This year’s autumn Scientific and Artistic Student Conference at Széchenyi István University again produced impressive results: numerous students received awards, and the best performers will have the opportunity to prove themselves at the national competition in 2027. During the programme, 250 presentations were delivered in 43 university sections, covering topics from the automotive industry and animal science to legal issues, and students performed 130 musical competition pieces. For the fourth time, the event—held together with Talent Day—was also open to high school students, some of whom competed alongside university students, while others took part in five dedicated high school sections.
Scientific talent development, professional challenges, and a sense of community: these are what the Scientific and Artistic Student Circle (TDK) offers students. The University’s autumn institutional conference was held this year on 26 November at Széchenyi István University. At the opening ceremony, Professor Dr Márta Konczosné Szombathelyi, Chair of the University Scientific Student Council, noted that the event is part of the National Scientific Student Circle movement, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year and for which the Hungarian Academy of Sciences—marking its 200th anniversary—is serving as chief patron.
“The series of the 2025 National Scientific Student Conferences has recently concluded, with more than five thousand papers presented across sections representing sixteen scientific fields. Among them were 216 students from Széchenyi István University, sixty-five of whom received awards,” she explained. She emphasized that an important element of scientific work is publication and presenting results to the public, and, in this spirit, the University recently launched a video series showcasing students’ achievements. “At the current conference—which provides eligibility for the 2027 national competition—we can learn about 250 submissions across forty-three sections, and hear 130 musical performances,” she added. She also highlighted that this year twelve high school students are competing together with university students, and another forty-seven secondary school pupils are presenting their research results in five sections.
Dr Ferenc Friedler, Rector and Vice President for Science at Széchenyi István University, remarked that scientific work is not primarily done for oneself; therefore, to achieve true success, it must be presented in a way that is understandable to others. “The great advantage of young researchers is that they think freely rather than in established patterns. At the same time, they must be patient and willing to listen to the insights of more experienced colleagues,” he noted. He added that the foundation of a successful scientific career is curiosity, openness to the world, and readiness for collaboration—all of which are exemplified in TDK events.
The opening ceremony also featured a panel discussion where mentors who earned the OTDK70 pin and the Master Teacher Gold Medal—educators who play a significant role in talent development at the University—shared their experiences. Alongside Professor Dr Márta Konczosné Szombathelyi, participants included Dr Zsuzsanna Lanczendorfer, ethnographer and associate professor at the Apáczai Csere János Faculty of Pedagogy, Humanities and Social Sciences; Dr Zsuzsanna Kiss Soós, associate professor at the Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences; Professor Dr Gábor Dogossy, Dean of the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Engineering; Professor Dr Péter Smuk, Dean of the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences; and the University’s newest Master Teacher Gold Medal recipient, Dr Gábor Kecskés, associate professor at the Faculty of Law.
Students of the institution presented their research results across forty-three sections. (Photo: Balázs Miklós)
The event also included the awarding of certificates to the University’s recipients of the National Higher Education Scholarship. This semester, 54 students received the honour, which recognizes academic achievements as well as community and sports accomplishments. The awardees were: András Aschenbrenner, László Aschenbrenner, Zita Bariska, Fanni Biró, Gergely Biró, Dorina Bosits, Barnabás Böröndi, Ádám Csizmadia, László András Csutorás, Bálint Dobos, Enikő Erhardt, Patrik Eszes, Kitti Farkas, Máté Farkas, Dávid Fehér, Péter Frazon, Lola Fülöp, Fanni Griezer, Virág Herold, Csaba Huszta, Emese Juhász, Benedek Botond Kállay, Adrián Zsolt Kazda, Kíra Dominika Kolozsvári, Patrik Lukács, Sára Luxl, Donát Magda, Botond Ákos Mecséri, Marcell Meilinger, Natália Mészáros, Kristóf György Nagy, Áron Ákos Németh, Katalin Anna Pataki, Gábor Pék, Vivien Pollreisz, Csenge Szabó, Gyula Richárd Szakál, László Szörényi, Attila Tatai, Dóra Tóth, Bence Tuboly, Nóra Karolina Varga, Gábor Vas Botár, Viktória Vass and Veronika Végső.
As part of Talent Day, the Scientific and Artistic Student Conference was enriched with side programmes, exhibitions and lectures for primary school science enthusiasts, high school students, university students and teachers. At the awards ceremony, the top performers in each section were recognized. The detailed list of results is available on the University’s TDK website.
The Talent Day programme featured events such as Be Right Back! the joint exhibition of students and university participants presenting their artistic works at the TDK…
…as well as a physics demonstration of a Heron’s fountain by Mihály Saáry-Bognár, a young talent and 4th-grade pupil at Győri Gárdonyi Géza Primary School. (Photos: András Adorján)
