Members of the EMOS research group will participate in CONNECT 2026, an international symposium that will take place from August 31 to September 4, 2026, at Hotel Tara in Bečići, Montenegro.

CONNECT brings together students, young researchers and experienced academics from the Western Balkans and other European countries, with the aim of strengthening scientific cooperation, supporting early-career researchers and encouraging closer integration into the European Research Area.

For EMOS, participation in CONNECT 2026 is especially relevant because several of the central themes of this year’s meeting closely overlap with the group’s broader research and educational activities: digital transition, artificial intelligence, Open Science, international collaboration and the development of young researchers.

Digital transition and AI

A central contribution from the EMOS group will be the lecture by Prof. Stevan Armaković entitled:

“Digital Transition and AI”

The lecture will be delivered on Friday, September 4, and will be followed by a presentation by Dr. Goran Stanić entitled “The Impact of AI.”

The program will then continue with two interactive World Café sessions devoted to “AI in Science and Society,” coordinated by Stevan Armaković and Goran Stanić.

These topics are particularly relevant for modern scientific research.

Artificial intelligence is no longer limited to a narrow group of computer-science applications. It is increasingly influencing the way researchers analyze data, perform simulations, search scientific literature, develop predictive models, prepare scientific outputs and communicate research results.

At the same time, the rapid spread of AI tools raises a number of important questions related to reliability, transparency, scientific responsibility and the future training of students and young researchers.

For EMOS, these questions are especially important because the group’s activities increasingly combine traditional experimental and computational research with modern data-driven approaches.

From atomistic modeling to data-driven science

The EMOS research group has long been involved in computational and atomistic modeling, particularly in problems related to chemistry, materials science and environmental applications.

In recent years, the importance of machine learning and other data-driven approaches has increased rapidly.

This does not mean that physics-based or chemistry-based modeling is becoming less important.

On the contrary, one of the key challenges in modern computational science is to determine how traditional atomistic methods and data-driven approaches can be used together.

Physics-based calculations provide mechanistic understanding and reliable reference data, while machine-learning methods can accelerate prediction, screening and analysis across much larger chemical and materials spaces.

This transition toward increasingly integrated computational research is one of the broader scientific contexts behind the lecture on digital transition and AI at CONNECT 2026.

Supporting students and young researchers

Another important feature of CONNECT is its strong focus on students and early-career researchers.

The meeting is designed not only around scientific lectures, but also around discussion, networking and direct interaction between participants at different stages of their academic careers.

Topics covered during the symposium include:

• Open Science;

• European research opportunities;

• international mobility and collaboration;

• research careers;

• science communication;

• digital transformation;

• artificial intelligence;

• COST Actions and other European research instruments.

This makes CONNECT particularly valuable for younger researchers who are still developing their scientific networks and learning how research collaboration functions beyond their own institutions.

For EMOS, this aspect is especially important.

The development of young researchers is a central part of the group’s activity, whether through doctoral research, conference participation, experimental work, computational modeling or involvement in international collaborations.

CONNECT as a platform for international cooperation

Modern scientific problems are increasingly interdisciplinary.

Research in areas such as environmental chemistry, materials science, photocatalysis, atomistic modeling and artificial intelligence frequently requires expertise that no single research group can provide independently.

International meetings such as CONNECT create opportunities to establish contacts between researchers who approach related scientific problems from different perspectives.

Such contacts can later develop into joint projects, research visits, publications, student exchanges and longer-term collaborations.

The CONNECT format is particularly suitable for this because the program places strong emphasis on interaction rather than only on formal presentations.

Continuing the CONNECT experience

CONNECT 2026 also builds on the experience of the previous edition of the meeting.

Following CONNECT 2025, AIDASCO Reviews published a dedicated Special Issue entitled “CONNECT 2025 – Building the Knowledge Society Across Borders.”

The issue collected contributions and reflections related to international scientific collaboration, Open Science, digital transition, mobility, young researchers and the role of scientific networks in the Western Balkans.

This continuity illustrates an important principle: the value of a scientific meeting does not need to end when the conference itself is over.

Discussions initiated during a conference can later develop into publications, collaborations and new research activities.

Looking ahead to CONNECT 2026

For EMOS, CONNECT 2026 represents an opportunity to contribute to a broader discussion about how scientific research is changing.

Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are rapidly transforming many aspects of science, but their successful adoption will depend on much more than access to new tools.

Researchers will need to understand their limitations, evaluate their reliability and determine how they can be integrated responsibly with established scientific methodologies.

At the same time, the future of research will continue to depend on collaboration, mentorship, critical thinking and the ability to connect people across disciplines and institutions.

CONNECT 2026 provides an environment in which all of these themes can be discussed together.

CONNECT 2026
August 31 – September 4, 2026
Hotel Tara, Bečići, Montenegro

More information about the symposium is available on the official CONNECT 2026 website.

The Special Issue “CONNECT 2025 – Building the Knowledge Society Across Borders” is available through AIDASCO Reviews.