Project Goal: Promotion of domestic natural resources as starting raw materials for the production of valuable technological materials.

Target Group: Students from secondary and primary schools across Republika Srpska.

Project Duration: December 13, 2023 – December 13, 2024.

Source of Funds: Support program from the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education for co-financing teams applying for EU support programs.

Project Team: Prof. Dr. Suzana Gotovac Atlagić, coordinator, and Nikolina Landeka, assistant.

As part of this project, a “Summer School of Nanochemistry” was held, in which students from several schools in Republika Srpska participated. The students were given the opportunity to handle sophisticated measuring devices (such as infrared spectroscopy, advanced optical microscopy, ultraviolet spectrophotometry), potentially increasing their interest in chemistry. During this summer school, teams chose topics of interest to them and began preparations for a competition held as part of the “Materials Without Borders” conference. This conference, traditionally held for the third time in 2024, took place at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Banja Luka.

As part of the conference program, a study trip was organized. Students visited the “Omorika Recycling” factory in Doboj, which possesses the most modern equipment for recycling polyethylene terephthalate packaging. The second stop of the technical trip was the “Standard” factory in Prnjavor, a giant in wood processing, which not only has a contract with the world-famous “Ikea” company but also develops its own brand of sustainable furniture and invests in clean technologies. Students had the opportunity to see the production process, as well as the preparations for installing several hundred square meters of solar panels on the roof of this factory, which will produce electricity and contribute to reducing the need for fossil fuel-based energy.

Through held workshops, it was proven that student interest in material science, primarily chemistry, can be increased. The “Materials without Borders” conference achieved a notable result and took its final form, establishing a plan for this event to become traditional.

The Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics thanks MNRVO for the financial support.