The 5th international scientific multidisciplinary conference "Mediterranean Islands Conference (MIC-Vis 2024)" organized by the Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar and VERN' University, under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Croatia and the city of Vis, was successfully held on the island of Vis from September 18 to 21. The Conference gathered more than two hundred scientists and experts from all over the world, who, through presentations of more than 150 papers, discussed the economic and social development of the Mediterranean in the context of global challenges.

Renewable energy sources, energy self-sufficiency, demography, migration, tourism and climate change were some of the main topics discussed at this year's meeting, and the participants generally agreed that current geopolitical events in the world are changing the agenda and affecting the development aspect of the Mediterranean, especially in the segment of exploitation of natural resources.

The director of the Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, prof. Željko Holjevac, at the conference opening, warned of the challenges in these areas and indicated that "maritime heritage, artificial intelligence, migration trends, climate change, smart tourism, sustainability, biodiversity, youth and activism, and fishing are important topics and challenges for the Mediterranean area".

One of this year's keynote speakers, prof. Milan Puh from the Brazilian University of Sao Paolo explained that the phenomena in the Mediterranean should be viewed from the context of the interconnectedness of the Mediterranean region, global migrations and the possibility of a decolonial approach.

"The process of interconnection in the Mediterranean has been going on since the 16th century, and since then the so-called project of civilizing or changing societies that were considered traditional, in a way that strives to create a universal culture and civilization", pointed out Dr. Puh, who was accompanied by prof. Robin Degron from the French University of Paris 1 – Panthéon-Sorbonne and Dinko Radić, Director of the Native Museum of Vis.

The conference was full of different presentations from 20 areas where the participants, each from their perspective, presented their work and potential solutions for the challenges facing the Mediterranean area.

In addition to the scientific part of the conference, the participants had the opportunity to enjoy the rich cultural and social program of the conference.

As part of the conference, an international exhibition of student photographs on the theme of "Colors of the Mediterranean" was held, and the best author was Zrinka Zagorec from the Faculty of Architecture in Zagreb, who was awarded a valuable gift from the Canon company.