Participants had three minutes to present their research ideas to the audience and jury in a clear and engaging way. In her doctoral research, Aija Makovska investigates early age-related changes in visual function, focusing particularly on the eye’s ability to dynamically adjust its focus when viewing objects at different distances. The study will analyse objective characteristics of eye accommodation with a high degree of precision, as well as depth of focus and individual tolerance to blur. This will provide a deeper understanding of both the physiology of visual ageing and how people subjectively perceive and experience these changes in their own vision.
“Three minutes is a very short time, so the greatest challenge was to explain complex topics in vision science simply and clearly without losing their scientific essence. The competition gave me an opportunity to look at my research from a broader perspective—to focus not only on the methodology and the question of what to measure and how, but also to clearly identify and explain its significance and benefits for society. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to represent the University of Latvia at the FORTHEM Researcher Grand Prix final and to gain international experience in presenting my research,” says Aija Makovska.
Aija Makovska began her doctoral studies and is conducting her research at the University of Latvia as part of the Development Programme’s high-impact project, “Developing a Bio-Psycho-Socio-Demographic Framework: Assessing and Mapping the Impact of Age-Related Changes in Visual Function” (No. ZDA-LIP2025/10).
This text was translated using AI.
