✅ The 15th International Scientific Conference on Social and Technological Development – STED 2026 will be held in Trebinje, at Hotel Leotar, from June 4 to June 7, 2026.

♻️ The jubilee 15th STED Conference will open with a panel discussion: “Microplastics – Debunking the Myths”!

💪 Our distinguished panelists will address questions arising in everyday life:

⏩⏩ Do we “eat” a credit card every week?

⏩⏩ Does plastic challenge the myth of “healthy” products?

⏩⏩ Is honey healthy from the perspective of microplastics?

⏩⏩ Is tap water healthier than modern filtered water?

⏩⏩ Are glass and cans better than plastic?

⏩⏩ What does science say, and what are just clickbait headlines?

🇷🇸 Panel Moderator: Dr. Snežana Papović, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. Prof. Dr. Snežana Papović is the leader of an international bilateral scientific project with Italy (2025–2028); head of the national project PROMIS2023, funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (2024–2026); participant in the EU Horizon project FREECOVER (2025–2028); former leader of an international project with the People’s Republic of China (2021–2024). She is the author and co-author of 84 SCI-listed papers, with an H-index of 19 and 1,143 citations (Scopus), and recipient of numerous awards.

🇷🇸 Panelist: Dr. Brankica Kartalović, Senior Research Associate at the Biosens Institute, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. PhD in Environmental Protection and MSc in Pharmaceutical Technology, with 25+ years of experience in accredited laboratories. Specialized in testing pesticide residues, phthalates, persistent organic pollutants, and micro/nanoplastics in water, soil, and food. Expert in developing, validating, and harmonizing methods based on GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, and HPLC-DAD-FLD techniques for complex matrices, applying ISO/IEC 17025 and food safety risk assessment. Author of 46 SCI-indexed papers (M20), many focused on microplastics and plasticizer migration.

🇭🇷 Panelist: Dr. Kristina Mastanjević, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Food Technology, University of Osijek, Croatia. Research interests: beer, malt, mycotoxins, food contaminants, microplastics, beer production, fermentation. Author of 60 scientific papers indexed in CC and/or SCI; participant in more than 30 international scientific-professional conferences with 25 papers; editor of 2 books and member of the editorial board of 2 scientific journals; recipient of the Danubius Young Scientist Award 2019.

🇲🇪 Panelist: Dr. Ivana Joksimović, Institute of Public Health of Montenegro. Medical doctor and hygiene specialist with 23+ years of professional experience, including 16 years of specialization in preventive medicine and environmental protection, with a focus on water safety. Member of the Medical Chamber of Montenegro, the Nutrition Society of Montenegro, several working groups for drafting food and water safety laws and regulations, the Water Commission of the Ministry of Health, and the National Commission for Antimicrobial Resistance. Contributor to environmental impact assessment reports; national contact person for the WHO Protocol on Water and Health. Project leader of ADRI PLAST – Adriatic Sea and plastic and microplastic pollution from freshwaters: an Adrion territorial challenge (Interreg VI-B IPA) (2024–2027).