The European Researchers’ Night, a major event dedicated to science popularization, will take place on September 25th in 13 cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina (Banja Luka, Bihać, Bijeljina, Goražde, Jajce, Konjic, Mostar, Neum, Sarajevo, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla and Zenica).
This is the thirteenth consecutive edition of the European Researchers’ Night in Bosnia and Herzegovina, an event that takes place simultaneously in 25 European countries and over 400 cities across the continent.
As the national coordinator of the European Researchers’ Night, Lejla Čamo said at the press conference in Sarajevo that the event takes science outside the classroom and laboratories and places it among us.
“This year’s motto, ‘Science Between Us’ brings us together in 13 cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The European Researchers’ Night is an opportunity to pay homage to incredible people credited with scientific discoveries. Bosnia and Herzegovina has talented researchers, scientists, and innovators whose work deserves greater visibility, both in our country and across Europe,” she emphasized.
Dr. Merim Jusufbegović from the Faculty of Health Studies at the University of Sarajevo works on the application of technology in healthcare and medicine – 3D printing in healthcare. Through this, they attempt to vividly illustrate anatomical variations and combine educational models for both students and medical specialists in hospitals.
Jusufbegović said that young people are interested in education. Formal education is not the only one that matters; informal education is equally important.
“It is important that we spend as much time as possible on researching, observing, and questioning. There are young people who are ready to invest additional time in education. We are a small country with a small market, but considering our conditions, there are more than enough researchers,” said Dr. Jusufbegović, who also participates in this year’s Night of Researchers. During today’s press conference, he mentioned some projects he works on.
Professor Maja Arslanagić-Kalajdžić, PhD, from the School of Economics and Business at the University of Sarajevo (UNSA) and Director of the Center for Research and Development, stated that the UNSA continuously supports the Researchers’ Night, considering it one of the brightest science promotion activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Science is often not clear enough to us, which is why these activities that promote science, present and explain what scientists do – to high school students, elementary school students, and even in kindergartens, are so important. It is also significant because it allows young people to see themselvesworking in those fields in the future. Generally speaking, without science, there is no development, either economic or social,” she emphasized.
She added that there are more and younger people (young researchers, assistants, and professors) interested in different scientific activities who should be supported.
A rich and diverse program has been announced for this year’s Researchers’ Night. The visitors will not only observe but also participate, try, research, and ask everything they want to know.
The organizers emphasized that through the project, the Researchers’ Night continues to develop activities and spark curiosity in young people throughout the entire year.
As emphasized, they don’t want the young to meet the scientists during the Researchers’ Night. They want them to understand that they can become scientists one day.
Over thirteen years of being held in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Researchers’ Night has brought together thousands of children and young people, numerous schools, teachers, students, researchers, universities, organizations, and families.
Through hundreds of experiments, workshops, demonstrations, and encounters with researchers, year after year the event has shown that science does not belong only to laboratories and academic institutions, but to everyone ready to ask questions, explore, and search for answers.
This year’s edition in Bosnia and Herzegovina brings more than 80 activities in 13 cities, supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) program under Horizon Europe.
The event is funded by the European Union through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) program, part of Horizon Europe – the EU’s flagship research and innovation program, which this year marks three decades of supporting research excellence.
