The EINSTEIN project was presented at the final event called “Science Meets Public” organized by the WBC-RRI.NET project. This event took place on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at the Rectorate building of the University of Novi Sad in Serbia. The event brought together citizens, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), research institutions, and representatives of the WBC-RRI.NET project from the Western Balkan region.
Objectives of “Science Meets Public”
The primary objectives of the event were to conduct a needs analysis, foster dialogue between various stakeholders, and showcase the achievements of the WBC-RRI.NET project. The event aimed to create a platform for effective communication and collaboration between citizens, researchers, and industry experts.
During the first session of the event, the WBC-RRI.NET project presented the results of its three-year efforts in implementing Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles. The project highlighted its successful application of RRI in different regions, including the Province of Vojvodina (Serbia), the Kune-Vain-Tale ecosystem (Albania), the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina), the Country of Montenegro, and the Skopje planning region (North Macedonia).
The EINSTEIN Project: Excellence initiative for nutrifood-based theranostics for healthy European society
One of the significant highlights of the event was the presentation of the EINSTEIN project by Dr. Kristina Petrović. This project will propose a transformation model that will modernize the education system in Serbia and launch it into a cutting-edge R&I position in Europe. The implemented transformation in Serbia and examples of good practices will be shared to inspire changes in the education, and R&I system in the whole Western Balkan region.
EINSTEIN will use a trans- and multi-disciplinary approach to increase knowledge and technologies in the organic production of crops with improved nutritional and bioactive properties (nutricrops) for human nutrition, which will be used as a raw material for nutrifood-based sensors design that will have a dual function: therapeutic and diagnostic.
Roundtable Discussion: Bridging the Gap between Scientists and Citizens
One of the interactive sessions of the event was a roundtable discussion on the topic of “Responsible research and innovation understanding between scientists and citizens”. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Sanja Kojić and included the participation of two researchers, a representative from the industrial cluster, and two citizen representatives. This session aimed to foster meaningful dialogue and bridge the gap between the scientific community and the general public.
In the fourth session, Prof. Dr. Bojan Petrović from the University of Novi Sad delivered an insightful presentation on the topic “Application of AI tools in scientific work.” The audience was captivated by the potential of AI to revolutionize various scientific disciplines.
Female Researchers for Society: Celebrating Women in Research
The last session of the event, titled “Female Researchers for Society,” was a celebration of the achievements and contributions of women in research. Four inspiring women shared their success stories and presented their research results. This session aimed to highlight the importance of gender equality in the research field and inspire more women to pursue careers in science. The presentations were held by Dr. Isidora Kešelj, M.Sc. Milica Radaković, Dr. Selka Sadiković and Prof. Dr. Marija Jevtić from the University of Novi Sad.
Additional Information: The EINSTEIN project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme – European Excellence Initiative under grant agreement No. 101136377.