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On 21 October, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys presented Nomeda and Gediminas Urbonas with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs medals of honour ‘For Diaspora Merits to Lithuania’.

“This award is an expression of our country’s gratitude for promoting Lithuania as a modern and progressive country and representing it at the highest-level international forums for art, architecture and culture. Your initiatives bring together experts from different fields and countries and contribute to Lithuania’s participation in the international dialogue on global challenges,” Minister Budrys said.

Nomeda and Gediminas Urbonas have lived in the United States since 2009, where they pursue their creative and academic work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge. Nomeda Urbonas is a research fellow at MIT, while Gediminas Urbonas is Professor in MIT’s Art, Culture and Technology programme. Their projects bring together interdisciplinary art, science and technology and explore issues related to climate change, ecology, technology and the future of society.

Their project The Swamp School, presented at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale, received international recognition. The project explores hybrid ecosystems, radical pedagogy and co-creation, bringing together the work of scientists, architects and philosophers from different countries.

Nomeda and Gediminas Urbonas are participating in the Lithuania-US Science and Innovation Forum, which forms part of the international science week ‘(re)SEARCH 2026’, organised by the Research Council of Lithuania from 19 to 23 October.

Since 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been presenting medals of honour ‘For Diaspora Merits to Lithuania’ to members of the Lithuanian diaspora in recognition of their outstanding contribution to fostering Lithuanian identity, encouraging Lithuanians living abroad to engage with Lithuania, and contributing to the country’s prosperity.