Introduction of Outstanding Life Sciences Students at the Royana Festival

In his address, Abdolhossein Shahverdi, President of the Royan Institute, emphasized that the festival should not be regarded merely as a short-term competition, but rather as a strategic intervention at a critical stage in the formation of the scientific identity of the younger generation. He described investment in adolescents as a direct investment in the nation’s scientific, economic, cultural, and even national security future. Stressing that the preservation and advancement of Iran’s scientific standing depend on nurturing the next generation of researchers, he underscored the necessity of identifying and cultivating talent from an early age. He further highlighted the importance of synergy among universities, the Ministry of Education, and other scientific institutions in fostering a dynamic and research-oriented environment for students.

Mehdi Basouli, Vice President for Education at ACECR, noted that the prevailing educational model in the country remains largely memory-based and advocated for a transition toward research-driven learning. He described the Royana Festival as a meaningful step toward integrating research with secondary education, reporting participation by 140 teams from various provinces and expressing hope for nationwide expansion of the initiative.

Ali Montazeri, President of ACECR, characterized the festival as a national, inclusive, and scalable initiative, reiterating the strategic importance of investing in adolescents’ scientific interests and innovative ideas across diverse fields.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, top-performing students in the field of life sciences from both lower and upper secondary levels were formally recognized. The festival was organized with the cooperation of the Ministry of Education, the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, and the Center for Novel Science and Technology.