APEX Scientific 2025

2025 was the year that brought two camps to our portfolio, Maths and Chemistry. Camps’ objectives included:

To promote STEM subjects to young learners in a rather informal educational context.
To attract young people passioned by STEM subjects (chemistry, mathematics) to a possible career in research by leading them into the research ecosystem;
To make students interact with world-renowned researchers from universities and research institutes, to show students the research world, make them familiar with the opportunities and good practices in the field, thus trying to convince them to follow a career in the Romanian educational system.

APEX Scientific 2025 camps were implemented by Association InformART, following a concept designed by Oriensys Scientific (France). The camps organization was possible due to the collaboration with several partners, sponsors and mass media partners, mentioned below.

	APEX Chemistry	APEX Maths
Scientific Partner	Universitatea din București	Institutul de Matematică Simion Stoilow al Academiei Române
Main Sponsor	Fundația Dacia pentru România	Fundația Dacia pentru România
Sponsors	Microsin SA, Aqua Carpatica, Banca Transilvania, Openvision, Brenntag	Aqua Carpatica, Banca Transilvania
Partners	Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Fizica Materialelor, SciResCareer, UNESCO – TRRISE	Primăria Reșița, Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai – Centrul Universitar Reșița
Media Partners	News.RO	News.RO, Radio Reșița

APEX Chemistry

So, the story continued in 2025 with APEX Chemistry as the novelty, a camp where young people learned by doing experiments, discovered the joy of working in the laboratory and saw the spectacular results of their work. Tired as they were, the students asked the teachers and PhD students for more laboratory hours, which was unexpected. APEX Chemistry took place in Bucharest from July 20th to August 9th. The scientific activities at APEX Chemistry 2025 were divided into four categories: course, laboratory, seminar and scientific communication session. The courses tackled subjects such:

Supramolecular and adaptive chemistry: how molecules interact with each other
Molecular recognition: what are the fundamental features of molecules so that interactions among them do happen
The shapes of proteins and nucleic acids– artificial intelligence in chemistry: how modern computational methods helped solve some of the most difficult, yet simple to rationalize.
Design vs. screening in drug development: what are the classical and modern ways to discover new medicines
Sculpting molecules: engineering new shapes: how to design and synthesize molecules with precise shapes
Molecular probes for visualizing cellular processes: what tools can chemists use in order to observe biological processes in living cells
Experimental design and research-based projects: students will receive a small research project, which will be experimentally realized and presented upon completion.

The experiments followed the following specific objectives: Familiarizing students with reagents, glassware, and laboratory equipment, Key concepts and techniques in the organic chemistry laboratory, Monitoring the progress of chemical reactions, Spectroscopic analysis of chemical compounds in solution and in solid state, Organize, analyze, and draw appropriate conclusions for experimental data.

The professors who lectured and presented scientific materials at APEX Chemistry 2025 were (in the order they appeared in the camp programme):

Acad. Prof. Dr. Marius Andruh, President of the Romanian Academy, director of the Organic and Supramolecular Chemistry Institute Costin D. Nenițescu of the Romanian Academy;
Prof. Dr. Jean Marie Lehn, Nobel laureate for Chemistry (1987), University of Strasbourg;
Associate Professor Dr. Mihaela Matache, University of Bucharest;
Prof. dr. Ivan Huc, Ludwig Maximilian Universitaet, Munchen;
Senior researcher Dr. Mihaela Florea, National Institute of Materials Physics Măgurele;
Prof. dr. Niculina Hădade, Babeș-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca;
Dr. Daniel Funeriu (Oriensys Scientific);
Lecturer Dr. Codruța Popescu, University of Bucharest.
The laboratory experiments were conducted by: Lect. Dr. Ioana Nicolau, Lect. Dr. Anca Păun, Dr. Ana-Maria Hanganu, Drd. Alexandru Molența (University of Bucharest), CSII dr. Florentina Neațu, Dr. Anca Mirea (INCDFM Măgurele).

And, as it was still a camp, leisure activities were mingled with all the immersive and intensive science. Some of the most interesting were: a visit to ELI-NP at the National Institute of Materials Physics Măgurele, a visit at Microsin SA, one of the camp collaborators and sponsors, producer of active ingredients for the pharmaceutical industry, coaching and mentoring workshops in collaboration with the Learning Centre of the University of Bucharest and SciResCareer, coordinated by Conf. Dr. Laura Ciolan and the presentation made by Magdi El Fergani of Libian origin, a Master student in Romania who talked about the scientific path in Romania as a foreign student.

APEX Maths 2025

For APEX Maths, the courses were held as follows:Prof. dr. Olivier Schiffmann, Universite Paris-Saclay; Dr. Alexis Bouthier, Universite Paris-Sorbonne; Dr. Siarhei Finsky, Ecole Polytechnique Paris. Also, eight mentors held seminars and explanatory sessions for the participants, namely: Călin Spiridon (Simion Stoilow Institute of Mathematics of the Romanian Academy, IMAR), Mihai Pavel (IMAR), Romeo Troubat (Université de Strasbourg), Timm Peerenboom (Bochum University), David Petcu (IMAR), Samuel Lerbet (Université de Grenobles Alpes), Victor Le Guilloux (Université de Strasbourg), Bogdan Carașcă (Humboldt University Berlin).

The program, which had algebraic geometry as its general theme, invited participants to explore the geometry of curves, surfaces, etc. defined by polynomial equations and to discover how their properties can be studied and understood using algebra. The three teachers present at APEX Maths 2025 addressed the following topics:

Polynomials in two variables and curves in the plane
Polynomial rings
Ideals (radical, prime, maximal) and algebraic varieties
Systems of polynomial equations
Projective spaces (or how to add just the right amount of points at infinity)
Bezout’s theorem on plane curves

As in the previous year, doctoral students, mentors, and professors had lectures on their works or research theses, bringing new insights to the beauty of mathematics. Free time activities were also included in the camp program as our young mathematicians are keen on sports, open-air activities, exploring the surroundings, and, most of all, playing football. Therefore, the trips and the cultural visits included: a trip on the longest mountain railway route Oravița – Anina, taking part in the community events such as the festival Trezim Furnalul!, Chess Tournament, football games, Board games at the dorms every evening. Last but the most interesting one, a visit to ARTROM Steel Tubes, the steel factory with a generous history.