Author: biba

On 1 October 2025 the reception of the new generation of students was held in the amphitheater of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Prof. Goran Trbić, PhD, full professor and Prof. Mira Mandić, PhD, full professor from the Geography Department, as well as the president of the Student Organization of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Valentina Knežević. After that, the students were directed to the enrolled study programs.

Students enrolled in the Chemistry Department visited the chemistry laboratory and the rooms intended for classes. Then there was a reception in the classroom where they were addressed by professors and assistants led by the head of the Chemistry Department Prof. Milica Balaban, PhD, full professor. Students had the opportunity to hear briefly about the subjects and the organization of classes, as well as the possibilities of participating in the student exchange program and improving knowledge.

As a small token of appreciation and welcome, the students were presented with symbolic gifts.

We wish all students successful studies and a happy start to a new period of life!

As part of the bilateral project “Circular Economy: Application of Waste Raw Materials in Zeolite Synthesis”, the Chemistry Study Program team, led by Prof. Dr. Saša Zeljković, visited the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana from September 28 to October 1. On this occasion, young researcher Aleksej Vučić presented the results of syntheses of selected oxide materials.

The visit provided an excellent opportunity for bilateral meetings and further progress in the finalization of the research. The team from the Republic of Srpska also actively participated in the “1^st Summer School TCM Friends Academy”. The summer school is organised by the National Institute of Chemistry Slovenia within the EERA JP Energy Storage – Thermal Energy Storage sub-programme.

The bilateral project is supported by the program of joint research projects within the framework of scientific and technological cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Slovenia for 2024 and 2025 (contract number: 19/6-020/966-13-1/23).

Author of the text: Saša Zeljković

From September 15 to 19, 2025, the University of Mostar hosted the “8th Central and Eastern European Conference on Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (CEEC-TAC8).”

The conference brought together 147 participants from 26 countries around the world, including renowned scientists from Europe, Japan, China, Peru, and Turkey. Over the course of the four-day program, there were 5 plenary lectures, 12 invited lectures, 40 oral presentations, and 96 poster presentations.

As one of the invited speakers, Prof. Dr. Dijana Jelić from the Chemistry Study Program at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka, delivered a highly regarded lecture titled “Formulating Vitamin D Supplements: Insights into Chemistry, Kinetics and Bioavailability.”

The conference provided an excellent opportunity to establish scientific collaboration with researchers from the region and across the globe.

For more information about the conference, visit: https://www.ceec-tac.com/

The Chemistry Department has so far participated in as many as 7 projects from the funding program of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology. The 8th project in which we are participating, called RM SLO PLUS HUB, has just started. The project is coordinated by the National Technical University of Athens, with coordinator Prof. emeritus Katarina Adam. The consortium also includes the Polish Academy of Sciences, the University of Leoben (Austria), the Polytechnic University of Madrid, the LUT University from Finland, and several associations and companies from the raw material supply chain, more details of which are available on the project’s official website.

In its content and objectives, the project refers to the European Union document called “Critical Raw Materials Act“, which encourages the re-acquisition of sustainability of European raw materials chains, which have been neglected in the past few decades. Chemistry as a natural science and chemical technologies play an important role in achieving these goals and our country has numerous resources to which it can contribute.

It is particularly significant that through the project, which will last for the next 12 months, our two excellent graduated students found temporary employment, who will gain experience in project methodology and international communication, and the project will also enable a significant number of activities, especially in contact with applied chemistry in industry, for current year students as well.

 

 

 

 

 

As part of the Erasmus+ partner project ChemTeach, at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the University of Banja Luka, from August 25 to 29, 2025, a chemistry summer school was held for secondary school students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The summer school was also attended by representatives of the Slovak Technical University from Bratislava, which is also the coordinator of this project.

The topic of the summer school was environmental chemistry, within which the focus was placed on the chemical analysis of water. International teams of students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia and the Czech Republic worked with different water samples, applying the acquired theoretical knowledge to the practical performance of various laboratory analyses.

In particular, the importance of the synergy of this year’s summer school of the ChemTeach project with the “Materials without borders” conference, organized by the Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Banja Luka, and as part of which a competition of high school teams for the best idea in the field of innovative application of modern materials was held. In addition to the competitors, the conference was attended by representatives of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the University of Banja Luka, as well as the consul of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Patrik Turošík.

During the conference, the students and their professors visited the company Roundliner BH d.o.o., which deals with the production of plastic packaging intended for industrial use.

The last day of the summer school was dedicated to work in the laboratory, after which the teams presented their results and experiences.

Students had the opportunity to communicate with each other in English, which further developed their language and communication skills, teamwork and critical thinking.

The next activity within the ChemTeach project will be the meeting of the Project Steering Committee, which is planned for the end of the year in Pardubice, Czech Republic, where the results so far will be reviewed and a plan for the next activities will be made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the fourth year in a row, the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Chemistry, has hosted the, now traditional, international conference “Materials without borders”.

As in previous years, the basis of the conference was a competition of high school student teams for the best idea in the field of innovative applications of modern materials. It is with great pleasure that we highlight that this year’s conference is organized in synergy with the summer camp “Summer School for Students in B&H Focused on Environmental Chemistry”, held as part of the “ChemTeach” project, under the auspices of the ERASMUS+ programme. In addition to our study program, universities from the Czech Republic and Slovakia are also participating in this project.

The competitive part of the event was opened by the team “Assasino Plasticino” from the Gymnasium in Banja Luka, who did a detailed research on the trends in the production of biodegradable plastic, its properties, but also the potential dangers that its degradation products bring to all ecosystems. The fight to reduce pollution in the environment was also in focus of the team “Ozren” from the Gymnasium in Doboj. This team has introduced us to an innovative method for fixating CO₂ from the air in peridotites, a type of igneous rock found in large quantities on Ozren Mountain.

Students from School of Technology in Banja Luka in their presentation highlighted the potential that secondary products from the mining processes have in the development of the circular economy, while the team from Banja Luka’s School of Medicine presented the possibilities of applying domestic raw materials in medicine and the pharmaceutical industry.

Finally, the winner of this year’s edition of Materials Without Borders was the second representative of Banja Luka Gymnasium, the team “ELEMICA”, with the topic named Electrical Mica for Europe. Their innovative idea is based on the use of mica, a silicate mineral that is present in BiH in significant quantities, for the production of biocompatible sensors.

In addition to five teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, students from chemical high schools in Pardubice (Czech Republic) and Bratislava (Slovakia) also participated in the competition. Two teams from the Czech Republic presented their research on the topic of carbon materials and finding alternative resources for the extraction of pharmacologically active compounds, while representatives from Slovakia presented us some of the contemporary trends in the application of biodegradable medical materials.

Support for the conference was provided by the iMERMAID project, through the H₂O PEOPLE organization from Netherlands. Their spokesperson, Naomi Timmer, promoted the importance of water conservation through an interactive workshop, using the Kahoot! platform.

On the second day of the conference, also supported through the iMERMAID project and its cascade subproject BRIDGEWAT, the students and their professors visited the company Roundliner BH d.o.o., which is engaged in the production of plastic packaging for industrial use. During this visit, the students had the opportunity to get acquainted with modern methods of processing and application of polymer materials. This factory uses 100% recycled polyethylene as a raw material and is a good example of the fight against plastic pollution. Students learned more about the growing threats of water pollution from micro- and nanoplastics. Prijedor was a good location for this education, given the beauty of the River Sana and the importance of its preservation.

We are very pleased to have gathered exceptional young people who are already showing great interest in the materials chemistry, but also in current challenges in the field of ecology and environmental protection. It is our job to bring them closer to the natural sciences through events like this.

Finally, we would like to thank the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education, which, for the fourth year in a row, supports the realization of our conference.

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR AT MBG 2026.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We invite schools from across Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region, and around the world to apply for this year’s event “Materials Without Borders 2025”. The application deadline is August 5, 2025.

For the fourth year in a row, the Chemistry Department at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (PMF) is organizing the conference “Materials Without Borders.” As in previous years, the main sponsor is the Ministry for Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education, while the event is additionally supported by the Erasmus+ and Horizon programs.

This conference was initiated by young researchers from PMF within the framework of the international project RM@Schools, which has been implemented at our Faculty over the past five years.

All previous events have truly been “without borders,” as we have hosted students from multiple countries including Italy, Germany, and Hungary, as well as schools from across Bosnia and Herzegovina. For a limited number of registrations, we are able to offer financial support for travel and accommodation costs. Meals, educational materials, and transport for field education activities will be provided throughout the entire conference for all participants.

Students aged 13–19 are eligible to apply with presentations related to STEAM fields, primarily chemistry, physics, materials science, or interdisciplinary topics that include computer science. Presentation abstracts, along with the names of team members and their teacher/mentor, should be sent to the conference coordinator at: mwb@pmf.unibl.org. The text should be no longer than one A4 page.

All additional explanations, mentorship, and guidance for preparations will be provided by individual mentors from the Chemistry Study Program.

Each student team will have 12–15 minutes for their presentations, and posters from all teams will be exhibited in the Faculty hall (poster printing will be arranged by the organizers).

Conference programme

Day One – August 25, 2025: ARRIVAL

Estimated group arrival time: 14:00–17:00

Guest reception (guides to accommodation provided if needed). Accommodation will be arranged at the Nikola Tesla Student Center and Hostel Evropa, depending on the number of participants and the registration order.

18:00–21:00 Welcome Dinner

Day Two – August 26, 2025: 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, 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 Study Program)

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 Plaque awards ceremony

15:00 Lunch at the venue and networking

16:00 onward Free time and rest at accommodation

Day Three – August 29, 2025: 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 Lukaand farewell to teams

FREE TIME

Read more about past years’ events in our previous posts:

2022 https://hemija.pmf.unibl.org/srl/konferencija-materijali-bez-granica-na-studijskom-programu-hemija/

2023 https://hemija.pmf.unibl.org/srl/zavrsen-medunarodni-edukativni-kamp-materijali-bez-granica/

2024 https://hemija.pmf.unibl.org/srl/konferencija-materijali-bez-granica-donijela-nove-pobjednike/

WELCOME!

The Chemistry department was very pleased to see off the guests from its 4th international conference NanoPol. Colleagues from Serbia, Estonia, Slovenia, Mexico, with co-authors from Italy, the United States of America, Montenegro, Romania, Poland, Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, shared their professional and scientific knowledge in the field of nanomaterials and polymers as two leading classes of materials in modern technologies.

There was also discussions about the safety of nanoparticles, and above all about the use of nanomaterials, polymers, and their composites in the field of environmental protection. The state of the European Union regulations in the field of application of nanomaterials and polymers in the pharmaceutical industry was also presented. Oral presentations were given by 9 authors, and poster presentations were given in 12 narrowly specialized topics mainly based on the final theses of second and third cycle students from different universities.

Among the guests from the domestic industry, it is important to highlight the presence of representatives of the company “Solana” a.d. Tuzla, “Vodovod” a.d. Banja Luka, “BP Institute” d.o.o. Banja Luka, “Cablex-BH” d.o.o. Banja Luka and “Mann+Hummel” d.o.o. Tešanj, from the institutions “Institute for Protection and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska” and from the non-governmental sector “LIR-evolucija” Banja Luka, who, through their projects, were also co-sponsors of part of the conference program. The study visit to the domestic industry “Mann+Hummel”, which produces nanoporous filters from cellulose polymers, was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska (project number 19.031/966-81/24).

Naslovna

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From March 31 to April 4, 2025, Professor Dr. Ivan Špánik visited the Chemistry Department at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Banja Luka, continuing the long-standing cooperation between the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava and the University of Banja Luka. This visit is part of the Erasmus+ international exchange program, which enables the exchange of knowledge and experiences between students and staff from partner universities.

During his stay, Professor Dr. Ivan Špánik delivered lectures for the third-cycle students of the Chemistry Deparment, focusing on contemporary aspects of analytical chemistry. The lectures covered both theoretical, and practical elements in the field of quality control in analytical laboratories, including sophisticated methods for identifying and minimizing errors in the analytical process. Special emphasis was placed on the implementation of international standards, such as ISO 17025, in modern laboratory practice, with the aim of ensuring high accuracy, precision, and valid results.

In addition to Professor Špánik, PhD student Ismaila Kuburah from Nigeria, who is currently conducting research at the Slovak University of Technology as part of her PhD studies, was also present during the visit to the Chemistry Department. Ismaila shared her experiences about the exchange and her work at the Slovak University of Technology.

After the lectures, attendees had the opportunity to discuss the topics covered in the lectures with Professor Špánik and PhD student Kuburah, as well as explore opportunities for further professional development in the field of analytical chemistry.

As part of the Erasmus+ exchange program, three students from the Chemistry Study Program at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Banja Luka spent one semester at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Utilizing the student exchange opportunity offered by the University of Banja Luka, Dajana Bulatović, Jelena Kuzmanović, and Marijana Radišić had the chance to learn about the operations of other European universities, expand their knowledge in chemistry, and discover different cultures and customs.

Here’s what they said about their experience:

“Going on an exchange is an invaluable experience that has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, learn, and grow. Many new lessons, travels, learning a new language, and meeting people from various parts of the world have broadened my horizons and shaped my view of the world. This program provided me the opportunity to work in very well-equipped laboratories and adopt new learning methods.” (Jelena Kuzmanović)

“My stay in Spain (Santiago de Compostela) as an Erasmus+ program student was an incredible experience. I had the opportunity to meet people from different cultures, enhance my academic and language skills, and explore the beautiful landscapes of Galicia. Studying in an international environment has expanded my horizons and brought many unforgettable moments.” (Dajana Bulatović)