About us
Petnica Science Center is an independent non-profit organization that has been working since 1982 as a unique national center dedicated to advanced additional extracurricular education and support for young people who show a particularly high level of interest and ability in the field of natural and social sciences and modern technologies. The educational activities are not based on official school programs or the usual teaching methods and the educational programs cover a wide range of scientific disciplines. The most important goals of the work are focused on helping students to develop observation and reasoning skills, data and fact collection techniques, argumentation and communication skills, as well as readiness for continuous learning and enrichment of knowledge and experience. Participants are encouraged to think freely, to think logically and critically and cooperate with colleagues from different cultures and countries. The majority of our programs are designed for secondary-school students, although there are a lot of programs for primary-school pupils, university students and science teachers.
The complex of Petnica Science Center consists of a number of different areas that include facilities for accommodation and dining, classrooms and work areas, library, as well as several specialized laboratories.
In its work, Petnica relies on a wide network of over 1000 professional associates who, as guest lecturers, mentors or advisors, participate in the creation and execution of various programs. They come from over a hundred higher education institutions or research institutes, and most of them are former participants of Petnica programs.