On Thursday, November 28, 2024, the 17th Scientific and Professional Conference Students Encountering Science, StES 2024, was officially opened in the amphitheater of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy of the University of Banja Luka. This conference is organized by the Student Parliament of the University of Banja Luka with the support of the University of Banja Luka, and under the auspices of the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republika Srpska. The opening of StES 2024 was attended by representatives of the Student Union of the Republika Srpska, the Student Parliament of the University of Banja Luka, the Ministry of Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republika Srpska, the Agency for Higher Education of the Republika Srpska, the University of Banja Luka, as well as professors and students participating in the scientific conference. This year's scientific conference is attended by more than 150 participants with more than 100 papers submitted.