Istrazivacka stanica Petnica (ISP) je neobicna naucno-obrazovna ustanova,
namenjena radu sa mladim ljudima koji su posebno zainteresovani za nauku i
koji svoju znatizelju ne mogu zadovoljiti u okviru tradicionalnog obrazovnog
sistema.
IS Petnica je samostalna, nevladina i neprofitna organizacija, jedinstvena u
Jugoslaviji i u ovom delu Evrope. Osnovana je u leto 1982. godine na
prostoru stare osnovne skole u selu Petnica kod Valjeva. "Krivci" za njeno
osnivanje su mladi ljudi, studenti i srednjoskolci, zainteresovani za nauku
i nezadovoljni postojecim skolskim sistemom i mestom nauke u njemu. U tome
su im, izmedju ostalih, veliku podsrku pruzili brojni ugledni naucnici,
univerzitetski profesori i akademici, kao i grad Valjevo i Mladi istrazivaci
Srbije.

Danas je IS Petnica moderan naucni kamp, poznata u mnogim krajevima sveta,
clanica UNESCO INISTE mreze, nezavisna obrazovna institucija koja mladima
besplatno omogucuje uvid u savremena naucna dostignuca i osnovne metode
naucnog istrazivanja. Petnicki obrazovni programi se jednim delom
finansiraju iz razlicitih drzavnih fondova - za nauku i tehnologiju, za
prosvetu, za omladinu, za ekologiju. Drugi, veoma znacajan izvor su
sponzorstva, prilozi i pokloni privatnih i drzavnih preduzeca, bivsih
polaznika, iseljenika, kao i medjunarodnih fondacija.
IS Petnica svake godine organizuje preko stotinu razlicitih programa -
seminara, kurseva, kampova, radionica, konferencija. Polaznici i ucesnici u
ovim programima su osnovci, srednjoskolci, studenti i nastavnici sa citave
teritorije Jugoslavije ali i iz mnogih drugih zemalja. Petnicke obrazovne
seminare godisnje pohadja vise od 2000 ucenika i studenata. Taj broj ce biti
znatno veci kada se zavrsi zapoceto prosirivanje smestajnog kapaciteta (tzv.
III faza ISP) gde se planira stvaranje uslova za rad sa nastavnicima kao i
organizacija i realizacija medjunarodnih programe.

U Petnici nema testova, ocenjivanja niti klasicnih predavanja.Ucenici se
podsticu da samostalno rade i da kreativno koriste petnicke laboratorije i
opremu, ispitujuci postojece naucne teorije i razlicite metodologije u
resavanju stvarnih i prakticnih naucno-istrazivackih problema.

Petnicki obrazovni eksperiment uspesno se razvija i traje vec preko 15
godina. Izmedju ostalog, zahvaljujuci njemu su i jezici svih bivsih
jugoslovenskih naroda postali bogatiji za novu rec - "petnicani", kao
jezgrovitu pohvalnu odrednicu za sve darovite i vredne ucenike koji su
boravili u IS Petnica...
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Petnica Science Center is the biggest and, probably, the oldest independent
nonprofit organization for extracurricular science education in SE Europe.
Since 1982, Petnica has organized more than 2,500 programs (seminars,
workshops, research camps…) for nearly 50,000 students and science teachers
in 15 disciplines of science, technology and humanities. Majority of
programs are designed for secondary-school students although there are a lot
of programs for primary-school pupils, university students and science
teachers. Attendants of regular Petnica programs are coming from all
countries of former Yugoslavia and all these courses are being realized in
Serbian language. However, Petnica occasionally organizes programs (like PI)
in English for international participants.
The main goals of PSC programs are:

to identify gifted secondary-school and university students and to give them
intensive extracurricular education,
to enable extraordinary motivated students to learn through research and
therefore develop rational, critical and creative thinking,
to enable best students to do real scientific projects based under the
supervision of best scientists and science teachers,
to instruct young science teachers on how to apply up-to-date scientific
concepts, knowledge, educational methods and technology,
to initiate co-operation and exchange of experiences and ideas among
students interested in different science disciplines and
to establish rich international and intercultural contacts and co-operation
among young people, students and teachers.
Today, Petnica Science Center has large network of associates and associate
organizations and successfully co-operates with:

70 scientific institutions ( Serbia) + over 100 (worldwide),
250 schools ( Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Macedonia…),
and over 1,500 associates (worldwide).
Programs of PSC have been funded so far by European Commission, Fund for
Open Society, Serbian Ministry of Science, HESP Budapest, KulturKontakt
Austria, Serbian Ministry of Education, Swiss Development Agency, The
British Council, UNESCO, Telenor Foundation…