The 17th Days of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences (BHAAAS) have officially opened in Sarajevo, marking one of the most important international scientific and professional gatherings that brings together Bosnian-Herzegovinian scientists, physicians, researchers, artists, and experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the diaspora.
year’s BHAAAS Days, taking place from June 4 to 7, 2026, across five locations in Sarajevo, will gather more than 500 participants through over 25 thematic symposia, special events, book promotions, and workshops, reaffirming the importance of BHAAAS as a unique platform for connecting scientists from Bosnia and Herzegovina with colleagues around the world.
“The knowledge of Bosnian-Herzegovinian experts in the diaspora is one of our country’s greatest resources, and by connecting them with local institutions and young people, we are creating the foundations for stronger scientific, technological, and social development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mission of BHAAAS is not only to bring together outstanding individuals, but to create concrete spaces for cooperation, knowledge transfer, and the joint shaping of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future. BHAAAS Days are a place where the experience of the diaspora, the capacities of local institutions, and the energy of new generations come together,” said Prof. Dr. Zlatan Akšamija, President of BHAAAS.
The central venue of this year’s gathering is Hotel Holiday, while program activities are being held at several locations across Sarajevo, including the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, the General Hospital “Prim. Dr. Abdulah Nakaš”, ASA Institute, the Faculty of Political Sciences, as well as the Mövenpick and Courtyard by Marriott hotels.
A particularly important part of the program is the series of 16 international medical symposia covering infectious diseases, radiology, pulmonology, hepatology, child and adolescent mental health, ophthalmology, neurosurgery, neurology, dermatovenerology, regenerative medicine and plastic surgery, intensive care medicine, endocrinology and diabetology, vascular medicine, cardiology, orthopedics and traumatology, and maxillofacial surgery.
Among the interdisciplinary conference events, “AI Across Disciplines” stands out as a program dedicated to artificial intelligence and its application in medicine, art, economics, and society. Another notable event is IAT 2026 – the International Symposium on Innovative and Interdisciplinary Applications of Advanced Technologies, featuring prominent international and local experts in advanced technologies, engineering, science, and innovation.
The conference also includes student symposia in medicine, biology, computer science, and information technologies, offering students from across Bosnia and Herzegovina an opportunity to present their research, strengthen their scientific competencies, network, and engage directly with local and international experts. As part of the program, the book Between Ethnonationalism and the Civic State – Integral Politics: A New Social Contract for BiH will also be promoted.
Over nearly two decades of work, BHAAAS has grown into a respected organization whose significance is increasingly recognized by a growing number of institutions and partners.
“BHAAAS was created out of the need to connect experts of Bosnian-Herzegovinian origin, especially those who built their careers in the United States, with colleagues, institutions, and young people in their homeland. Today, as a respected organization bringing together hundreds of members around the world, BHAAAS confirms that knowledge has the greatest value when it is shared. I am proud that BHAAAS Days have become a meeting point of experience, friendship, science, and concrete support for Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Prof. Dr. Eldin Karaiković, one of the founders of BHAAAS and one of the initiators of the BHAAAS Days conference.
Through its long-standing work, the organization has established partnerships with numerous universities, the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, implemented joint projects with the BH Futures Foundation, and connected with leading medical institutions and associations around the world. Student internship programs in Europe and the United States have also been implemented, along with mentorship programs for young professionals and training opportunities for medical staff outside Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this way, BHAAAS demonstrates how knowledge from the diaspora can be returned to the community in a concrete and measurable way.
BHAAAS Days are being held in partnership with and with the institutional support of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Sarajevo Canton Diaspora Office. The conference will continue until June 7, and more information about events open to the public is available at the link.
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