On 10.08.2019, STEM Youth Camp 2019 was officially closed in Konjic. The five-day camp brought together secondary school pupils from 29 towns and cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Participants had the opportunity to attend seven lectures on artificial intelligence, automatic control, electronics, fluid dynamics, smart power distribution grids and electric vehicles, biomedical engineering and oncology, and marine biology.
For the second year in a row, the camp was organised by the Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (ANNT), with the Embassy of the United States of America in BiH as donor. ANNT brings together many young and successful scientists and experts in the natural, mathematical and technical sciences, that is, the STEM fields, who work, are active and train at prestigious research institutions and universities around the world, as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
One of ANNT's goals is to bring research and the work of ANNT members closer to young people, in this case secondary school pupils, and thereby help them discover and confirm their affinity for STEM fields.
“Even before primary school, I had an affinity for counting and logic games. When I started school, that interest grew into a love of mathematics, and later, when I began learning physics and computer science, I realised that I was interested in the fields of science and technology that bring these three subjects together. When I saw how important and widespread these fields actually are in the world today, and that they are essential for the development of humanity and for understanding the universe, I decided that these very sciences are my life's calling.”
Milica Sladković (Gradiška), pupil at Gradiška Gymnasium
In addition, the aim was to show pupils who grew up in Bosnia and Herzegovina and went through our education system that they too can be successful and competitive on the global research scene.
“Listening to the lecturers at the camp, we got the impression that even though we come from a small school or community, it is still possible to win places in degree programmes and jobs at prestigious faculties and institutes around the world. The most memorable sentence from this year's camp was one by Academician Dr Branislava Perunčić-Draženović: ‘It is not so important which faculty you study at, as how you study.’”
Milica Sladković (Gradiška), pupil at Gradiška Gymnasium
“This camp attracted me precisely because it was an opportunity to meet young people who share my curiosity, and at the same time an opportunity to gain new knowledge, skills and experience from some of the most successful people in these fields.
The main message mentioned in all the lectures was that in science we should work on what is challenging and what others are not prepared to do, and that everything is possible. And that is enough motivation for us to progress, and then one day, as the fruit of our progress, to create something in our homeland.”
Iman Korić (Sarajevo), pupil at the First Bosniak Gymnasium
Lectures during the camp were given by world-renowned and distinguished Bosnian-Herzegovinian scientists: Academician Dr Kemal Hanjalić, Academician Dr Branislava Peruničić-Draženović, Dr Samra Turajlić - oncologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London and researcher at the Francis Crick Institute, as well as younger scientists: Dr Adnan Mehonić - Lecturer in Electronic Materials and Devices at University College London, Hamza Merzić - researcher at Google's artificial intelligence centre Deep Mind, Adnan Bosović - doctoral student at TU Graz and researcher of power distribution facilities at EP BiH, and Andrej Gajić - ichthyopathologist and head of the Shark Tales research group at National Geographic.
“I enjoy learning new things and being surrounded by successful people, and that is one of the main reasons I decided to apply for STEM Youth Camp 2019. I think we very rarely have the chance to be surrounded in one place by outstanding young people who decided to take action and show how it is possible to organise an event like this, giving secondary school pupils the opportunity to progress.
My expectations of the camp were completely exceeded, because no matter how much you imagine certain situations, actually experiencing something new is far more interesting.”
Maida Štulanović (Velika Kladuša), pupil at Richmond Park College Sarajevo
In addition to its specialist topic (the lecturer's research field), each lecture also included the lecturer's instructive life experiences, motivating the pupils to overcome the difficulties that young people and scientists face.
“I was struck by Dr Branislava's statement: ‘If Tesla had stayed in his village, he would have ended up as the village fool.’”
Ferid Omić (Zavidovići), pupil at Richmond Park International School Zenica
“This camp gives us the opportunity to meet and connect with young people who have similar ambitions, interests and goals. The lecturers at the camp motivate us and show that with effort and hard work everything is possible, precisely by sharing their own life stories and experiences in a scientific context.“
Fatih Žgalj (Sarajevo), pupil at the First Bosniak Gymnasium
“One of the best aspects of the STEM camp is that the organisers made sure the lecturers included young, successful experts from various fields, but also older professors who, with their stories of rich experience, thrilled us with their approaches to science as we explore it today. In this way a balance was struck between what science used to be and what it will become together with us.”
Lamija Gutić (Sarajevo), pupil at the First Bosniak Gymnasium
Through the technical workshops at the camp, the future scientists and researchers also gained practical experience by solving simple but challenging scientific and technical problems. The aim of the workshops was to bring the scientific and engineering approach to practical problems closer to the pupils, to help them improve their teamwork skills and to give them new knowledge.
Since this year marked 50 years since the Moon landing (the Apollo 11 mission, 21.07.1969), the first workshop consisted of building a paper rocket and launching it as far and as accurately as possible. The pupils went through the processes of iterative design, analysis and flight optimisation. Special praise went to the teams “Sputnik” and “Girl power” for the greatest range achieved, “Stemka” for the most creative design (and a fitting little song) and “Ferida Express” for successfully hitting the ANNT trainers who served as targets.
“We attended a technical workshop where our task was to build a rocket. It was very interesting to work on a rocket that would go the furthest. Over the past few days we had various soft skills workshops and lectures that made the whole camp more interesting.”
Maida Štulanović (Velika Kladuša), pupil at Richmond Park College Sarajevo
In the second workshop, entitled „Thermodynamics between Science and Engineering“, the pupils studied how a Diesel engine works and at the same time discovered details of the microscopic structure of the air around us. In addition, using the example of the law of cooling, they learnt methods of linearisation and linear regression for processing experimental data.
Through the third technical workshop, the pupils were introduced to the basics of control theory through practical application. A PID controller was implemented on a robot whose task was to follow a black line on a white surface. Through teamwork, the pupils successfully rose to the challenges and had fun getting to know the world of electronics.
“At the workshops we worked with Arduino boards, which I had already come across at school. I learnt how we can manipulate these boards ourselves and how they work.”
Jasmina Hasanović (Tuzla), pupil at Meša Selimović Gymnasium
Amina Seferagić, M.Sc., a member of the ANNT Board of Directors, gave a lecture on effective communication, presenting precise principles that can help improve all forms of communication.
Time at the camp was also used for getting to know each other, socialising, sport and recreation, a visit to a nearby museum, and fun activities such as a quiz and board games.
The participants received certificates and STEM packs that will remind them of the wonderful moments they spent at the STEM Youth Camp, and this new experience will help them in their future direction and professional development.
“The camp helped me shape my thoughts on which specific branch of science to pursue. It also brought me many friends from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina who share the same interest in science as I do.”
Dautović Faris (Travnik), pupil at the Mixed Secondary School Travnik
“In the museum we visited there was a large sign reading 'The Future Belongs to Us' – and truly, with the ambitions of the people I met here and all the perspectives they showed here through their knowledge and desire for new things, the future really does belong to us.”
Lamija Gutić (Sarajevo), pupil at the First Bosniak Gymnasium
