The BH Futures Foundation continues its mission of supporting young talents by awarding the prestigious Vera Šnajder Award. This travel grant, worth up to 3,000 BAM per person, is designed to assist two outstanding female students in the natural or technical sciences from Bosnia and Herzegovina (undergraduate, master's, or doctoral level) in funding their academic journeys abroad.

Applications from Diverse Scientific Fields

This year, eight applications have been submitted by students currently studying or recently graduating in fields such as automation and electronics, chemistry, genetics and bioengineering, biology, food technology, mathematics, computer science, and software engineering.

“Applicants are required to provide the titles and implications of their research work along with confirmation that their work has been accepted for presentation at an international conference. Based on this, they apply for the award to ease the financial burden of traveling abroad,” explained representatives from the Foundation.

Selection Committee Composed of Experts

The selection committee includes scientists, academics, and industry professionals in natural and technical sciences who also serve as senior volunteers for the BH Futures Foundation. Their participation in the selection process is a valuable volunteer contribution to the community.

For 2024, the committee consists of 13 members, including:

Merisa Nišić (Selection Process Coordinator)
Academician Prof. Dr. Mirjana Vuković
Dragan Huterer (Physicist and grandson of Vera Šnajder)
Emina Učambarlić (PhD student in Biomedicine)
Prof. Zlatan Akšamija (Materials and Engineering Expert)
Prof. Almir Osmanović (Mechanical Engineer)
Nermina Brljak (Researcher)
Kajs Hadžić (Nutritionist, MA)
Anes Karić (Pharmaceutical Sciences, MS)
Amina Tucak Smajić (Pharmaceutical Sciences, MS)
Dina Karamuratović (Embedded Software Engineer)
Kenan Jašavić (Supply Chain Engineer at SpaceX, California)
Ibrahim Hadžić (Harvard Medical School Researcher, PhD student).

Winners to Be Announced at the Future Leaders Summit

The recipients of the Vera Šnajder Award will be announced during the opening ceremony of the Future Leaders Summit, scheduled for December 13 at the Holiday Hotel in Sarajevo.

A Legacy of Supporting Female Scientists

Since its inception in 2021, the award has enabled eight exceptional students to attend international scientific conferences and study visits, presenting their work at events across Portugal, Germany, Austria, Croatia, and Dubai.

“Past recipients have shared overwhelmingly positive feedback. The award significantly contributed to their personal and professional growth, boosting their confidence in presenting their research and fostering the exchange of ideas on an international stage. Networking with professionals in their fields has also informed them about industry trends, sparking further interest in advanced studies and learning,” noted the Foundation.

About Vera Šnajder

The award honors Vera Šnajder, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first female mathematicians, who built an illustrious academic career from 1928 until her death in 1976.

As one of the top mathematicians of her generation, Vera Šnajder received a scholarship from the French government to continue her studies in Paris. Between 1929 and 1932, she also worked as an associate at the Sorbonne University while pursuing her studies. During her time in Paris, she published her first scientific paper, the first-ever mathematical paper by a female author from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the 1951/52 and 1958/59 academic years, she served as Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, becoming the first woman in Bosnia and Herzegovina—and Yugoslavia as a whole—to hold this position.

Corporate Support for the Initiative

This initiative is made possible with the support of dmBiH, as part of the company’s continuous efforts to promote gender equality and female entrepreneurship. By supporting the Vera Šnajder Award, dm aims to empower women in the local community and labor market, emphasizing the importance of education and youth empowerment to build a better society.

dm Supports Vera Šnajder Award: Importance of Education and Empowering Women in STEM