The Marko Jarić Foundation was founded in 1998 with the aim of preserving the memory of Marko Jarić's life and scientific work (1952 - 1997). Through this program, the Dr. Marko Jarić Foundation rewards the world's top scientific results in the field of physics, and propagates the latest scientific achievements in physics of Serbian physicists worldwide and the field of physics generally. The Studenica Foundation, with the Institute of Physics, the Faculty of Physics, the Jarić family, and the Vinča Institute, is one of the founders of the Dr. Marko Jaric Foundation and lends it's financial support to the Jaric Foundation's Best Scientist annual award.
The Marko Jaric Best Scientist Award Program in this field increases the visibility and achievements of physicists of Serbian descent worldwide and Serbia’s visibility as a destination which values physics. It propagates the accomplishments of such scientists to innovate, research and publish, leading to more favorable and lucrative opportunities for all scientists of Serbian descent.
Through Studenica Foundation's collaboration with the Marko Daric Foundation, we also nurture the scientific achievements of this brilliant Serbian-American physicist who prematurely ended his world-renowned scientific career, and keep the memory of his name and work alive.
Every year, on March 17, the birthday of prof. Jarić, the Daric Foundation awards the scientist or group of scientists with the annual "Dr. Marko Jarić" award for outstanding scientific achievements in physics. Scientists from Serbia as well as scholars of Serbian origin from the diaspora can apply for the award. The Dr. Marko Jaric Award consists of a ceetificte of recognition and a monetary grant, with the award ceremony taking place annually in Belgrade.
We are proud of the winners of the Dr Marko Jarić Award to date. They are leading experts at the world's prestigious universities and institutions. We are also most proud that our collaboration with the Marko Jaric Foundation has contributed to gender equality in the field of physics and in science generally, in that the award has been given thus far to three preminent female physicists, and our goal is to increase that number significantly. A large number of our Studenica Foundation fellows and alumni are involved in physics, and through our collaboration with the Dr. Marko Jarić Foundation, we work to connect them with experts and award winners to ensure their professional advancement.
Out of eighteen winners so far, fourteen are from the Diaspora and four are from Serbia. On the anniversary of the foundation's two decades of existence, in March 2018, a Symposium on the latest scientific advances in physics was held in Belgrade.