{"id":15455,"date":"2026-06-25T13:26:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T11:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukim.edu.mk\/?p=15455"},"modified":"2026-06-25T13:28:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T11:28:00","slug":"prvite-chekori-kon-golemite-otkritija","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukim.edu.mk\/en\/prvite-chekori-kon-golemite-otkritija\/","title":{"rendered":"The first steps towards great discoveries"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"PMF students on their first projects, scientific challenges and the experiences that shape them as future researchers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Written by: Veronika Giyovska, student at the Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Science does not begin with great discoveries, but with the first question asked.<\/p>\n

For most students, their undergraduate studies will not be a period in which they solve the world's greatest problems, invent something new, or make a discovery that will leave a mark on the history of science. However, behind the long hours spent in the laboratory, the piles of articles with new terminology and the minor mistakes from which much is learnt, lies the process of building a scientist, awakening curiosity and critical thinking.<\/p>\n

For students at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, their studies also represent an opportunity to engage in scientific research. Within the faculty there are six institutes, offering numerous study programmes and active laboratories. These are the Institutes of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Mathematics and Ethnology and Anthropology.<\/p>\n

Under the mentorship of their professors, these students carry out projects, publish papers in journals, attend seminars and present at conferences. But what does scientific research look like from the students' perspective? We spoke to several undergraduates from different institutes at PMF about their experiences.<\/p>\n

Subtitle: Scientific work as a first look into the world of research<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201eThe opportunity to be part of a scientific research project, especially as a student in the early stages of my studies, allowed me to see the entire process of conducting scientific research. I believe that research work enhances creativity, fosters critical thinking, enriches knowledge and allows for the development of new practical skills," says Anastasia Hadjismileva, who, in her second year of study, was already working on a student project in the field of green analytical chemistry. focused on the extraction of bioactive compounds from St John's Wort using more environmentally friendly solvents.<\/p>\n

For young researchers, mentorship provides a first-hand opportunity to observe the process of science creation. By working with more experienced researchers, they not only acquire additional knowledge and practical skills, but also learn how to formulate a good research question, select an appropriate methodology and critically analyse the results obtained. It is precisely these kinds of experiences that form an important foundation for their future independent work in science.<\/p>\n

Subtitle: Scientific work as a space for collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201e"During the process, I also had the opportunity to see what teamwork really means and how problem-solving is easier when every team member contributes," adds Anastasia.<\/p>\n

While most of a student's responsibilities are focused on individual learning and progress, research opens up a different perspective \u2013 one in which knowledge is not created in isolation, but through dialogue, collaboration and the exchange of ideas. This is particularly significant today, when many of the greatest scientific discoveries and innovations are born at the intersection of multiple disciplines, where success depends on the ability of different experts to work towards a common goal.<\/p>\n

Subtitle: Beyond the pages of the scripts<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201e"The overall development process opens up avenues for finding solutions to existing problems, as well as for reading the latest research and following trends," says Aleksandra Gjerasimova, who worked on research focused on monitoring organochlorine pesticides in the Vardar River.<\/p>\n

Student scientific and research work represents a kind of window into contemporary science. Beyond the confines of textbooks, this approach gives students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the latest scientific achievements, current trends and challenges. It is precisely this exposure that often helps them identify the areas that interest them most and steer their future professional development.<\/p>\n

Subtitle: From research to publication<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scientific research doesn't always begin in a laboratory. For Kristina Mitreska, a theoretical mathematics student, her first steps in scientific research were taken through the popular science seminar "Mathematics and Applications", which allows students to engage in scientific activities and present their ideas to a wider audience while still studying.<\/p>\n

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Over the past three years she has participated as a lecturer at the seminar, and the papers resulting from her lectures have been published in the journal 'Mathematical Omnibus'. From a topic dedicated to the game of noughts and crosses to a lecture on transcendental numbers, a field that to this day offers numerous open questions for research, her involvement serves as an example of the gradual development of a young researcher.<\/p>\n

\u201e"Participating in such scientific activities during my student days enabled me to gain experience in research, scientific writing and presenting results, as well as to deepen my love of mathematics," says Hristina.<\/p>\n

In the course of their work, by documenting results, writing papers, and preparing presentations, students develop skills that are just as important as the research itself.<\/p>\n

Subtitle: Students as part of the scientific community<\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to personal and professional development, research work enables students to actively contribute to the scientific activities of their institutes.<\/p>\n

\u201eParticipation in research during undergraduate studies is an ideal way for students to become familiar with problems that are currently relevant in chemistry and to work on solving them. Such a challenge can further motivate them to take an interest in chemistry, and paves the way for them to continue working on similar topics during their postgraduate studies. On the other hand, scientific research is a team effort, and by participating, students contribute to increasing the number and diversity of research that can be undertaken, thereby further strengthening the scientific activity of the Institute," says Darko Stojchev, who is actively working on the synthesis and characterisation of hybrid organo-inorganic perovskites and organic materials with fluorescent properties.<\/p>\n

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Perovskites today represent one of the most researched classes of materials in the world due to their potential for application in modern technologies. Involving students in such research not only allows them to work on current scientific topics, but also gives them the opportunity to actively contribute to the development of new knowledge in their field. In this way, students are not just observers of science, but its active participants. Their work becomes part of the broader research efforts of the institutes and scientific groups they are involved with, and the experience gained often forms the basis for further academic development and new research challenges.<\/p>\n

Subtitle: Something more than research<\/strong><\/p>\n

The experiences of students at the Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences show that, regardless of the field in which they work or the reason they began, the time spent on research represents much more than just another academic activity. It is a process in which curiosity gradually turns into knowledge, and knowledge into the ability to work independently.<\/p>\n

Undergraduate research rarely changes the world, but it often produces the people who will. That is why investing in young researchers is not just an investment in their education, but a major investment in the future of science.<\/p>\n

The article is published by "Avangarda", the student newsletter of the University Communication Centre at the University "St. Cyril and Methodius" in Skopje \u2013 a virtual space where student ideas, challenges and successes find a voice, visibility and the opportunity to inspire positive change in the academic community.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Students of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics on their first projects, scientific challenges and experiences that shape them as future researchers Written by Veronika Giyovska, student at the Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics Science does not begin with great discoveries, but\u2026