networking event with refreshments

Day 2 – Wednesday, July 1, 2026

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9:00 AM – 9:30 AM

Registration & Check-in

Attendees collect materials & badges.

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9:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Opening Remarks

•  Dr. Ruxandra Vidu, ARA President

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

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Invited Plenary Lecture Session II

🎤 Speaker 1: Prof. Mihaela C. STEFAN

The University of Texas at Dallas, U.S.A.

🎤 Speaker 2: Prof. Iulian ANTONIAC

National University of Science & Technology POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, Romania

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11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

DEBATES on INTERDISCIPLINARY PANELS

(90 min each)

• Advanced materials: The next frontier for science and technologies

• Theology, Modernity, and the Visual Arts

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Lunch Break

Free networking time.

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2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

DEBATES on INTERDISCIPLINARY PANELS

(90 min each)

• Artificial Intelligence Today: Recent Trends and Developments

• Security and Defense: Revitalizing Strategic Analysis for a New Era of Competition

​4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

ARA General Assembly & Awards Ceremony

(ARA Members ONLY)

- General Assembly Meeting: Updates, future initiatives.
- Awards Presentation: Recognizing outstanding contributions in arts & sciences.

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6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Break

7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

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Gala Dinner

(OPTIONAL – separate registration required – see website)  

We look forward to welcoming you to Brasov, ROMANIA! 🚀