Agenda
Thursday, 4 Dec 2025
9.30 – 10.00 – Registration
10.00 / Opening Session & Welcome Statements
- Hana Huzjak, Senior Economic Adviser at the European Commission
- David M. Smith, Director General of the Ruđer Bošković Institute
- Representative of the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia Representative
10.15 / Keynote Speech
- Marcin Mońko, Head of Media and Content European Research Council Executive Agency
10.45 / Session 1: "Knowing Everything About Nothing: The Importance Of Basic Research For The EU"
We’ll explore why curiosity-driven research matters more than ever. Basic research fuels innovation, strengthens Europe’s knowledge base, and lays the groundwork for breakthroughs we can’t yet imagine. The message is clear: the EU needs to protect and support this engine of discovery in the upcoming FP10.
- Marta Agostinho, EU-LIFE Executive Director
- Tonči Tadić, National coordinator for DONES.HR, Ruđer Bošković Institute
- Ozren Polašek, Director of the Croatian Science Foundation
- MZOM representative
- David M. Smith, Director General of the Ruđer Bošković Institute
Facilitator: Marko Košiček, Public Engagement Coordinator, RBI
11.30 / Coffee Break
12.00 / Showcasing Successful Science Communication Initiatives
- Marija Mitić (Policy Analyst at European Commission, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions): Science is Wonderful & Researchers Night
- Tonka Petričević (Head of Science and Innovation Department, University of Split): City of Science 2026 Project
- Bojan Macan (Head of Centre for Scientific Information, RBI): Piloting open and responsible activities and trainings towards the enhancement of researchers networks – PATTERN (Horizon Europe)
- Andrej Kajganić (Senior Consultant, PR & Communications, RBI): Enabling impactful career opportunities for researchers across Europe – ReSkillSpan (Horizon Europe)
- Petra Buljević Zdjelarević & Marko Košiček: Science Communication Training at the Ruđer Bošković Institute
13.00 / Discussion & Refreshments
13.45 / Session 2: "Let’s Pop The Balloon – Does Anyone Outside Academia Understand The Potential Of EU Basic Research?"
This session will tackle the challenge of bursting the research bubble. We’ll explore why researchers need new skills beyond the lab to engage with diverse audiences, and what it takes to communicate and disseminate results in today’s rapidly changing landscape.
- Marcin Mońko, Head of Media and Content European Research Council Executive Agency
- Marija Mitić, Policy Analyst at European Commission, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Iva Tolić, Head of the Laboratory for Cell Biophysics at RBI, holder of two ERC grants and a member of EMBO and Academia Europaea
- Tamás Szabolics, Head of Communications @EUROfusion
- Vedrana Simičević, award-winning science journalist, ERC FRONTIERS Science Journalism Initiative Fellow
Facilitator: Petra Buljević Zdjelarević, Head of PR & Communications, RBI