All posts by Milana Grbic

Studying the living world that inhabits the immediate surroundings, regions, or distant corners of planet Earth is the domain of biologists. If your interest lies in further education regarding various types of microorganisms, fungi, plants, or animals, then enrolling in the Biology study program is the right choice for you. Through diverse educational contents, you will get acquainted with the living world at all biological and ecological levels of integration, starting from the molecular, cellular, morpho-anatomical, population, species-specific ecosystem level, and finally at the level of the biosphere. Knowledge and skills in the Biology study program are acquired through theoretical, practical, and experimental teaching. The special charm of studying biology lies in fieldwork, in various types of ecosystems, organized at the end of each year of study, but also very often as part of the diploma thesis.

If you wish to transfer the acquired knowledge to students in primary and secondary schools, you can enroll in the teaching track within the biology studies. Thanks to a group of subjects related to this track, you acquire the skills necessary for the teaching profession.

You can study biology at the FNSM in the Biology study program, either in the general track where you become a Bechelor of Science in Biology (more information is available here) or in the teaching track where you become a Graduate Teacher of Biology (more information is available here).

Are you interested in what can be studied at the Faculty of Science and Mathematics, what the entrance exam covers, how to best prepare for it, when the preparatory classes take place, which documents are needed for enrollment, but you are unable to visit us in person – no problem, on June 10th we are organizing an Online Info Day. On that day, from 12 PM to 2 PM, all your questions will be answered by Dr. Aleksandra Petrašević, Full professor and Dr. Milana Grbić, Assistant professor. All you need to do is fill out the Google form and you will receive the link to access the Faculty of Science and Mathematics Online Info Day by email.

Join us at the Online Info Day and get acquainted with the study opportunities in: biology, geography, GIS, tourism, ecology and environmental protection, mathematics, computer science, spatial planning, technical education, physics, and chemistry at the Faculty of Science and Mathematics.

Registration link: https://forms.gle/xhM63Wb6ignxhBSv6

Cover photo: Mile Lekić, student of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics

The Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the Faculty of Philology of the University of Banja Luka, in cooperation with the Institute for Slavic Studies “Karl Franz” in Graz and the Commission for Stylistics of the International Committee of Slavists, were the organizers of the 10th International Symposium on the Literary Work of Branko Ćopić.

The Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Study Program in Geography, hosted the first day of this three-day scientific event, held from May 22 to 25, 2025, in Banja Luka. The initiator of the project dedicated to the great Serbian writer is Prof. Dr. Branko Tošović from the Institute for Slavic Studies in Graz. In addition to the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, which participated in the symposium for the first time this year, the event gathered 23 lecturers from Austria, the Republic of Srpska, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Spain.

During the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the building of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics housed the Teacher Training School attended by Branko Ćopić, where his literary career began. The participants of the symposium were greeted on behalf of the Faculty of Philology by Prof. Dr. Mirjana Arežina, and on behalf of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics by Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Petrašević, Vice Dean for Teaching. Prof. Dr. Goran Milašin, Vice President of the Commission for Stylistics of the International Committee of Slavists, and the project leader, Prof. Dr. Branko Tošović, spoke about the importance of the project and the work of Slavic scholars.

Ćopić’s literary work is a rich source of knowledge about the geographical area of Bosanska Krajina, its geographical and historical development, relief, landscape units, toponymy, social processes, and cultural identity. As such, it belongs to the field of literary geography and represents a valuable source for geographical studies of the local environment. For this reason, Prof. Dr. Mira Mandić gave a talk on Regional Geography in the Works of Branko Ćopić. The second day of the symposium was hosted by the Faculty of Philology, while the third day was dedicated to a visit to Hašani, the homeland of Branko Ćopić.

Text author: Dr. Mira Mandić, Full professor

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.

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.

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.