"The essence of scientific research is not about getting the right answers – it's about daring to ask the right questions," says Professor Dr. Paulo Alexandre da Silva Pereira of Mykolas Romeris University (MRU). Originally from Portugal, Professor Pereira is among the most highly cited researchers in the world, regularly featured on the international Highly Cited Researchers list. On May 29–30, during the LOGIN conference – one of the largest technology and innovation events in the Baltics – Prof. Dr. Paulo Pereira will invite the audience to rethink the meaning of research and recognize that the journey of knowledge begins not with perfection or methodology, but with curiosity and courage.

According to him, today’s science is too often misinterpreted as a pursuit of results, publications, and prestige. But true progress, he insists, is driven by the ability to question, explore, and embrace failure.

Prof. Dr. Paulo Pereira leads the Environmental Management Research Laboratory at MRU and conducts research in several countries, including China, Portugal, Croatia, and India. His academic interests range from ecosystem services to climate change, yet on the LOGIN stage, he won’t be speaking about numbers – instead, he will focus on the mindset and inner maturity of a researcher. His talk at LOGIN is titled “Research Fundamentals: Audentes Fortuna iuvat.”

“Research is more than just methods or gathering knowledge. It is a mindset that nurtures resilience, patience, the ability to accept failure, and the strength to stay true to your ideas – even when others say you’re wrong,” Prof. Pereira emphasizes.

The professor notes that a researcher's path is rarely straight or easy. Success, he argues, is not the result of a perfect plan, but the ability to tolerate uncertainty and persist in the search for answers – even when none are in sight.

“Science is not for the perfect. It’s for those who relentlessly seek what is yet to be discovered, knowing it will never be perfect,” says Prof. Dr. Pereira.

In today’s world, this perspective is more relevant than ever. We live in an age of information overload, where people turn not to books but to social media for quick answers – where facts are often overshadowed by opinions. Phenomena such as artificial intelligence, disinformation, and a crisis of trust in science are reshaping both our decisions and our very understanding of truth.

“We live in a time where social media content shapes our opinions, and algorithms offer instant answers. But science requires time, patience, and critical thinking. Only those who dare to ask uncomfortable questions can uncover what truly matters,” says the professor.

According to Prof. Pereira, the modern researcher must not only be proficient in the latest technologies but must also retain independent thinking, resist external pressure, and, most importantly, remain intellectually honest.

“Success favors not those who know everything, but those who are not afraid to admit they don’t. Because Audentes Fortuna iuvat – fortune favours the bold,” Prof. Pereira reminds us.

You can find the LOGIN 2025 programme here.