Call for Registration: Student Conference “Materials Without Borders 2026”
We invite schools from across Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region, and the world to apply for participation in our international student conference “Materials Without Borders 2026.”
For the fifth year in a row, the Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka, is organizing the student conference –“Materials Without Borders.” As in previous years, the main sponsor is the Ministry for Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska, while the implementation of the conference is additionally supported through the Erasmus+ and Horizon programs, specifically by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology fund.
The conference was designed by young researchers from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics as part of the international project RM@Schools, which was implemented at our Faculty from 2019 to 2024. We are proud to continue using this recognizable brand, in accordance with the permission granted by the project coordinator, the ISOF Institute from Bologna.
Previous events have truly been “without borders,” as we have hosted participants from cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as from countries such as Italy, Germany, and Hungary. Last year’s edition of the conference was particularly important for us because, in cooperation with the international Erasmus+ project ChemTeach, we also hosted high school students from partner countries, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Students aged 13 to 19 may submit presentation topics from STEM fields, primarily chemistry, physics, materials science, or interdisciplinary sciences that also include informatics. On the day of the conference, student teams will have 12 to 15 minutes to present their innovative ideas on the application of various materials from the above-mentioned fields, after which an independent jury will decide on the winning team.
One of the prizes will go to the team with the best poster, which will be exhibited at the Faculty during the conference. Poster printing is provided by the conference organizers.
An abstract of the presentation, including the names of team members and the teacher/mentor, should be sent to the conference coordinator via email: mbg@pmf.unibl.org Each team should have a mentor, a teacher from their school, and after registration, they will also be assigned a mentor from the University, who will provide additional explanations, guidance, and preparation for participation in the competition.
For a limited number of registrations, we are able to provide financial support for transportation and accommodation costs. Meals, educational materials, and transportation for field educational visits will be provided for all participants throughout the conference.
Application deadline: August 5, 2026.
Conference programme
Day One – August 24, 2026: ARRIVAL
Estimated group arrival time: 14:00–17:00
Guest reception (guides to accommodation provided if needed).
Accommodation will be arranged at the hostels in Banja Luka depending on the number of participants and the registration order.
18:00–21:00 Welcome Dinner
Day Two – August 25, 2026: CONFERENCE
07:00–08:00 Breakfast at accommodation
09:00 Gathering and registration, poster check and preparation, networking and participant meet-and-greet. Coffee and refreshments provided (Location: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dr. Mladena Stojanovića Street 2, 78000 Banja Luka, Ground Floor, Amphitheater)
09:30 Media statements (coordinators, teachers, team leaders)
10:00–10:05 Opening speech (Organizers – PMF, Chemistry Department)
10:05–10:15 Welcome speech (Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education)
10:15–10:30 Short retrospective of previous conferences and future plans
10:30–11:30 Student presentations
11:30–12:00 PHOTO SESSION and coffee break with poster exhibition
12:00–14:00 Student presentations continue
14:00–14:30 Discussion (jury deliberation and evaluation of presentations)
14:30 Awards ceremony
15:00 Lunch at the venue and networking
16:00 Free time and rest at accommodation
Day Three – August 26, 2026: INDUSTRY VISIT
07:00–08:00 Breakfast at accommodation
08:45–09:00 Gathering in the Faculty parking lot
09:00–10:00 Travel to the industrial site
10:00–13:00 Welcome and discussion with engineers. Guided tour of the quality control laboratories
13:30–15:00 Lunch and networking at a local restaurant
15:00–16:00 Return to Banja Luka and farewell to teams
FREE TIME
Read more about past years’ events in our previous posts:
WELCOME!