From lasers to lead diplomacy: how passion can bridge worlds

This edition features a medical student, laser researcher and UN Youth Delegate who refuses to wait for a degree to change the world, treating passion as a discipline to bridge the gap between science and diplomacy.

Vlad Palcu, 03.05.2026, 14:00

YoungAchievers#3 features Robin-Cristian Bucur-Portase, a multidisciplinary force who refuses to be confined to a single path, balancing medical studies with high-level research at the ELI-ALPS and ELI-NP laser facilities while serving as Romania’s UN Youth Delegate.

Robin rejects the traditional idea of balance, instead viewing his interests as “active breaks” where science and diplomacy feed into one another to prevent burnout and spark creativity. Driven by a desire for immediate impact, Robin pursues civic engagement because it allows him to influence the world now, rather than waiting the decades often required for scientific or clinical breakthroughs to reach society.