Macedonia2025 Organized the Third SCIENCE FAIR: Part of the “Science and Me” Project

Skopje, May 21, 2024

On behalf of Macedonia2025 and the Johnson Matthey Community Impact Program “Science and Me,” we are pleased to inform you that today the third Regional Science Fair was held as part of the “Science and Me” project. The event aims to encourage students to develop an interest in science and to present their scientific projects to a wider audience.

The fair took place in the multipurpose hall of “Nevena Georgieva – Dunja” Elementary School in Kisela Voda, Skopje.

The science fairs are implemented within the Johnson Matthey Community Impact Program “Science and Me,” where over 20 trained science teachers, together with groups of their 6th-grade students, present individual projects and experiments in the field of natural sciences. These fairs are designed to support and advance educational development in our country by improving science education in the 6th grade. The initiative promotes knowledge-sharing and hands-on learning in natural sciences, enabling students to actively participate in practical projects and experiments—sparking curiosity and interest in scientific thinking through the presentation of scientific concepts, and demonstrating how exciting learning science can be—from students to students.

Opening remarks were delivered by:

• Ms. Natalija Deleva, Principal of “Nevena Georgieva – Dunja” Elementary School, who welcomed the initiative and emphasized the importance of such projects for the education system.

• Nikica Mojsoska Blazevski, Chief Executive Officer of Macedonia2025, who highlighted the goals of the project and the role of science fairs, as well as the importance of the corporate partnership with the socially responsible company Johnson Matthey. She emphasized that such events play a key role in inspiring young minds and guiding them toward scientific disciplines.

• Mr. Zoran Nikolov, Production Manager at Johnson Matthey Macedonia, who shared his professional experience in the field of science—particularly chemistry—highlighting the importance of science in driving innovation and technological development in industry.

The following primary schools participated in this Regional Science Fair in Skopje:

• “Vlado Tasevski” Elementary School, Karpoš, Skopje – Mentor: Elena Panova Naumovska

• “Brakja Miladinovci” Elementary School, Aerodrom, Skopje – Mentor: Daniel Stojanovski

• “Kiro Gligorov” Elementary School, Centar, Skopje – Mentor: Elena Stojilkovska

• “Hristijan Karposh” Elementary School, Kumanovo – Mentor: Milica Spasovska

• Host school “Nevena Georgieva – Dunja”, Kisela Voda, Skopje – Mentor: Dragana Onchevska-Kovacheva

Within the fair, the five mentor teachers, together with their teams of more than 30 students, presented their experiments, project tasks, and knowledge in natural sciences (biology, geography, chemistry, and physics) to an audience of over 100 fellow students from schools in the municipality.

The “Science and Me” project is approved by the Ministry of Education. As part of the project, two regional fairs were already held in April—in Veles and Delchevo—while the fourth and final fair will take place tomorrow, May 22, 2024, in Struga, at “Brakja Miladinovci” Elementary School.

Special thanks go to the incredible Johnson Matthey volunteers – Vesa, Ivana, Marijana, and Bojan—whose dedication embodies the company’s commitment to volunteerism and corporate social responsibility. Their contribution was invaluable in making this event truly memorable.

We are truly pleased that through events like this, and by working together with our corporate partners—Kostal Macedonia, Triglav Insurance, Alkaloid AD Skopje, and WFP Fund Management AD Skopje—as well as supporters Trimax.mk and Literatura.mk, we are able to inspire, encourage, and educate, and most importantly, ignite a passion for science in the hearts of primary school students.

The energy and enthusiasm demonstrated by the students and their teachers at the Science Fair are proof of the transformative impact of our efforts, as well as additional motivation to continue investing in education.