The host of this year’s Balkan Science Journalism Seminar was the Institute of Physics Belgrade. Science journalist from Serbia and the region gathered in the Tavan area at the Institute of Physics Belgrade to discuss the most recent challenges and good practices in their profession.
The seminar was held on Friday, 19 September 2025, with journalists from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia and Northern Macedonia taking part. Brian Lin from the United States of America, director of EurekAlert!, who spoke at the beginning about science news in a changing world, along with Fintan Burke from the European Union of Science Journalists’ Association, also attended the event.
The participants included Zornitsa Spasova, author of Climateka site from Bulgaria, Dr Vladimir Đurđević, climatologist from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Belgrade, Dr Marija Mitrović Dankulov of the Institute of Physics Belgrade, Alexandra Nistoroiu, a journalist from Romania, Tihana Dauenhauer, a journalist from Croatia, Jadranka Jezeršek, the founder of the Kontekst Institute for Science Communication in Ljubljana, Renata Dacinger, RTV Slovenia science show Ugriznimo znanost presenter, Goran Lefkov, a journalist from Northern Macedonia, Milica Momčilović, RTV Serbia journalist and Maja Ratej, a Radio Slovenia journalist.
The programme was moderated by Marija Đurić and Slobodan Bubnjević from the Department of Communication of the Institute of Physics Belgrade and the initiators of the Science through Stories (Nauka kroz priče) project.
Several panels and round tables were held as part of the seminar. They addressed the following topics: communication of climate change and health-related issues, civil science and journalism, the current need for science journalism, diversity, equality and inclusion, and new media trends.
The tradition of the seminar of the Balkan Network of Science Journalists includes the presentation of local practices; therefore, science journalists and communicators from Serbia gave talks on their work. This part of the programme featured Marija Stevanović, editor of the RTS Science and Educational Programme; Bojan Džodan, author of the Paralaksa portal and book; Jovana Anđelković from the Centre for the Promotion of Science; Dr Tijana Prodanović, author of the TikTok channel Dr Cosmic Ray; Jovana Nikolić Živković, author of the radio show Eureka and the Otkriće portal; and Nikola Zdravković, editor of the Klima 101 website.
Following the rich programme of the seminar, the guests had the opportunity to tour the Palace of Science.
Photos by Bojan Džodan