Under the slogan “Road Map for Science” on September 26 at Vilsonovo setaliste in Sarajevo, Head of the EU Delegation in BiH/EU Special Representative Ambassador Peter Sorensen opened the event “Researchers Night BiH 2014”, that celebrates science and innovation. The opening was also attended by FBiH Minister of Education and Science, Damir Masic, and Mayor of Novo Sarajevo Nedzad Koldzo.
European Researchers’ Night is supported by the European Union through the framework programme Horizon 2020. It is a new financial instrument under which the European Union has allocated about 80 billion euros for the advancement of science and research in the next seven years. Upon signing of the participation agreement for the programme on July 1 this year, Bosnia and Herzegovina became eligible for these funds for the development of science, scientific research and innovation.
Researchers’ Night in Sarajevo saw more than 30 institutions, organizations and companies sign up and engage in scientific and research work, while in the competition for the best scientific project 11 secondary school teams participated.
Visitors had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with various branches of science, to see various artistic and scientific performances, have interviews over coffee with scientists, discussions on various topics, introductions to “green science”, as well as participate in interactive experiments. It was an opportunity to observe the stars, win interesting and useful prizes through quizzes and games, and take part in a search for historical treasures.
The highlight of the evening was a live music performance where participants were entertained by professors from universities in Sarajevo.
The fair has been organized every last Friday of September since 2005, with the aim of promoting scientific research, encouraging young people to choose a career in research, as well as raising public awareness about the impact of various scientific research outputs on everyday life.
Researchers’ Night is now a worldwide event. Last year alone saw attendance exceeding 1,2 million. Besides Sarajevo, this year’s “Researchers Night BiH 2014” was celebrated in Banja Luka, Mostar and Bijeljina along with 370 other cities across Europe.
