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Invitation to the SPOZNAJ Event: Career Paths in Science: Conditions, Obstacles, and Opportunities

Published 27. February, 2026

Science does not exist only in laboratories – it also exists among us. Guided by this idea, the Science and Research Centre Koper, together with the visiting Commission for Equal Opportunities in Science under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and in cooperation with Koper Theatre, continues the series Relaxed Conversations about Science – SPOZNAJ, which brings scientific topics closer to the public in an open, inclusive, and accessible format.

This edition of the event will focus on equal opportunities in science under the title: Career Paths in Science: Conditions, Obstacles, and Opportunities. You are warmly invited to join us on 19 March 2026 at 7:00 PM in the small hall of Koper Theatre.

Science is often understood as a space of meritocracy, where knowledge, curiosity, and research excellence are expected to determine success. However, the reality of scientific careers raises the question of whether opportunities in science are truly equal for everyone. Creating an inclusive environment that enables equal opportunities for participation, career development, and success regardless of personal circumstances is not only a matter of fairness, but also of the quality of science itself. A diversity of experiences and perspectives leads to better research and greater societal impact. The issue of equal opportunities is crucial at every stage of a scientific career – from young researchers entering uncertain career frameworks to transitional periods and the highest positions, where challenges related to power, visibility, and recognition persist.

How, then, do we implement equal opportunities in practice in recruitment, promotion, evaluation of work, and science’s contribution to society? How do we recognize invisible barriers, stereotypes, and structural inequalities – and who bears responsibility for addressing them? Finally, what kind of scientific culture do we wish to co-create today so that tomorrow it may truly be open, accessible, and socially responsible?

This event opens space for reflection on these questions – not with the aim of finding simple answers, but of fostering a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in striving for equal opportunities in science.

The following participants will take part in this relaxed discussion:

  • Prof. Dr Mirjana Nastran Ule, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. She is a leading Slovenian social psychologist and professor emerita. Her research focuses on the social psychology of youth, identity, gender, everyday life, and critical analyses of social inequalities. She is a member of the Commission for Equal Opportunities in Science.
  • Prof. Dr Milica Antić Gaber, University of Ljubljana. She is a professor of sociology at the Faculty of Arts and one of the key experts on gender equality in Slovenian academia. As head of the GEARING ROLES project, she co-created the first Gender Equality Plan at the University of Ljubljana and has advised numerous institutions on its implementation. She is also a member of the Commission for Equal Opportunities in Science.
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr Branislava Vičar, University of Maribor. She is an associate professor of Slovenian language at the Faculty of Arts and head of the doctoral programme in Slovenian Studies. Her research focuses on critical discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, and queer linguistics. She is a member of the Commission for Equal Opportunities in Science and chair of the commission preparing the Gender Equality Plan at the University of Maribor.
  • Dr Robert Devetak, Institute for Ethnic Studies. His research primarily focuses on the Slovenian community in Italy from the 19th century to the present day. His work is connected with themes of social and economic history, women’s history, and nationalism at the turn of the 20th century. He is also a member of the Commission for Equal Opportunities in Science.

The discussion will be moderated by Dr Saša Pišot from the Institute for Kinesiology Research at ZRS Koper. Registrations are open via email at until 17 March 2026.

The event is free of charge and open to everyone interested in perspectives on equal opportunities and the development of an equitable working environment in Slovenian society. It is co-financed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, under whose auspices the Commission for Equal Opportunities in Science operates.