IMG 43131e3ab5d2861cc1d72cec114631d8 V

Foundation MIR at the STREAM IT International science communication competition in Budapest

Published on:

Scientific ideas have the greatest impact when they are no longer reserved solely for expert audiences but become accessible to everyone. This idea was at the heart of the International Science Communication Competition, held on 16 June 2026 at Európa Pont in Budapest as the final event of the mentoring programme implemented within the STREAM IT project.

IMG 43131e3ab5d2861cc1d72cec114631d8 V

Marija Ivanova, winner of the national science communication competition in Macedonia, took to the international stage. Her journey to Budapest was the result of several months of work through the mentoring programme organised by Foundation MIR. The programme included sessions focused on building confidence, developing presentation and science communication skills, and preparing for a public appearance at the international level.

  • IMG f49fb4efde3a7ae43cec7266d618d7f9 V
  • IMG 25958015c4198460d4b18499636d6ea2 V

Together with the winners from the other nine participating countries, Marija had the opportunity to demonstrate how complex scientific topics can be communicated in an engaging, accessible and inspiring way.

IMG d5f95f8ca7608a863b8f908d7514ada9 V
  • IMG 98e1c7c38d1ec96a37d15f1d830e5c82 V
  • IMG 86b3b31434470b510fc444835e1d7a91 V

Foundation MIR was represented by Emilija Andonova, Programme Manager, and Mia Botinova Dimitrova, Communications Officer, who supported Marija throughout the preparations and during her presentation, while also taking part in activities designed for the project partners.

  • IMG 982b40220026683284e42f812f4b0308 V
  • IMG 1688c49cf42f60bbcba7b5ea17c250c8 V

The event began with a joint preparation session and an introduction to the venue, followed by final rehearsals for the participants. This gave the finalists an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the international stage and prepare to communicate with an audience from different countries and professional backgrounds.

IMG c2efe48957d6cd14cd20e1ddac47801f V

At the same time, the project partners held a working session focused on their experiences from implementing the mentoring programme, opportunities for the wider application of the developed methodology, and ways in which these experiences could contribute to improving future science communication activities.

IMG fb93236ffc9a9122f4a79a53c4861a01 V
  • IMG cf7b6db300d8dcadee8dce41b675143f V
  • IMG 5e1142524946792ab9a7bd030baf5999 V

The competition itself was the central part of the day, during which the national winners presented their ideas before the audience and an expert jury. Each participant was tasked with transforming scientific content into a story that would be understandable and relevant to people without a professional background in the field.

  • 20260616
  • IMG 979a2b527d140d93fff8e934cf9785ea V
  • IMG d667de054c9295772bcd0ec86d8417a3 V
  • IMG d71acf671eafe421a265060b0f7502ef V

Marija delivered her presentation with confidence and enthusiasm, showcasing the knowledge and experience she had gained throughout the programme.

IMG 42f7b4d8cd91a23f526993a850dbd6ff V
  • IMG ca4588e1392c32596c91bad14f9bfe32 V
  • 20260616
  • IMG a5015d6096146b75c5729bf6ee06aae8 V
  • 20260616

The event concluded with the judging process and an award ceremony, but its value extended far beyond the competition results. The final created a space for exchanging ideas, networking and connecting with young scientists, mentors and experts from across Europe.

IMG a779cf8c2e5454addaa20d150ad81589 V
  • IMG 4d97d545443298bb7cbe25a0043a4794 V
  • IMG 0dfbdfa0529aa128ce8825c12ff6bfaf V

Foundation MIR remains committed to creating opportunities for young people, supporting women in science and STEM fields, and promoting approaches that make scientific knowledge more accessible, visible and relevant to society as a whole.

This program is part of the ST(R)E(A)M IT project, a project which aims to initiate change about the persisting gender inequalities in STEM education, research, and innovation to contribute to the implementation of the ‘The European Manifesto for gender-inclusive STE(A)M education and careers.’  The project aims to overcome the barriers and challenges faced by underrepresented groups in STEM. It focuses on developing innovative, gender- and diversity-inclusive tools for educating young people, particularly young girls. Additionally, the project seeks to mobilize stakeholders from various sectors of STEM education and the R&I ecosystem to create sustainable networks that provide ongoing support to STEM education providers.

Register for email updates from MIR Foundation!

News, Events, Projects, Success Stories, OPPORTUNITIES..