Laureates of the competition “Physics and Ecology” have been announced
On March 21st, the Centre for New Technologies of the Silesian University of Technology held the final of the XXVIII edition of the nationwide competition “Physics and Ecology” named after Prof. Mieczysław F. Pazdur. Young people from all over Poland presented excellent works, after which the jury had a difficult task of selecting the winner.
It was already the 28th edition of the “Physics and Ecology” competition. Its aim is, among others, to disseminate knowledge about the need to protect the natural environment and climate, and to shape research skills and interpretation of scientific research results. For many of the winners of previous editions, this was the beginning of their scientific career.
“This competition is a recognized brand because it selects people with research potential. Many previous laureates currently hold positions in science and have degrees of habilitated doctor “. – explains Dr Eng. Adam Michczyński, prof. SUT, the organizer of the competition.
The competition was attended by secondary school pupils who competed individually or in teams of two. In the auditorium B of the CNT, the jury and the audience listened to 19 presentations.
The jury assessed not only the knowledge, but also the way it was presented. The competition’s research works were to refer to the current subject of the competition and include original results of research or own analyses, e.g. results of experiments, measurements, construction studies. Participants had a maximum of 8 minutes to present their work. They also had to answer the jury’s questions.
“We had a very difficult choice because there were several very good presentations that combined research, theoretical and experimental aspects. They were at a level that students of our university would not be ashamed of. I hope that we will meet the authors of these works at the Silesian University of Technology. The choice of the final winners was determined by the way of presenting the research, examples, analysis of the results and the theoretical model.” - explains Prof. Adam Michczynski.
After a long debate, the jury decided that the first place should go to Oskar Rzepecki and Igor Gaweł, who came from The First Secondary Comprehensive School named after Bolesław Krzywousty in Słupsk and who presented the work “Modelling of natural phenomena – modelling of the mechanism of ballochorii on the example of impatiens noli-tangere”.
“We were hoping for a high place, but not a victory. Although the trip was long and tiring, it was worth coming” – explain Oskar and Igor. – “Our work focused on the mathematical and physical description of the natural phenomenon, which is the mechanism of ballochory. We have created, among other things, a description of the propagation simulation of this in the GeoGebra portal.”
The second place in the competition was taken by Andrzej Szczyrba and Grzegorz Machej from the Complex of Secondary Comprehensive Schools named after John Paul II in Pawłowice. This duo improved their position when they finished third. This time, they presented the work “Clean Energy.” Karolina Hoba and Lukasz Bigas from the University First Secondary Comprehensive School named after Juliusz Słowacki in Chorzów placed third with their work entitled “Air temperature and humidity in the internal environment and their impact on thermal sensations and energy consumption.”
The organizers also decided to award prizes:
- I degree distinction- Michał Kapitan and Jan Maciejowski (School Complex No. 4 named after John Paul II in Jasło),
- II degree distinction: Piotr Tomal (XXVIII Secondary Comprehensive School named after W. Bednarski in Krakow),
- III degree distinction: Kornelia Pawełczyk and Amelia Gałowicz (III Secondary Comprehensive School named after Adam Mickiewicz in Katowice),
- special awards: Aleksander Franciszek Żebryk (School Complex “Elektryk” named after Polish Nobel Prize winners in Slupsk), Kinga Kras and Zuzanna Gałuszka (School Complex No. 4 named after John Paul II in Jasło), Małgorzata Wazia (II LO ( Secondary Comprehensive School) named after G. Morcinek in Ruda Śląska), Laura Wieczorek (II LO named after R. Traugutt in Częstochowa) and Karolina Luczak (III LO named after Adam Mickiewicz in Katowice).
The sponsors of this year’s edition of the competition were: Silesian University of Technology, companies ProPoint, AIUT and Helion. Some of the prizes were purchased as part of the "Physics and Ecology" educational action project, co-financed by the WFOŚIGW (Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management)
In addition to prizes in kind, such as laptops, tablets, smartwatches, winners, and authors of the awarded works also received 30 additional points in the qualification procedure for the field of technical physics studies.
