Today, 11 February, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Ieva Gintere, Lead Researcher at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA), is someone in whom theoretical thinking, creativity and a willingness to learn converge. Her path to science began in music – at Emīls Dārziņš Music Secondary School and later at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, where she earned a doctoral degree in musicology. Although her professional education is rooted in music, Ieva consciously chose the path of a researcher. Music and art have not disappeared from her life – they have become the central focus of her research, including in her postdoctoral work.
A Conscious Choice
Ieva openly admits that she made her professional decision pragmatically and, above all, based on honest self-assessment. She deliberately chose a field where her strengths could be fully realised.
“Although music is one of my passions, I simply did not feel talented enough to pursue a professional career as an orchestra musician or performer. At the same time, I was clearly aware of my other strengths – I have a distinctly theoretical mind and a natural interest in research. I’m not afraid of working alone – I enjoy focusing, reading, thinking and writing. Research therefore seemed like a logical choice,” she explains.
Exploring the Unexplored
Ieva’s academic interests focus on 21st-century contemporary aesthetics – images, sounds, audiovisual works and cultural artefacts that define our time. She points out that the most recent decades in art and culture are still relatively underexplored. Within this field, she seeks connections between art history and the present: what is truly new, what continues earlier ideas, and how ideas transform over time.
One example she mentions is the concept of “error” and “noise” as aesthetic devices. What may once have been used as a joke or provocation in art or music has today evolved into a fully recognised artistic language.
An International Digital Exhibition in the Making
Currently, Ieva is implementing the postdoctoral project “Development of Digital Art Games and Mind Ecology in the 21st Century (EcoMind)” (No. 1.1.1.9/LZP/1/24/009). The project is carried out at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the École Supérieure d’Art et de Design d’Orléans in France and the RISEBA University of Applied Sciences in Latvia.
Under Ieva’s leadership, students from all three institutions are involved in learning virtual reality technologies. The project includes a range of activities, but its practical outcome will be the virtual contemporary art exhibition “EcoMind” – a digital exhibition featuring 21st-century Latvian new media artworks focusing on ecosystems and the environment.
Ieva expresses her gratitude to the ViA Virtual Reality Laboratory and to Associate Professor Arnis Cīrulis for their support in implementing the idea.
A key component of the project is the development of digital skills and close collaboration with students. Ieva admits that learning itself has been one of the greatest benefits: she has acquired basic knowledge of digital design and programming, worked on building virtual reality environments and collaborated more closely with technology specialists. In her view, this direction is indispensable today – researchers in the humanities increasingly need to be able to operate in the digital sphere.
Postdoctoral Research as a Platform for Growth
Ieva is one of the researchers who has taken advantage of the postdoctoral opportunity for the second time. She sees the programme as a significant support for academic development:
“This programme is a solid foundation for further academic career development. It’s not just funding – it’s time and a structured environment to understand how the scientific world operates. It’s start-up capital for a young researcher – you couldn’t wish for anything better!”
Over three years, she notes, the programme allows researchers not only to implement their scientific ideas but also to learn the “rules of the game” in academia – how to develop publications, build collaborations and structure their scientific path.
Ieva emphasises that research is a profession that must align closely with one’s personality and character.
“Research requires the ability to be alone with your thoughts, and that is not suitable for everyone,” she says.
For this reason, she highly values the fact that career choices are now discussed increasingly early in schools. From the first grades, children are encouraged to reflect on their interests, abilities and personality traits. In her view, such an approach gives young people broader opportunities to make informed decisions about their future.
Addressing young women interested in the intersection of art, technology and science but still hesitant, Ieva encourages them not to fear their own path and to allow it to develop step by step.
She herself feels she is exactly where she belongs:
“Research is simply what suits me best.”
The programme “Postdoctoral Research” in Latvia is implemented with co-financing from the European Union Funds. Its aim is to develop the skills of young scientists, strengthen their research capacity and provide career-start opportunities in research institutions and companies, thereby reinforcing the renewal of research human resources and increasing the number of qualified researchers in Latvia. Measure 1.1.1.9 “Postdoctoral Research” (2024–2029) is administered by the Latvian Council of Science.
More information about the programme:
www.lzp.gov.lv/lv/pecdoktoranturas-programma
This story was produced with the support of the European Union Funds.
