The Scientific Conference „Students Encountering Science“:  Promotion of Science and the Academic Spirit 

The multidisciplinary scientific conference „Students Encountering Science“ was opened on 26 November 2020 in the lecturing hall at the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Banja Luka. 

The aim of the conference titled „Students Encountering Science“ is to present the scientific achievements of students and the possibility of their application in practice as well as to determine the direction of further research. This is also an opportunity to improve the scientific research of students in the country and the region, promote the scientific spirit of the academic community, exchange opinions, and make new contacts.

Rector of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, said that this is an event that aims to encourage young people entering the world of science and the academic community to write, learn and progress.

„I am glad that students from all cycles of study took part in the conference, as they are the ones who will pursue their careers in science in the future, and publish their scientific papers in reference local and international journals“, the rector said.

According to him, such conferences are one of the best ways to gain experience in science, research and presentation of research results.

„Representatives of different countries participated in the conference, thus showing that this conference is an international event“, Rector Gajanin said.

Chairperson of the Scientific Research Commission of the conference Angelina Dulić expressed her satisfaction with the fact that students were interested in participating despite the current epidemic.

„A total of 78 participants published their papers in our proceedings, and 50 of them will defend their papers. In such difficult times, we should all be proud of these results“, Dulić said.

Bojana Milinković, a student of the Graphic Engineering Study Programme at the Faculty of Technology of the University of Banja Luka, said that this conference was a great challenge for her.

„The goal of the conference is to encourage students to engage in science, and to show their potential in the fields that interest them,“ Milinković said.

This is the leading students' scientific conference, held for the 13th time in the organization of the Student’s Parliament of the University of Banja Luka. The co-organizer is the University of Banja Luka, and the patron is the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of the Republic of Srpska. 

The conference that gathers students from all over the world is categorized in six different fields: Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Biotechnical and Agricultural Sciences, and Medical and Health Sciences.

Representative of the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of the Republic of Srpska Assistant Professor Jelena Starčević, PhD, Assistant Minister of Higher Education, attended the opening ceremony. The event was also attended by Vice-Rector for Teaching and Student Issues Prof. Strain Posavljak, PhD, Vice-Rector for International and Interuniversity Cooperation Prof. Biljana Antunović, PhD, Vice-Rector for Human and Material Resources Prof. Dalibor Kesić, PhD, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and Development Prof. Goran Latinović, PhD, as well as the deans, vice-deans and professors of the University of Banja Luka members.