Both this year and the new, third edition of the conference, which started through the program RM@Schools and is now becoming traditional, brought new surprising topics and gave a lot of work to the expert jury.
This year in the conference finals, we gathered 6 teams. Last year’s winner, “Đura Jakšić” Elementary School from Banja Luka, was there, with a new theme. Then we also hosted the primary school “Jovan Dučić” from Lamovita, who are this year’s winners. Next, a combined team of students from Banja Luka Gymnasium and “Nikola Tesla” Electrical Technical School, from Banja Luka, followed by Gradiška Gymnasium, Catholic School Center “Blessed Ivan Merc” from Banja Luka and Elementary School “Mladen Stojanović” from Laktaši competed. All topics were equally important and original, and the Chemistry Study Program would like to thank the mentors, teachers and their students who participated.
Students aged from 13 to 17 spoke about the valorization of raw materials such as zinc in nanotechnologies, mica in the cosmetics industry, potential new applications of domestic bentonite in solving chemical pollution in the environment, problems of microplastic water pollution and even space mining that may await us in the future if it runs out raw material on planet earth. In the opinion of the jury, the winning team is the best among equals, but the jury was touched by their commitment, together with teacher Lena Banjac, to bring novelty to the teaching of chemistry by enriching it with material science topics. They succeeded in this and even came up with a draft of a new manual, which we want them to become widely read and popular.
On the second day of the conference, all participants learned together about materials in the field in domestic successful materials factories and at the same time strengthened new friendships. They learned more about polymer recycling at the “Omorika reciklaža” factory in Doboj, then also about the use of wood composite materials at the “Standard” company in Prnjavor, and during the break they got to “talk” with the Lipizzaners from the “Vučjak” stud.
We are grateful for the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology Development and Higher Education (“Minerals in Schools for Chemistry Classrooms of the Future” project), as well as the European Institute of Science and Technology (“RIS BRIEFCASE” project).
See you next year at “MWB 2025”
Links:
https://rmschools.isof.cnr.it/