We nurture young people interested in science, encouraging them to choose the more challenging path in education. The expectation is that they will one day become leaders and solve global problems. Who can truly evaluate the value of this investment?
The 17th edition of the Science Festival will be held from 12th to 14th December 2024 at the Belgrade Fair, under the slogan The Evolution of Ideas. As the organisers’ state: “New scientific fields are emerging constantly, while others fade away, and scientific theories develop and change,” adding that the festival aims to explain how these changes occur, what they tell us about the evolving nature of science, and what this means for all of us. Here Science Festival Director Ana Petrović discusses the challenges of organising such a significant event and the themes it inspires.
The Science Festival in Belgrade attracts increasing attention year after year. What are the biggest challenges in organising such a major event; and what do you see as the key to its success?
— Unquestionably, the biggest challenge is securing funding for such a large-scale, independent event. The situation becomes critical when you put the costs of production and participants down on paper, given that we’re talking about 750 science communicators of various ages and educational backgrounds, resources for visualising all their programmes, and other technical expenses.
On the other hand, those very science communicators, and their interest in sharing their knowledge in innovative ways, represent the key to success. Children and young people are naturally curious and eager to learn about scientific phenomena and knowledge. It’s up to us to nurture that enthusiasm.
This year’s festival offers a wide range of scientific topics. How do you select the areas and content to be included, and what are the selection criteria?
— We firstly choose a central theme; the idea around which we will build the festival. This year, we had the special pleasure of seeing our proposed theme, The Evolution of Ideas, warmly embraced by participants. We received 75 applications through our open call, from which we had to select 50.
Inspired by our festival, over 30 smaller festivals have emerged across Serbia and are now our valued guests in the Peer Education Zone
A mandatory criterion is the scientific foundation of the content, along with rigorous fact-checking. However, the institutions we collaborate with are among the most reputable in Serbia in the fields of science and research, so problems rarely arise in this area. We next assess the communicative potential and presentation style of each topic. This segment involves a lot of work, as our production team is expected to assist with implementation. With 18 years of experience in promoting science and a wealth of international expertise, we always have something to offer as a solution.
Does this year’s festival have a particular focus—such as certain scientific disciplines or global issues that you consider particularly important at the current juncture?
— Yes, this year we wanted to highlight the phenomenon of the idea itself. We’ve reached a point at which artificial intelligence has evolved to the extent that it can write essays and create images based on one’s imagination, or analyse X-rays. I think we are all starting to forget what science truly is, and we wanted to remind everyone of that with the slogan The Evolution of Ideas.
Our message is that ideas are both the beginning and the end of everything, and that they must be nurtured and developed. Ideas lead to evolution, and evolution leads to progress for all. We arrive at ideas through thought, reflection, and the development of critical thinking.
How does the Science Festival contribute to the popularisation of science among younger generations in Serbia? Which part of the programme do you consider crucial for inspiring future scientists among the youngest visitors, and how do you motivate them to consider careers in science?
— We were fortunate that the Science Festival chose the right approach to popularising science from the very beginning. As a result, we quickly entered schools and became an event eagerly anticipated throughout the year, as we “translate” and present lessons from the current curriculum in a different way. Inspired by our festival, over 30 smaller festivals have emerged across Serbia and are now our valued guests in the Peer Education Zone.
The festival’s Teenage Experts segment improves each year. It features the most talented pupils from schools across Serbia, who present the knowledge they have refined throughout the year in preparation for the Science Festival. These are our Science Ambassadors, who receive recognition at the end of the festival and take on the “duty” of promoting science throughout the following year. Their teachers, who are by far the most enthusiastic among us, work tirelessly with them on these programmes.
We also have an exceptionally rich international programme this year, featuring participants from seven countries, thanks to cultural centres and embassies from those nations
Additionally, the programmes of universities and scientific institutes are designed to present complex scientific phenomena in a simple manner. The very fact that science can be touched, smelt and explored through hands-on experiments is incredibly important for demystifying science as an inaccessible field.
How does this year’s festival use modern technologies and digital tools to make science more accessible and engaging for visitors?
— Since its inception, the Science Festival has utilised advanced technologies in its presentations. For example, as early as 2009, the festival showcased the application of VR, AR and holograms in science for the first time.
Similarly, the 2008 festival introduced a segment combining science and art, demonstrating how new technologies transform both fields.
However, today we see a certain saturation with screens and other aids, and there is a declining need for tangible, hands-on presentations.
We still believe that such presentations are essential and the key to fostering a love for science. One could say that we now use modern technologies like AI and VR in a controlled manner and strictly as tools to support specific content.
An exceptionally interesting example this year comes from the Faculty of Health Studies at the University of Sarajevo, which demonstrates the use of 3D printing in medicine. This showcases how new technological tools aid science.
What are your favourite moments from past festivals, and is there a specific event or presentation this year that you’re particularly proud of?
— There have been so many memorable moments over the past 17 years.
It always comes down to the awe and excitement of children when they visit the Science Festival and say, “Wow! I didn’t know this could be so interesting!”
On the other hand, there’s the joy of a researcher, scientist, Ph.D. holder or science communicator who sees the sparkle in visitors’ eyes and answers thousands of questions. They might lose their voice or be exhausted, but they’ll talk all year long about how they inspired someone.
The first impression of international guests after the festival is often their amazement at how engaged our children are and how many questions they ask. It’s also important that many of our international guests— whether from NASA, MIT, Thailand, Australia or top European universities in over 40 countries—have maintained contact with our scientists over the years.
How do you see the future of the Science Festival over the coming years? Are there plans to expand the programme or involve more international guests and organisations?
— The Science Festival somehow starts anew each year, and the future feels increasingly uncertain, especially given that ever-fewer companies are willing to invest in science, education and young talent. These investments may not yield immediate financial returns, but they should never be questioned. Investing in science, education and culture must be a given, as it delivers long-term benefits.
We nurture young people interested in science and encourage them to choose the more challenging path in education. They are expected to one day become leaders and to solve global problems. Who can truly assess the value of this transaction?
— Just as we help young people understand and love science, so we must urge decision-makers to base their policies on science and recognise the importance of scientists participating in public discourse. Perhaps this is one area where the festival has fallen short, and it’s something we must focus on improving. At the same time, the festival has the capacity, experience and resources to expand its programme, space and duration. Before the pandemic, it was held in three halls and lasted four days, but everything boils down to possibilities. We remain hopeful of the best.