Category: news

COMPETITION FOR Erasmus+ KA107 exchange

As part of the Erasmus+ KA107 exchange, a competition was announced for the stay of academic staff at
Slovak Technical University (STU) in Bratislava.
Admission institution: Slovak Technical University
Country: Slovakia
Number of scholarships available: 3
Duration of exchange: 5 working days (+ 2 travel days)
Exchange realization period: the exchange must be realized in the winter semester 2022/23. years
Who can apply: Academic staff of the Chemistry and Mathematics Study Program
Faculty of the University of Banja Luka
Scholarship amount:

Daily stipend in the amount of 165 euros (for living expenses),
Travel expenses up to 180 euros in total,
Visa, residence permit and insurance are not covered by this scholarship, and it is
the scholarship holder is obliged to bear these expenses himself (a visa is not required for a stay of up to 3 months in Slovakia).

LINKS:
• about the University:
https://www.stuba.sk/english.html?page_id=132
https://www.fchpt.stuba.sk/
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
For the competition, it is necessary to submit:
1. CV in EUROPASS format with bibliography
http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/documents/curriculum-vitae/templates-instructions
2. Proposal of the Exchange Agreement with a detailed exchange plan (see below for details
mentioned links and contact the academic mobility coordinator of the parent organization
units)
Teaching: https://eurep.auth.gr/en/staff/international/teaching/general_information
Training: https://eurep.auth.gr/en/staff/international/training/general_information
3. Letter of invitation, which is optional, but gives priority to the candidate over other candidates.
APPLICATION:
All required documentation is submitted to the Academic Coordinator for International Exchange
students and staff SP CHEMISTRY prof. Dr. Dijani Jelić, by mail, e-mail, or in person.
The coordinator will submit all applications to the commission, which will within 5 days after the competition closes
make a decision on the nomination.
For any additional questions, you can contact the email address erasmus@pmf.unibl.org

The deadline for submitting documentation is 08/05/2022. until 12:00 p.m.
NOTE: The exchange must be carried out in compliance with all epidemiological measures that are in place
in force in the country of the receiving institution. In case of deterioration of the epidemiological situation in the country
reception, there is a possibility that the exchange may be cancelled.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
1. The selection of candidates is carried out in accordance with the Rules on the work of the Commission and the criteria for
implementation of the candidate selection procedure for the exchange of outgoing students and staff within the framework
of the Erasmus+ KA107 program.
2. Approved applications will be sent to the partner EU university as nominations.
3. The EU university decides on the final selection of candidates.

NanoPol Conference

On May 26, 2022, the NanoPol2022 conference was held at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the University of Banja Luka, with the participation of exhibitors from Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Greece and Serbia, as well as numerous guests from the academic and industrial community.

The conference was financially supported by the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of the Republic of Srpska through a grant to support the approved RIS RESTORE project from the Horizon Europe fund (EIT RawMaterials) called. The conference was opened and addressed by Mr. Miodrag Peranović, Assistant Minister for Scientific and Technological Development, and on behalf of the Rector of the University of Banja Luka, the participants were greeted by the Vice-Rector for Human and Material Resources, Prof. Dr. Dalibor Kesić.

On the second day of their stay, members of the RIS RESTORE project consortium visited the bauxite mine in Jajce as part of the project activities.

 

 

Links:

http://ris-restore.zag.si/

https://www.vladars.net/sr-SP-Cyrl/Vlada/Ministarstva/mnk/Pages/default.aspx

 

Visit of Chemistry students to the University Clinical Center of the Republic of Srpska

Students of the third year at the Chemistry Department, traditionally visit the Institute of Nuclear Medicine at the University Clinical Center of Banja Luka. This year, also, they had the opportunity to get acquainted with the work of the laboratory for quality control of radiopharmaceuticals.

They have seen the application of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), pH-metric, osmometric analysis for these purposes. Beside the visit of the laboratory for quality control, students were introduced to the method of disposal of radioactive waste, as well as the implemenatation and mechanism of radioactive radiation detectors.

With this visit, students had the opportunity to see multidisciplinarity in action, where doctors, pharmacists, chemists and physicists combine their knowledge to ensure better and safer use of radioactive isotopes, and to see what they hear in lectures as applicable in practice, which is the best way to accept knowledge. Gratitude to the managemеnt of the University Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska and the staff of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine, especially Dr. Aljoša Stanković, who support these student professional practice.

Science Festival 2022

The Science Festival took place at the Kastel Fortress in Banja Luka on May 18 and 19, 2022, under the sponsorship of The Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of the Republic Srpska.

For teachers and associates from the Chemistry Department, the Science Festival is always a great opportunity to promote science and popularize the natural sciences in general. In the Stone House, at the Kastel Fortress, a mobile laboratory was built in which Chemistry students performed experiments. Visitors to the Science Festival were able to observe chemical experiments, participate in them, and talk to students and teachers.

A large number of visitors were interested in participating in the experiments, especially children. The little chemists were most enthusiastic about the experiments: The Greenhouse; Where there is smoke, there is fire; Elephant toothpaste; Chemical cocktail; Chemical clock; Chameleon, etc. As a result of the activity, the visitors gained new knowledge and developed new research skills.

PREPARATORY CLASSES

Preparatory classes in CHEMISTRY for enrollment in the CHEMISTRY STUDY this year will be organized at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Candidates who are interested in attending preparatory classes can apply until June 20 at the E-mail address:
sphemija@pmf.unibl.org

Preparatory classes in CHEMISTRY start on June 20 and will be held every day until June 24 at 10-12 o’clock.
Attendance at preparatory classes is free for all our future students!
Welcome!

Zbirka Zadataka za pripremnu nastavu iz hemije

Education Fair

The Education Fair under the auspices of the American Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Education USA and the American Corner from Banja Luka was held on May 14, 2022 at the Youth Center in Banja Luka. The fair was opened by the cultural attachés of the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christienne Caroll and the coordinator of the American Corner in Banja Luka, Bojana Lekić.

US alumni from the University of Banja Luka also presented themselves at the fair. From the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the fair was attended by prof. dr Dijana Jelić from the Chemistry Department. She was at the University of Alabama in Birmingham as a Fulbright Scholar in 2018/2019. Professor dr. Dijana Jelić pointed out the importance of international cooperation, scientific and professional development, as well as the scientific potential of teachers and associates from the University of Banja Luka for the successful application and obtaining the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship. The fair was attended by the Director of the US Embassy in Banja Luka, Ms. Brianna Powers, as well as her Deputy, Mr. Rami Blair.

RM@Schools project: workshop “Challenge of creating positive environmental habits at an early age”

Team of the project Minerals in Schools (RM@Schools 4.0) from the Study Program of Chemistry at the University of Banja Luka held a workshop entitled “Challenge of creating positive environmental habits at an early age” for teachers. The workshop was held in the reading room of the Faculty of Philosophy in Banja Luka on April 15, 2022 in cooperation with the scientific research organization LIR Evolution. The training costs were co-financed by the “Thoughts of Nature” project supported by the Swedish government.

“Train the trainer” is one of the project activities aiming to train trainers, in this case teachers, providing them with the knowledge and tools they need to be able to act as “ambassadors of raw materials” in the future, ie. promoters of the importance of circular use of raw materials in their schools.

The subject of this training was the domestic waste management system where educators showed the possibilities of daily waste recycling, although the system itself is not yet fully at a satisfactory level. Nikola Bojić from LIR Evolution spoke about aspects of sustainable development through primary and secondary educational activities for proper sorting of waste to appropriate containers donated through their project budgets. Trainer Dragana Stević showed first-hand best practice in everyday waste recycling systems in Japan. The training closed with a lecture by the representatives of the SP Psychology Tatjana Dobraš and Nikola Vejnović, showing how we can encourage recycling habits in students from a psychological aspect. Finally, the representatives of the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology spoke about the systematic waste management for which the Ministry is trying to set a legal framework.

The aim of this training was to train teachers on self-sustainable recycling of materials. Teachers should pass the knowledge on their students in primary and secondary schools. The training should suggest to teachers opportunities for educating students through thematic actions of collecting raw materials. This topic is extremely important for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite the great natural resources, the recycling chain is not developed at a satisfactory level.It is necessary to work on public awareness of proper waste disposal where young people will play a key role in developing recycling systems.

Links:

http://rmschools.eu

https://mislioprirodi.ba/

OSCE supporting green chemistry actions

The student project “Support Project for Early Student Involvement in Green Chemistry action” implemented by four third-year students together with assistants of the Chemistry department was supported by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The laboratory heater with six places necessary for completing the apparatus for extraction of samples of river sediments and soil is part of the equipment of great importance for the activities of the research group of the Study Program of Chemistry, which deals with research in the field of Environmental Chemistry.

With this project, which aims at environmental protection actions, student practice in early educational stages, as well as women support during education, the Chemistry department got equipment and chemicals of great importance for increasing efficiency in the research of the presence of organic pollutants, such as bisphenol A, pollutants of petroleum origin and others.

All research steps, from sampling, through the preparation of samples for chemical analysis, to measurement and processing of results, will be presented in a short video, which, in addition to the role of chemists in numerous studies, will promote the importance of a healthy environment for humans.

Another activity under the auspices of the OSCE implied the guest appearance of the project participants on the Radio of Republic of Srpska in the show ²Zajednički talas², on December 17 in 2021. The importance of chemistry knowledge for various studies in the field of environmental protection, as well as other natural sciences, was emphasized. Emphasis was also placed on the promotion of the Chemistry department and other study programs of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, as well as on the importance of interdisciplinarity in dealing with current scientific topics.

Links:

http://www.osce.org/bih

RM @ Schools project at the mineral fair “Treasure of the Earth” in Banja Luka

Study Program Chemistry team from University of Banja Luka  at the project Minerals in Schools (RM@Schools 4.0)  participated in the mineral fair “Treasures of the Earth”. The fair was held at the Delta Planet Center Banja Luka on April 2-3 2022. RM@Schools project was presented through the educational social game EcoCEO (“Environmental Director”), which teaches entrepreneurship for the circular economy to young people.

This game was developed, optimized and distributed with the support of the EIT RawMaterials fund within the projects “FosterERM@Schools”, “SmartPlaCE@Schools” and “RM@Schools 4.0-RawMatTERS Ambassadors at Schools”. It is intended for children at the age of 12 to 19, and was developed by experts from the research organization “Vito” from Belgium. Participants had an opportunity to play the game and win their prizes according to the achieved results. Prizes were provided from the RM@Schools project funding.

EcoCEO is a game that brings circular economy strategies and business models among students and introduces them to the challenges in raw material exploitation, circular product design and sustainable entrepreneurship. Study program chemistry in Banja Luka, deals with these topics in an effort to draw students’ attention to the various possibilities for the development of the chemical industry on the basis of domestic raw materials.

EcoCEO game aims to educate high school students about the importance, roles and opportunities of the circular economy, as well as the challenges that arise. The game encourages dialogue on sustainable entrepreneurship, resource scarcity, waste management and business strategies. Thus, our participants in the game had the opportunity to master the basic principles of entrepreneurship and waste management; differences between linear and circular economic business model; basic concepts and strategies of the circular economy, such as recycling, recovery, reuse, repair design and product service systems.

SP Chemistry stand attracted many participants, primarily children as potential future entrepreneurs who tested their skills in this field and realized the importance of a circular economy with a focus on minerals.

Although members of the association “Mountain Crystal” mainly presented domestic minerals and semi-precious stones, the content of EcoCeo perfectly matched a series of exhibitions and sale exhibits of the exhibitors from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

Links:

http://rmschools.eu

www.ecoceo.eu

https://vito.be

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1422330431407311/ (Association “Mountain Crystal”)

y

Experimental classes and laboratory exercises for students of the elementary school “Georgi Stojkov Rakovski”

On March 1, 2022, The Chemistry department hosted four classes of pupils of the ninth grade of the Elementary School “Georgi Stojkov Rakovski” from Banja Luka. In the amphitheater of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, pupils and teachers attended a short introductory lecture where the hosts presented their department and the importance of chemistry in industry, laboratory tests, as well as the activities that contribute to environmental protection. After that, as part of the section “Safety in the chemical laboratory”, pupils were introduced to the Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Protocols and Safety Rules, as well as the warning signs that chemists encounter during their daily work.

The second part of the program included a tour of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Students visited the aquarium, various biological collections, and at the end the Microscopy Laboratory, where the students studied prepared zoological microscope slides.

After these activities, the visit continued at the Chemistry Study Program. Students in pairs actively participated in performing the laboratory experiment.  Under the supervision of professors, assistants, and associates, each pair of pupils determined the concentration of a hydrochloric acid solution by volumetric method – alkalimetry.

The purpose of this lab experiment, during one school hour, was for pupils to deepen their knowledge in the field of “Acids and Bases“, to independently use laboratory glassware and techniques, and to learn how to process and interpret the results obtained after the experiment. After the experiment, the students visited other chemical laboratories: Laboratory for sample preparation, Laboratory for materials, Laboratory for synthesis, Laboratory for thermal treatment of samples, as well as Laboratory for instrumental analysis. During the tour, the students saw a collection of minerals whose deposits are on Bosnia and Herzegovina territory, and helped by teaching staff, based on the solubility of selected minerals in hydrochloric acid, performed their classification.

The students showed great interest and willingness to actively participate in the experiments and passed on their positive experiences to teachers and friends. From a large number of activities, they singled out laboratory experiments – alkalimetry, mineral determination, as well as work on a microscope.

Links:

https://georgistojkovrakovski.org/

https://georgistojkovrakovski.org/strucna-posjeta-ucenika-pmf-u/

Categories

Archives

Chemistry Department

ПМФ | М. Стојановића 2, Бања Лука