The 18th scientific-technical conference “Students encounter science” opened

A multidisciplinary scientific-technical conference “Students encounter science” (StES), which brought together 108 authors and 81 papers, was opened at the Students’ Cultural Center of the University of Banja Luka, on 27 November 2025.

The Rector of the University of Banja Luka, Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, stressed the significance of the continuity of this conference.

“In the first conference, only the UNIBL students participated. In time, the conference became regional, and today it is even international. With a growing number of participants, the quality of papers grew along with”, said Gajanin, pointing out that the competent ministry has been continuously supporting the work of students and the conference itself.

An Advisor to the Minister of Scientific Technical Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska, Prof. Željana Jovičić, PhD, stressed that his conference has already become a respectable event.
“This is not simply yet another conference, but it is a special kind of energy resulting from the encounters of young researchers with their professors and colleagues from the world of economics. Such contacts may bring about very good ideas, and they are often the starting point”, said Jovičić, and added that the young participants will certainly be included in decision-making process and prosperity of the society.

The President of the Students’ Parliament at the University of Banja Luka, Ana Sibinčić, pointed out that the conference has reached the eligible age and that it is one of the most important in the region.
“Over 18 years, there were more than 2.000 young researchers with 1.500 published scientific papers. This year, there are papers from Poland, Slovenia, north Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia”, said Sibinčić.

The President of the Students’ Union of the Republic of Srpska, Nikola Šobot, emphasized that there was no limitation for participation, and that papers were registered by students up to 30 years of age ,in all three study cycles. He added that this time, unlike in previous years that were dominated by the health care sector, there is a significant representation of natural and social sciences, and humanities.

The Conference was organized by the Students’ Parliament of the UNIBL, co-organized by the University of Banja Luka, and it is being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Scientific Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska. The Scientific-Technical Conference will last until Saturday, 29 November 2025.

The formal opening ceremony was attended by many official guests, and among them were the Chairman of the Steering Board of the University of Banja Luka, Prof. Biljana Antunović, PhD, Vice-Rectors Prof. Dalibor Kesić, PhD, Prof. Aleksandar Ostojić, PhD, Prof. Kristina Pantelić Babić, PhD, and many others.

Photo: D. Desnica