STUDY PROGRAMME CHEMISTRY WITH PARTNERS VISITED THE SASE MINE
June 21, 2019 was a day for study visit to the Gross mine near Srebrenica, with the participation of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the Faculty of Mining (UNIBL), the Association of Technology Engineers of the Republic of Srpska and guests from the high schools. The Gross Mine is an important economic entity whose history goes back as far as the early Middle Ages. It exploits ore from which mainly zinc but also lead is obtained using the flotation process, currently the only one of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The hosts at the mine gave a worm welcome, educating guests about the history and current technological processes used at the mine, and the economic success of this company, thanks to British investment and the hard work of a team of about 496 local employees. In addition to employing such a large number of workers, this business entity is also very active in the humanitarian work and support the society of the municipalities of Srebrenica and Bratunac sponsoring numerous cultural and educational activities. The management pointed out that they are open to the employment of graduates of faculties which nurture the fundamental sciences and technologies of materials.
The study trip was planned through the RAISESEE project, funded by the EIT Raw Materials Fund, which aims to promote the raw materials to high school students in order to motivate them to become experts in the field of materials sciences (chemistry, technology, mining, geology). This project also grants an annual prize to high school students who write the highest quality essay with ideas on the utilization of their country’s natural resources and excel in science subjects (JOIN). Throughout their study trip, engineers from the Association of Technology Engineers of the Republika Srpska, also partners in the project, have taken on the roles of mentors to visiting high school students. Three schools participated: Prijedor Secondary School, Banja Luka Technology School and Lazar Đukić Ribnik Secondary School.
The project is co-financed by the national TRAKMAT project, which aims to provide as much internship as possible to the chemistry students and students at the Faculty of Mining. The TRAKMAT project provides laboratory supplies and chemicals for students and pupils who intend to enrol at these faculties and is also supporting mentors. RAISESEE in turn, funds a part of the seats for students on study tours that are otherwise intended primarily for high school students accompanied by engineers. The hosts supported the lunch at the mine restaurant for all participants and educational supplies.
The students had the opportunity to see first-hand the work activities of their colleagues working as mining engineers, geologists or in quality control laboratories in the mine, and have got motivated by the stories of chemical analysts employed by this successful mining company. It was especially important to see a successful land recovery project in the area of the former waste lake, which today houses a natural park.
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