Pavić: More than 100 million kuna from the EU for the popularization of science will arrive in the fall

Minister of Labor and Pension System Marko Pavić announced on Wednesday, during his visit to the Summer School of Science in Požega, that more than 100 million kuna will be secured from the European Social Fund in the fall for the popularization of science so that such and similar projects can receive structural and financial support.

“In Croatia, we have numerous projects that popularize science among young people, from Mr. Korlević’s project in Višnjan, the science festival in Zagreb, to the factory in Split. We want to ensure systematic support for such projects so that science popularizers in Croatia can exist as a profession,” said Minister Pavić during his visit to the Summer School of Science, which is held at the Požega Gymnasium from July 29 to August 18.

He also added that numerous social phenomena that marginalize scientific facts indicate how important it is to work with children on this issue.

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Pavić also expressed satisfaction that today at the Summer School of Science, which has been organized in Požega for the sixth consecutive year and gathers top experts, they have managed to host two Nobel laureates in previous years.

He emphasized that such projects deserve all praise as they provide activities for young people around the world during the summer and give them the opportunity to better understand science. He also added that the Ministry of Labor and Pension System and the Ministry of Science and Education have been working for months on the popularization of science in Croatia.

Pavić particularly emphasized that the development of the STEM field is very important to him as the Minister of Labor, as STEM skills are the skills needed in the labor market of the 21st century and ultimately can help young people find competitive jobs, value-added jobs, and stay in Croatia.

The Government of the Republic of Croatia is indeed working on the development of STEM

Speaking about the opportunities that the European Social Fund offers through the Operational Program “Efficient Human Resources,” which is managed by the Ministry of Labor and Pension System, he stated that along with several calls for the popularization of science that are in preparation, there is currently an open call for the merging of associations and scientific institutions, one thematic unit of which is dedicated to the STEM field.

“The Government of the Republic of Croatia is indeed working on the development of STEM. With the calls that will follow in the fall, we will show that we want to give a boost and maximum support to such projects. The Ministry of Science and Education has already secured funds within the European Social Fund for the allocation of 17,000 scholarships by 2023. The 100 million kuna that we will secure for associations, scientific institutions, and schools to popularize science will enable them to continuously work with the youngest and encourage them to pursue the STEM field and acquire skills for 21st-century jobs,” emphasized Minister Pavić.

The organizer of the International Summer School of Science, Sebastijan Dumančić, pointed out that the idea of the entire project is to show high school students what science actually means, as unfortunately, in schools, they learn from books and very little through practical work.

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“This is an international project that this year included 45 participants from over 20 countries across multiple continents. The mentors and lecturers participating in the program are top world scientists who share their rich experience with young people,” said Dumančić.

He emphasized that it is very important for the organizers to show young people what modern science is, given that in schools they learn old science from the 19th and 20th centuries, to experience science through practical work, conduct experiments themselves, and present results.

The Summer School of Science is an international scientific-research program for high school students that has been gathering the most motivated high school students from around the world for the sixth consecutive year, providing them with the opportunity to develop an interest in science under the guidance of young scientists from leading global institutions and encouraging them to choose a career in science. Participants of the school conduct research in small groups under the guidance of mentors.