Out of the Box Network (OBN)

Application: OBSN_application

 

What is OUT OF THE BOX?

Out of the Box (OB) presents unconventional, creative thinking and new ideas. It’s a concept of modern interdisciplinary events devoted to development and spreading new ideas, concepts and solutions to improve the complex problems of our world and life. Encouraging scientists, artists, professionals and young people to communicate their ideas to a wider community. Illuminating ideas from different angles. Expanding horizons and connecting different fields.

An important idiosyncrasy of Out of the Box events is a relaxed form of seminars, lectures and other ways of presenting information perceived as complex and difficult to understand. Out of the Box consists of monthly seminars, a biennial conference, student seminar and student workshops.

 

Monthly Out of the Box Seminar (OBS)

The inception of Out of the Box dates back to 2010, when by realizing the importance of integration of different sciences, social sciences and arts with issues of convergence of these fields to everyday life and the public, Daniel Rebolj founded the concept of Out of the Box with its first seminar at the University of Maribor. In the following year Marko Samec took over management and with a young team they write new chapters in the Out of the Box story. Doing so by editing and upgrading the content, technical aspects and production.

OBS is devoted to the presentation of new, bold ideas to the academic and wider public. OBS, which takes place the last Wednesday of the month at 17h, hosts 1-3 lecturers of different profiles: academics, researchers, scientists, professionals and artists. Each speaker presents his “Out of the Box” idea in a half-hour seminar. Followed by discussion and social gathering, also designed for networking.

 

What is OBSN?

Out of the box network is an association of universities running Out of the box seminars regularly. The network activities are managed by the editorial board, consisting of one member from each associated university. Membership is free and starts with the application with which a new member university adopts the OBS and OBSN rules.

The main objective of the OBSN are:

– to inform the network members about the seminar events,
– to exchange the best seminars (see OBSN seminar tour),
– to co-organize the biannual Out of the box conference (see Biannual Out of the box conference).


See Out of the box University Network on a larger map.

 

OBSN seminar tour

Each university has to continuously evaluate its seminars. At the end of each season (in June, as a rule) the OBSN editorial board selects 7 seminars from the best seminars from the past season of all network members. These seminars are then offered as tour seminars to all member universities.

 

Biannual Out of the box conference (OBC)

In 2012 University of Maribor organized the first Out of the Box Conference. The subtitle of the conference was Innovative ways to improve the culture of living. Although starting a conference with such general topic is unpredictable, the first OBC was a huge success. Therefore it has been decided to organize such a conference regularly every two years with the invitation to the authors of the best OBSN seminars to deliver keynotes at the OBC and thus assure a high quality framework for the conferences.