Founded in 1840, the National Theatre of Iași is not only the oldest theatrical institution in Romania but also a powerful symbol of Moldova’s intellectual and artistic life.

In the second half of the 19th century, its stage became more than a cultural venue—it was a meeting place for professors, students, and writers, a true public aula where art met science and emotion met reflection.

The Theatre and the University: Two Faces of the Same Spirit

The University of Iași and the Theatre grew together. One shaped critical thought, while the other refined emotional intelligence.
Before large university halls existed, the theatre’s auditorium hosted academic ceremonies, public lectures, and intellectual debates, uniting the voices of a city where learning and creativity were inseparable.

At the end of the 19th century, Romanian scientific psychology also took root in Iași — through Eduard Gruber and Petre Botezatu, pioneers of experimental psychology.

In a beautiful way, the theatre became the living laboratory of the soul, while the university served as the theoretical laboratory of the mind.

Continuing a Tradition of Thought and Emotion

Today, this legacy continues. Researchers from Iași working in psychology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence contribute to the international journal BRAIN. Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, published by EduSoft, bringing Iași’s long dialogue between art and science into the global arena.

From the stage of the National Theatre to the pages of scientific journals, Iași remains a city where culture and knowledge think together about the human being — a space where intellect and emotion still meet in harmony.