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Dear colleagues,

We have the honor to inform you, on behalf of Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA, that IGU Regional Conference 2030 will take place in Belgrade, Serbia. The conference will bring together geographers under the motto “Global Challenges, Local Solutions – the Power of Geography.”

We invite you to be part of this conference—to share your research, meet colleagues from around the world, and discover Belgrade and Serbia.

We are looking forward to see you in Serbia and share not only our scientific achievements, but also our culture, hospitality, and positive spirit.

See you in Belgrade in 2030!
In the meantime, visit our website and stay tuned for the latest updates.

Date: August 9, 2026
Source: Milena Panić, PhD

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The symposium focused on a central challenge for the European Association: enhancing the integration of traditional sports and games within educational systems. It brought together experts from France, Spain, Serbia, Portugal, and Italy, who shared experiences regarding the incorporation of these activities into both formal and informal education. By exchanging best practices, participants highlighted initiatives that contribute to the preservation and promotion of this aspect of cultural heritage across Europe and established guidelines for future efforts. Dr. Jovana Brankov and Dr. Željko Bjeljac presented projects implemented by the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA between 2023 and 2025, which aimed to raise awareness and educate local communities about traditional sports and games in Serbia, recognized as an endangered element of intangible cultural heritage.

TV report on the event, featuring a short interview with a representative from our Institute, available at the following link: TV report

Conference program:3rd International Symposium

Participants: Jovana Brankov and Željko Bjeljac

Announcement title: Reviving Heritage Through Play: Educational and Community-Based Approaches to Traditional Sports and Games in Serbia

Date: August 3, 2026
Source: Jovana Brankov

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On January 28, 2026, the “Mile Nedeljković” Award for the best book in contemporary folklore and Serbian folk tradition was presented at the National Library “Sveti Sava” in Arandjelovac. The recipients were Dr Željko Bjeljac and Dr Jovana Brankov, associates of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, for their scientific monograph “Old Folk Sports, Games and Competitions – Preservation, Transmission of Knowledge and Presentation”. The award, named after one of the most prominent Serbian ethnologists, is conferred by the Citizens’ Association “Heritage and Future – Aranđelovac 1859”. The jury’s explanation of the award was presented by Dr Branko Zlatković, the jury’s president, and Dr Jelena Jovanović, an academician, who also provided commentary on the book.

Date: February 3, 2026
Source: Jovana Brankov, PhD

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On January 13, 2026, in the Palace Hotel’s ceremonial hall, a traditional New Year’s cocktail party was held for all employees, associates, and friends of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

The Director of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić”, Principal research Fellow PhD Milan Radovanović, welcomed the attendees. In his speech, Phd Radovanović highlighted key results, including the Institute’s 2025 research publications, notable collaborations, and achievements by its employees. He also announced future projects and goals.

Date: January 19, 2026
Source: the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić”

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Dr Zlata Vuksanović-Macura took part in the presentation marking the completion of the three-year Individual Project of the Department of Fine Arts of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, entitled Preservation of Traditional Musical and Architectural Heritage in the Republic of Serbia. The presentation of the project results was held on Saturday, 29 November 2025, at the Gallery of SANU.

The project was implemented during the period 2023–2025 and builds on long-term interdisciplinary research conducted by architects and ethnomusicologists, focused on the study, documentation, and preservation of intangible and tangible cultural heritage in Serbia. Particular emphasis was placed on examining the interrelationship between traditional music and architecture as complementary components of cultural identity and ways of life across different geocultural regions. Within the programme, project results were presented through documentary video materials, presentations, as well as live musical and dance performances.

Dr Zlata Vuksanović-Macura presented part of the research findings related to the study of traditional architecture in the Stara Planina region, with a particular focus on the concept of an architectural reserve and the identification of architectural cores in the areas of Gornji Visok and Zabrđe. Her presentation was accompanied by the screening of documentary videos produced on the basis of field research, including interviews with local residents, experts, and stakeholders involved in heritage preservation and sustainable development processes in the area. Part of the project results has also been published in the leading international scientific journal Heritage, in the article “Preservation of Vernacular Cultural Landscape and Sustainable Tourism: A Case Study from the Western Carpatho-Balkan Region” (authors: Zlata Vuksanović-Macura, Gorica Ljubenov, and Tamara Gajić). Through this publication, the project’s findings have gained additional internationalvisibility, particularly in the field of integrated protection of vernacular cultural landscapes.

The project was carried out by an interdisciplinary team consisting of: Academician Dr Jelena Jovanović, ethnomusicologist, Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Musicology of SANU and member of the Department of Fine Arts (Project Leader); Dr Gorica Ljubenov, Dipl. Ing. Arch., Professor at the Academy of Applied and Artistic Studies – Higher School of Civil Engineering and Geodesy in Belgrade (Leader of the sub-project on architectural heritage); Dr Danka Lajić Mihajlović, ethnomusicologist, Research Professor at the Institute of Musicology of SANU; and Dr Zlata Vuksanović-Macura, Dipl. Ing. Arch., Senior Research Associate at the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SANU, Belgrade.

The presented project results underscored the importance of an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to the protection of natural, tangible, and intangible heritage, as well as the potential of traditional culture and vernacular architecture in shaping sustainable development models in rural and peripheral areas of Serbia.

Date: December 22, 2025
Source: Dr Zlata Vuksanović-Macura

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On November 28, 2025, the Museum of Jovan Cvijić hosted the promotion of the scientific monograph “Old Folk Sports, Games and Competitions – Preservation, Transmission of Knowledge and Presentation,” published as part of the Special Editions of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA). The monograph was authored by Dr. Željko Bjeljac and Dr. Jovana Brankov, both associates of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA.

The event featured discussions with Dr. Aleksandra Terzić, editor of the monograph; Dr. Sanja Pavlović, reviewer of the manuscript; and the authors. Dr. Ana Milanović Pešić delivered the introductory speech. The promotion highlighted that the research aimed to enhance understanding of old folk sports and games and to facilitate their effective presentation through comprehensive analysis. The authors’ approach is distinguished by efforts to revitalize a gradually disappearing cultural heritage, while the manuscript promotes a deeper appreciation of the educational values and cultural significance of old folk sports and games.

Date: December 8, 2025
Source: Dr. Jovana Brankov

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Ekaterina Zavalishina and Aleksei Karachinskii, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Publishing House “Nauka”, Russia visited the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” of the Serbian Academy of Sciences on 29. 10. 2025.

“Nauka” is the oldest scientific publishing house in Russia and one of the largest in the world, founded in 1727, when the Academic Printing House was opened as a publishing body of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Publishing House “Nauka” is a center of scientific communication, given that it has been publishing all scientific journals of the Russian Academy of Sciences for more than a century and has over 200,000 published monographs and scientific papers in its portfolio (https://naukapublishers.ru/).

During the meeting, experiences were exchanged in the functioning of the publishing activities of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. The possibilities of future cooperation between the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the publishing house “Nauka” were also discussed.

Date: November 3, 2025
Source: dr Marko Urošev

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