Polish Science Day in the European City of Science Katowice

Debates

On February 20th, two debates took place. The first one, focusing on science and education as the main instruments for transforming regions, with a case study of Silesia, was led by Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski, Vice-Rector for International and National Cooperation at the University of Silesia in Katowice.

The debate was attended by Anna Budzanowska, Ph.D. - Delegate of the President for the European City of Science, Kazimierz Karolczak - Chairman of the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis, as well as representatives of higher education institutions: the Academy of Fine Arts, the Silesian Medical University, the Academy of Physical Education named after Jerzy Kukuczka in Katowice, the Silesian University of Technology, and the University of Economics in Katowice. Representing the latter were Her Excellency Rector Prof. Celina M. Olszak, Ph.D., D.Sc., and Vice-Rector for Science and Academic Staff Development Prof. Maciej Nowak, Ph.D.

The person leading the second meeting titled “How to Beat Populists? – Young Voters and the Future of Democracy” was a Member of the European Parliament Łukasz Kohut.
The debate was attended by: Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Ph.D. - Member of the European Parliament and Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland in 1996-1997, representatives of higher education institutions: the University of Silesia, the Medical University, the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, as well as representatives of the doctoral and student community of the Youth Council of the City of Science. The University of Economics in Katowice was represented by Her Excellency Rector Prof. Celina M. Olszak, Ph.D., D.Sc., and Vice-Rector for Education and International Relations Prof. Sławomir Smyczek, Ph.D.

The ceremonial opening of the visit

During the opening ceremony, the inaugural lecture titled “Greening the Coal Heart of Europe” was delivered by Prof. Iwona Jelonek from the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Silesia, and a councilor of the Silesian Regional Assembly. The visit was, among other things, an opportunity to present the work conducted by the European university Transform4Europe, an international alliance of ten universities of which the University of Silesia in Katowice is a member.

The ceremonial opening was attended by, among others, Anna Budzanowska, Ph.D. - Delegate of the President for ECS2024, Kazimierz Karolczak - Chairman of GZM, representatives of higher education institutions affiliated with the Academic Consortium - Science City, and Representatives of the European Commission responsible for the European City of Science and ESOF 2024.
 

Exhibition “Where The Mountains Are Upside Down And Inside Out” and screening of film etudes from the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School at the University of Silesia

During the visit to the European Parliament, the Academic Consortium - Science City presented the exhibition “Where The Mountains Are Upside Down And Inside Out”, which takes the form of a micro visual essay. The exhibition will feature geological cores obtained from the "Jankowice" Coal Mine in Rybnik, a collection of metallophytes by Prof. Adam Rostański - plants that, through adaptation, are able to survive in polluted environments, as well as an artwork by Ludwik Holesz created based on imprints of plants in coal. Participants of the visit also had the opportunity to watch film etudes by students of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School at the University of Silesia.

EMSK 2024 | “50 outstanding achievements of Silesian science”

On the occasion of Polish Science Day as part of EMSK 2024, a unique publication was prepared. “50 outstanding achievements of Silesian science” is a review of scientific research and art initiatives carried out by employees of the Academic Consortium - Science City over the past ten years. The publication is co-created by 7 public universities in the Silesian Voivodeship headquartered in Katowice. The presented overview shows a small fraction of the important topics addressed at Silesian universities and their significance in the region's transformation in the fields of climate and environment, health and quality of life, industries of the future, social innovations, industrial and cultural heritage, as well as creation and criticism.

Silesian Science Festival KATOWICE and spectacle KATOPOLIS

Polish Science Day is also a great opportunity to recall two important initiatives in which all universities affiliated with the Academic Consortium - Science City participated in 2023: the Silesian Science Festival KATOWICE and the scientific-musical spectacle KATOPOLIS.
SSF KATOWICE is a unique event of international significance, during which we present what is most interesting, newest, and most important in Polish and world science. Each edition of the festival attracts tens of thousands of people of all ages from across the country. During the December event alone, over 68,000 people visited the spaces of the International Congress Centre in Katowice, where they could see that “Science will give us the future”. This idea accompanied the organizers, who ensured the attractiveness of over 700 shows, workshops, exhibitions, debates, meetings, and lectures. During the three-day celebration, over 2,500 representatives of regional universities and distinguished guests from around the world showcased science and art live!
The event was accompanied by the musical-scientific spectacle KATOPOLIS, opening the celebrations of the European City of Science Katowice 2024, which was attended by over 6,000 people. This special initiative was prepared by creators associated with the academic community, actors from regional theaters, as well as artists from the Polish music scene, university choirs, and musical groups. The entire project in terms of music, text, and direction was overseen by: Miuosh, Jan P. Matuszyński, Zbigniew Rokita, and Mateusz Znaniecki.