Science comes from good sources – 20 years of the Researchers’ Night
“Science comes from good sources” – under this motto on October 11th, 2025, a jubilee – the 20th Researchers' Night of the Silesian University of Technology took place. As usual, the walls of our university were visited by a lot of people interested in science and in what we do on a daily basis in our laboratories.
Workshops, presentations, and lectures – the program of the jubilee Researchers' Night of the Silesian University of Technology, as usual, abounded in many attractions that were interesting to the inhabitants of the region.
- We show once again that science can not only teach, but also delight and entertain - said Dr Hab. Eng. Sandra Grabowska, Prof SUT, Deputy Director of the Science Popularization Centre (CPN
This year, the visitors to the laboratories and lecture halls of the Silesian University of Technology could participate in over 200 activities prepared by seven hundred students, doctoral students, and SUT employees.
- Researchers’ Night is a unique event for us because we invite visitors to our walls, open laboratories, show how the Silesian University of Technology works. On the occasion of experiments, they can talk to scientists and also make an appointment to learn more about the Silesian University of Technology, about a specific specialisation - said the Rector of the Silesian University of Technology, Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Marek Pawełczyk.
For several years, the Researchers' Night of the Silesian University of Technology has been held simultaneously in all the campuses of the Silesian University of Technology, not only in Gliwice, but also in Katowice, Rybnik and Zabrze, where scientists and employees present their skills with a mission and commitment.
- With these activities we want to show that while learning, one can also have fun. With our presentations, we want to encourage people to think independently, to experience and understand complex processes, which we show here in a simple way – said Dr Hab. Eng. Kamil Barczak, an employee of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, who conducted demonstrations using liquid nitrogen.
Both seniors and preschool children participated in the shows. This proved that science can be interesting regardless of age. Those scientists who presented workshops for different age groups faced a challenge to talk in an interesting way about what they do on a daily basis in the laboratories of the Silesian University of Technology.
Chemists invited the participants, for example, to prepare cosmetics using natural ingredients. There were no vacancies for the workshops of making creams, lotions, and balls for bathing even before the event itself. Presentations, during which Gliwice inhabitants could test the most interesting technological innovations developed and used in research by scientists of the Silesian University of Technology, such as VR goggles, cars or flight or train simulators, as well as drones and 3D printers were also very popular.
- For me, the activity of students at this event is very important. Last year we encouraged them to cooperate with us during the Researchers’ Night, and in this edition, they strongly marked their presence. What’s more, there are people who just started their studies a year ago, and now they can boast of their achievements. This shows how in a short time you can develop here and catch the wind in the sails - said the Vice-Dean for Infrastructure and Organization of the Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Dr Eng. Adam Mańka.
A total of 4000 people took part in the activities prepared this year as part of the Researchers’ Night.
Once again, the event was also an opportunity to distinguish people who popularize science in a special way. During the ceremonial inauguration of the Researchers’ Night, statuettes were awarded to the winners of the title “Honorary Populariser of Science of the Silesian University of Technology” and “Populariser of Science of the Silesian University of Technology 2024”.
The title of “Honorary Populariser of Science” was awarded to Dr Barbara Solecka from the Institute of Physics - Centre for Science and Education at SUT, and Dr Eng. Aleksandra Mierzejowska from the Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering, and Industrial Automation. In turn, the title of “Populariser of Science” for 2024 was awarded to Dr Eng. Magdalena Zorychta-Tomsia from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Dr Eng. Anna Byczek-Wyrostek from the Biotechnology Centre and Dr Eng. Monika Żogała from the Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation.
The winners unanimously confirmed that such awards motivate even more to work and conduct further activities.
- This distinction is not only my achievement, I would also like to thank my students from the Student Research Club of Chemists here, because they mainly support and motivate me to work. Together, we try to spread knowledge on the border of chemistry, biology and physics among people who visit us - said Dr Eng. Anna Byczek-Wyrostek. - I also admit that 2024 was exceptional in this respect, because the number of events in which I had the opportunity to participate was incomparable to previous years. Fortunately, this did not discourage me from further work, because I believe that passing knowledge on to others can inspire them to independent reflection and critical reflection.
The demand for knowledge is increasing. This confirms the growing interest in the Researchers’ Night from year to year. The initiator of this event, during the jubilee evening of memories in the Employees’ Club of the Silesian University of Technology admitted that the event was doomed to success from the very beginning.
- It could not fail, I was convinced of it, - admitted Professor Jerzy Rutkowski, who in 2005 as Dean of the Faculty of Automatic Control, Electronics and Computer Science of the Silesian University of Technology decided to promote engineering education. Working with the Polish- German House in Gliwice, he hired Dagmara Sokołowska, a specialist in European funds, who just two weeks after taking up the position prepared the project “Researchers’ Night.” The project was to be implemented as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Program. And it worked perfectly well. On the basis of this project, the Researchers’ Night was created, and it is organized to this day.
- When I see how this event has grown, I am very happy," said Professor Rutkowski. - Please note that you need passionate scientists who want to share their experience and knowledge with these young people. It is said that at the age of 11-12 our interests and choices for the future are shaped, this is the right time to meet these young people and show them the world of engineering, so that in the future we have students and good staff here.
- The first Researchers’ Night took place at the Faculty of Automatic Control, Electronics and Computer Science. Since social media were not functioning back then, the promotion was based on billboards in Gliwice and traditional invitations to schools. In this way, we managed to attract almost 200 people, which was a great success. Today, there are many more participants, and attractions take place at all faculties, in four cities where the Silesian University of Technology operates.
Prof. Rutkowski hopes that after the Researchers’ Night there will be something else, maybe in the future somewhere in Gliwice or in the region a Science Centre will be established. That would be a dream come true, he said.
The institutional partner of the event was the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis, and the main partner was the Katowice Special Economic Zone.
Fot. Rafał Paluszek, Martin Huć
