All posts by Milana Grbic

The Faculty of Science and Mathematics at the University of Banja Luka actively participates in the 13th Science Festival, held on May 15 and 16, 2025, at the University Campus and the premises of the Faculty. This important event is organized by the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republika Srpska. The festival was officially opened on May 15, with the presence of a large number of pupils, students, teachers, and all those interested in science.

Within the exhibition part at the University Campus, visitors have the opportunity to explore interesting demonstrations, logic puzzles, and scientific experiments at the stands of the Faculty from fields such as biology, ecology, geography, mathematics, computer science, chemistry, physics, spatial planning, and technical education.

Additionally, the faculty opens the doors of its specialized facilities – the aquarium, planetarium, and terrarium – providing visitors with a unique experience and a closer encounter with the fascinating world of science.

We thank all our professors, assistants, and students who invested effort and energy into the preparation and realization of the festival. Their dedication and enthusiasm make this event special, and without their contribution, none of this would be possible.

We invite everyone interested to visit the Festival and enjoy discovery, learning, and scientific curiosity together with us.

Author of the text: Dr. Milana Grbić, assistant professor

From May 5 to 7, Prof. Svjetlana Lolić visited the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie in Padua, Italy, as part of the COST Action CA22160 – Enhancing knowledge of BIOmolecular solutions for the well-being of European AQUAculture sector (BIOAQUA).

Over the past decade, the aquaculture sector has been facing numerous challenges due to the global rise in temperatures, which promotes the spread of various pathogens and leads to the intensified development of algae and toxic cyanobacteria. The workshop in Padua highlighted the issues different European countries are encountering and provided a platform for exchanging experiences and approaches to addressing these challenges.

The program also included visits to several fish farms in the Venice and Chioggia regions, as well as a visit to the Museum of Adriatic Zoology.

Text Author: dr Svjetlana Lolić, full professor

The Study Programme in Mathematics and Informatics continues its activities aimed at preparing candidates for the entrance exam for admission in the 2025/2026 academic year, by organizing the second term of free preparatory mathematics classes.

The class will be held on Saturday, May 17, starting at 10:00 a.m., at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka. The topic of this session is quadratic equations.

Registration is not required – interested students are welcome to come at the scheduled time.

The schedule of upcoming preparatory sessions is available at this link

For any additional information, feel free to contact us at: matinf@pmf.unibl.org

As part of the ACROSS Alliance, the Technical University of Chemnitz in Germany is organizing a Summer School for Young Scientists on the topic “How Much Science is in Science Fiction?”, which will take place on August 28 and 29, 2025.

The summer school is intended for students, postdoctoral researchers, and teaching assistants from all fields, and it will focus on an interdisciplinary approach to the boundaries between science and science fiction, with special emphasis on social science aspects and societal perceptions of technological development.

Eight scholarships are available, covering:

• accommodation costs in the amount of €168

• travel costs ranging from €350 to €550 (depending on the country of origin)

Visa, residence permit, and insurance are not covered by the scholarship and must be borne by the participant.

The application deadline is May 10, 2025, with the possibility of late applications after the deadline.

More information about the summer school and the application process is available at the following link.

The news and cover photo were taken from the UNIBL website.

The Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka, is pleased to announce a lecture by Prof. Dr. Nenad M. Kostić, a distinguished chemist, to be held on Monday, May 19, 2025, starting at 1:00 PM.

In the lecture titled “How to Write a Scientific Paper that Editors Will Accept and Readers Will Cite,” Prof. Kostić will discuss the key steps in writing a scientific paper – from developing the content to the language form, offering advice on style, ethics, and collaboration with reviewers.

Prof. Dr. Nenad M. Kostić earned his degree in chemistry at the Faculty of Science in Belgrade and obtained his PhD at the University of Wisconsin as a Fulbright Scholar. He built his academic career at prestigious U.S. institutions – Iowa State University and Texas A&M University. He has led numerous scientific projects and received several awards, including the U.S. Presidential Young Investigator Award and the Sloan Research Fellowship.

He pays special attention to the development of science in his homeland through the charitable Nenad M. Kostić Fund for Chemical Sciences, established in 2002. Each year, the Fund awards monetary prizes to students for the best final theses, recognizes mentoring professors, and supports schools, individuals, and companies that contribute to the advancement of chemical sciences.

The number of seats is limited, and registration is required via email at deepgreeninno@pmf.unibl.org no later than Saturday, May 17, 2025.

We invite all interested parties to take this opportunity and attend the lecture by one of the most prominent chemists from our region.

Author of the text: Dr. Milana Grbić, Assistant Professor

As part of the preparations for the entrance exam for admission in the 2025/2026 academic year, the Study Program in Mathematics and Computer Science is organizing preparatory mathematics classes.

The first session will be held on Saturday, May 10, starting at 9:00 AM, and will cover the following topics: algebraic expressions, functions, and proportions.

The preparatory classes are free of charge and no registration is required — students simply need to come to the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the scheduled time.

For any additional information, feel free to contact: matinf@pmf.unibl.org

Within the Central European Exchange Program for University Studies (CEEPUS IV), a call for applications for student and academic staff exchanges is now open.

The application deadline for the winter semester of the 2025/2026 academic year is June 1, 2025. Please note that applications may also be submitted after this deadline, but only following prior consultation with local and national CEEPUS coordinators.

Students can apply within active networks (Ready for Mobility and Umbrella), for short-term (Short Term Student) or semester (Student) exchanges. The entire application, evaluation, and scholarship award process is conducted exclusively through the online system.

After registering a profile — which must be completed personally by the applicant — the online application form should be filled out and approved by the local coordinator at the home institution, followed by approval from the national CEEPUS coordinator. The application is then sent to the host country for final evaluation.

Information on higher education institutions participating in thematic CEEPUS networks, as well as contact details of local coordinators responsible for selecting candidates at home faculties based on available quotas for incoming and outgoing mobility, can be found via the following link.

Scholarships are granted by the national CEEPUS office of the host country, following approval by the local coordinator at the host institution.

News taken from: UNIBL website.

The Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka, and the Innovation Centre Banja Luka are organizing the international conference NanoPol 2025, focused on the topic: “Nanomaterials and Polymers – Applied Chemistry for Sustainable Development”.

The conference is open to the domestic and international scientific and professional community, as well as to students of all three study cycles in the fields of chemistry, technology, and materials science. The aim is to highlight the latest developments in the field of polymers and nanomaterials, as well as the environmental aspects of their production, processing, recycling, and safety.

This event will take place on June 11–12, 2025, in Banja Luka, in the amphitheatre of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka. The working language of the conference is English.

All additional information and details are available at the following link.

All students are invited to participate in the survey on the quality of the teaching process for the summer semester of the 2024/2025 academic year.

The survey will be conducted from May 12 to June 8, 2025, in accordance with the Rulebook on Student Surveying.

For more information and instructions, you can view the document available at the following link.

Our recently graduated students, chemists Nikolina Landeka and Milica Kosić, who are currently engaged in research within the Chemistry Study Program for the needs of domestic industry, presented their work at **INOST Youth 2025**. They showcased ideas for recycling electronic waste. While the process of mechanically separating copper from cables works well in our country, polymer recycling requires serious chemical methodology. In this area, we have several innovative ideas and significant experimental results, developed precisely through student research.

The presentation by colleagues Landeka and Kosić was part of a roundtable organized by the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Srpska titled *”Innovations in Education”*, moderated by Mr. Slobodan M. Dragičević. The roundtable was supported by the European Enterprise Network, which includes entrepreneurs from 50 countries. The high quality of their presentation impressed the attendees and sparked a dynamic discussion.

A detailed report on the activities of the 27th International Exhibition of Innovations and Creativity of Youth – “INOST Youth 2025” is available on the website of the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Srpska – link.

Author of the text: Dr. Suzana Gotovac Atlagić, Associate Professor