At this year Garešnica Infinity STEAM Conference, held on 10 June 2026 as part of the Garešnica Infinity Festival, the FabLab association took part by running a structured stakeholder dialogue, “STEM as a driver of development”, through a participatory process and the co-design of activities. 

The activity was delivered with the support of the National Foundation for Civil Society Development through the Thematic Systemic Support scheme for the area STEM as a driver of development.

As part of the structured dialogue, Roberto Vdović, MSc ran a participatory workshop aimed at strengthening cooperation and mutual understanding among the key stakeholders of the local STEM ecosystem. Through a moderated discussion, an exchange of experience and a role-swapping method, representatives of educational institutions, civil society organisations, the public sector and other relevant actors reflected on their own role in developing the STEM environment and identified challenges and opportunities for future cooperation. Particular emphasis was placed on jointly shaping proposed activities and models of cooperation that can contribute to the sustainable development of the local community and to making STEM content more accessible to children and young people.

The main theme of the conference is bringing science closer to new generations through education, technology and experiential learning. Participants had the chance to build their skills in science outreach, to get to know innovative teaching approaches and the use of modern technologies in education, to exchange examples of good practice and to establish new partnerships. The conference further underlined how important it is to connect schools, associations, institutions and the local community in creating a stimulating environment for developing interest, knowledge and skills in STEM.

The conference programme was further enriched by lectures from prominent experts in science, education and STEM outreach. Marko Košiček presented the challenges and opportunities of science outreach, stressing the importance of understanding target groups, of different delivery models, and of measuring the impact of activities aimed at bringing science closer to the wider public. Matija Piškorec gave a lecture on the basics of artificial intelligence using accessible, practical examples, showing how AI concepts can be brought closer to pupils and integrated into the educational process. His presentation of educational projects developed to popularise computer science and algorithmic thinking attracted particular attention. Lana Ceraj spoke about the role of astronomy as a powerful driver of interest in STEM, presenting contemporary space research as an inspiring framework for experiential learning, along with examples of interactive workshops adapted to different age groups. Through these lectures, participants gained valuable insight into contemporary approaches to STEM education, science outreach and the use of new technologies in work with children and young people.

The event is organised by the City of Garešnica, the North Moslavina Tourist Board, the SFERIA Garešnica association and the Natura 2000 Visitor Centre Garešnica.