Regional Science Fair in Kichevo: Over 40 Students Brought Science to Life

On April 15, 2026, the Regional Science Fair was held at OOU “Dr. Vladimir Polezhinoski” in Kichevo, as part of the Science and Me project, implemented by Macedonia2025 in partnership with Johnson Matthey.

The fair brought together 9 primary schools and over 40 students, who presented their creativity, curiosity, and knowledge through interactive experiments and projects to more than 200 visiting students. The event was a true celebration of science, where students not only demonstrated experiments but also actively engaged with their peers, explaining scientific phenomena in a simple and understandable way.

The fair began with a short musical and drama performance, followed by welcome remarks from representatives of the host school, the local municipality, the Bureau for Development of Education, Johnson Matthey, and Macedonia2025. The event also featured an address by Nikica Mojsoska Blazhevski, Chief Executive Officer of Macedonia2025, who provided a brief overview of the importance of the Science and Me project in advancing science education and inspiring younger generations.

During the fair, students presented a wide range of experiments in natural sciences - from chemical reactions and biological models to environmental topics and physical phenomena. Visitors had the opportunity to move from stand to stand and observe the experiments live, contributing to a dynamic and interactive atmosphere.

The following schools participated in the fair:

• OOU “Dr. Vladimir Polezhinoski”, Kichevo
• OOU “Edinstvo”, v. Oktisi, Struga
• POU “Kliment Ohridski”, v. Samokov, Makedonski Brod
• OOU “Petar Pop Arsov”, Karposh Municipality, Skopje
• OOU “11 Oktomvri”, Centar Municipality, Skopje
• OOU “Kuzman Josifoski-Pitu”, Kichevo
• OOU “Hristo Uzunov”, v. Drugovo
• OOU “Faik Konica”, v. Greshnica
• OOU “Gjergj Kastrioti-Skenderbeu”, v. Srbica

In addition, a team from Johnson Matthey Macedonia participated with a presentation and demonstrations of mini experiments, providing students with direct insight into the real-world application of science in industry.

Check the atmosphere here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYapsljE6DU&list=PLj9OcPCGo_tB_RgCjwuNkRSdmp_yKeFSm

We extend special thanks to the host school, OOU “Dr. Vladimir Polezhinoski”, for the excellent organization and the wonderful opening music program, which further enriched the atmosphere of the event.

The fair is part of the broader Science and Me initiative, which aims to foster curiosity, critical thinking, and interest in science among students through hands-on and experiential learning.

Special thanks to the Johnson Matthey Community Impact Programme for supporting the project, as well as to our partners and socially responsible companies, including Triglav Osiguruvanje AD Skopje, Trimaks, and others, whose support makes it possible for this initiative to continue inspiring new generations of young scientists.