Category: news

The Chemistry Study Programme of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka, actively participated in the implementation of the Second Winter Camp “Želim više”, which was ceremonially opened on 15 January 2026. The camp brought together more than 200 students and around 70 teachers from primary and secondary schools across the Republic of Srpska.

As part of this year’s camp, the Chemistry Study Programme delivered two scientific and educational workshops, tailored to different age groups and levels of prior knowledge, and designed to introduce chemistry to young participants in an interactive and inquiry-based manner.

The workshop “Chemical Quest” was intended for students of the 5th, 6th and 7th grades of primary school. Through solving scientific challenges using commonly available household materials, students became familiar with basic chemical concepts, which they observed and interpreted within the broader context of natural laws. This structured, age-appropriate workshop served as a form of preparation for chemistry classes in higher grades, while also fostering an investigative spirit, logical thinking, and interest in the natural sciences. The authors of this workshop were Prof. Dr Milica Balaban and Senior Teaching Assistant Dejana Savić.

For students of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades of secondary school, the workshop “Welcome to CIA (Chemical Instrumental Adventure)” was conducted, designed as a simulation of real work in a research laboratory. After receiving the theoretical background necessary to solve a specific research task, students assumed the role of young researchers, independently sampling and preparing samples, performing analyses, and interpreting the obtained results. Sunscreen creams were examined, and the students’ task was to identify UV filters in an unknown sunscreen sample and determine which brand the cream belonged to. In doing so, they had the opportunity to work with a UV/VIS spectrophotometer and learned how to interpret UV spectra of sunscreen products. The author of this workshop was Prof. Dr Dijana Jelić, and its implementation also involved Senior Teaching Assistant Dragana Gajić, as well as fourth-year students of the Chemistry Study Programme Sandra Gašić, Tamara Malešević and Dajana Bulatović, who, through their engagement, provided significant support to the students during practical work and data analysis.

The participation of the Chemistry Study Programme in the Second winter camp “I want more” represents a significant contribution to the popularization of science and the development of functional knowledge among students, as well as to strengthening the connection between university and pre-university education. Through hands-on activities, teamwork, and an inquiry-based approach, students were given the opportunity to experience chemistry as an interesting, dynamic and applicable science, which is one of the key objectives of such educational programmes.

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The cooperation between the Chemistry department of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka, and the Banja Luka Grammar School has continued during the current academic year. The Chemistry Department enabled Grammar School pupils enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) to carry out the laboratory work required by this programme.

Guided by their research interests, pupils Tanja Knežević, Srna Mrkobrad, Katja Ljubojević, Lazar Arnaut, and Petar Čekić together with IB coordinator professor Katarina Dodik, selected chemistry-related topics they wished to investigate. Faculty members and associates from the Chemistry department: Prof. Dr. Biljana Davidović-Plavšić, Prof. Dr. Dragana Blagojević, and senior teaching assistants Dragana Gajić and Dejana Savić provided mentorship throughout the laboratory work and the execution of experiments. The selected topics, as well as the applied methods, were diverse. Using spectrophotometric methods, the pupils examined the presence of caffeine and tannins in black tea; they applied refractometry, polarimetry, and conductometry for quality control of commercial sugars; investigated the stability of chitosan in different pH environments; determined the buffer capacity of sodium caseinate at various temperatures; and employed potentiometric titration to determine the capacity of a sodium phosphate buffer.

This form of collaboration is of exceptional importance, as it contributes to the early development of pupils’ research competencies. At the same time, these activities strengthen the link between educational institutions and contribute to the improvement of educational quality through the exchange of knowledge and resources.

The “Branko Radičević” Elementary School in Banja Luka is officially the largest elementary school in the Republika Srpska. The Chemistry Department is pleased that several of our students come from this school. Also, in the activities to promote chemistry to young people, through international projects that we have implemented, students from this school have stood out and presented themselves with creative ideas in Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia and Estonia.

This time, we had the honour of being hosted by chemistry teachers Jelena and Marela from this school, in their classroom, where we held a creative workshop supported by the project of the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education “Knowledge BriefCase 2.0”. Teacher Jelena comes from the second generation of students at our Department, which was an interesting fact for us.

The students were very active in the workshop, where we drew their attention to the importance of water chemistry and the presence of different ions in water, and demonstrated some of the colourful titration methods for proving different ions in water. Many of them took part in the experiment and tried their hand at handling a burette and a magnetic stirrer for the first time.

We are particularly pleased with the excellent media promotion of the workshop through the podcast of this school, for which we send them our sincere compliments.

We hope that we have tickled their imagination for “our” science and that we will not miss the best chemistry talents from this generation of 8^th grade students who have been hanging out with us. We are waiting for them at the entrance exam in the summer of 2031!

 

 

 

 

 

 

From November 12 to 13, 2025, the 9th International Scientific-Professional Symposium “Environmental Potentials, Sustainable Development and Food Production – OPORPH2025” was held in Tuzla.

The symposium gathered a large number of participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balkan countries, and the European Union. Prof. Dr. Dijana Jelić from the Chemistry Department at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics had an invited lecture titled ”Advancing Food Fortification with Kinetics: Vitamin D₃ Encapsulation on Calcium Carbonate – based vehicles” Together with her team, Prof. Jelić has been conducting research in the field of vitamin D stability for many years. On this occasion, she presented software-based kinetic modeling as a modern approach for kinetic prediction of the stability and shelf life of food and dietary supplements, with a special focus on vitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiency represents a global challenge among populations worldwide, making this topic highly relevant, and Prof. Jelić’s lecture therefore attracted significant interest from the symposium participants.

As part of international cooperation and student exchange programs, master’s student Rosalinda Dominguez Ramon from Mexico is currently spending time at the Chemistry Department, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka. In collaboration with Prof. Dr. Dijana Jelić, the academic coordinator for international student and staff exchange at the Chemistry Dept., a presentation was organized, giving Rosalinda a great opportunity to introduce herself, present the institution she comes from (Center for Research in Applied Chemistry – CIQA, Mexico), discuss the topic of her master’s thesis, as well as the research she is conducting in the laboratories of the Chemistry Dept. under the supervisor of Prof. Dr. Suzana Gotovac–Atlagić. At the end of the presentation, Rosalinda also reflected on life in Banja Luka, emphasizing how impressed she is with the natural beauty of our city and the Republic of Srpska. She especially highlighted the hospitality of her colleagues, professors, and the entire staff at the Chemistry Dept.

Prof. Pero Dugić, PhD, full professor visited the Chemistry Study Program of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Banja Luka after his retirement. As a long-time professor of the subjects I and II of the study cycle, Industrial Chemistry 2, Analytical quality control of raw materials and finished products of inorganic and organic origin, Standards and standardization, Alternative fuels and lubricants and Surfactants, his knowledge and dedication marked the work of the Chemistry Study Program.

His visit was a wonderful opportunity to talk about different topics. In a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere, memories of joint work and numerous generations of students inspired by the professor were evoked. Professor Dugić also shared his valuable experiences and advice with the audience this time, showing once again his commitment to science and the community, but also the simplicity and approachability that graced him throughout his working life.

Regardless of his retirement, we hope for further cooperation, exchange of experiences and knowledge, as well as nice socializing with a dear and respected professor.

Authors of the text: prof. dr Dijana Jelić and prof. dr Dragana Blagojević

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.