Overview
As part of the ongoing STECCI Summer Academy 2, the University of Sarajevo organised two international round tables on 2 July 2026, bringing together over 40 researchers, heritage professionals and institutional representatives to discuss contemporary approaches to cultural heritage conservation in the context of climate change.
Held in a hybrid format at Hotel ibis Styles Sarajevo, the Regional Round Table brought together experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia, together with a representative of Stanford University (USA). Participants exchanged experiences and examples of good practice related to the protection, management and sustainable conservation of stećci and other cultural heritage sites.
The programme also included a presentation by representatives of the SD WISHEES project entitled “From Barriers in R&I Collaboration to Recommendations for Uptake: R&I Pathways for Climate-Resilient Cultural Heritage.” Their contribution complemented the STECCI discussions by providing a broader European perspective on collaborative research, policy development and innovation pathways for safeguarding cultural heritage.
The STECCI EU Round Table offered a broader European perspective through contributions from internationally recognised experts representing the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Schloss Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H., the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and the UNESCO Chair on Digital Heritage. Discussions focused on innovative approaches to heritage conservation, sustainable management and community engagement in response to climate change.
The event provided an important platform for strengthening international cooperation, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and exchanging knowledge among experts working in the fields of cultural heritage conservation, research and policy.
STECCI Summer Academy 2 continues throughout July with in situ conservation training and practical field activities at the pilot necropolises of Kopošići and Križevići, while the Academy will conclude on 31 July 2026 at the Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, with a closing event presenting the results of the conservation activities, expert lectures, a book promotion and the final exhibition and award ceremony.
