Obstacle course, workshops, discussion - the EKO Week with the Silesian University of Technology is under way
The fourth day of the EKO Week as part of the European City of Science Katowice 2024 is already behind us. This time the participants could face the Canmagedon obstacle course and plant flowers, thanks to which we will gain better air in our homes. There was also a discussion panel with the inhabitants of the region and representatives of local governments.
The day began with the workshop “Clean air – Eco-ways to fight micropollutants”, which took place at the Centre of New Technologies of the Silesian University of Technology.
"We wanted to show children how to fight micropollutants, such as bacteria and fungi, in an ecological way. We also told them about innovative air purifiers into which plants are put and thanks to this we have better air at home” – explains Natalia Patoń, who conducted the workshops together with Nikola Dąbek and Mateusz Halladin. All three of them belong to the SKN (Student Science Club) “The Air Quality Team”, which operates at the Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering under the supervision of Dr Hab. Eng. Ewa Brągoszewska, Professor of the Silesian University of Technology and deals with air microbiology on a daily basis. “With the help of various devices, we sample air and analyse it for microorganisms and how they affect our health,” adds the student.
In addition to theoretical knowledge, the children also planted flowers – winged flowers and together with the students decorated pots.
- “It is one of the plants that is used to purify the air, because it absorbs carbon dioxide very well. High oxygen production is also observed. It can also improve the humidity in the room. It has been scientifically proven that the winged flower breaks down pollution well,” explains Natalia Patoń.
At the SPINplace Creativity Centre in Katowice, there was a panel discussion "10 things you can do for clean air. The sum of small actions can be successful in the fight against smog.", implemented as part of the life integrated project "Silesia. We are bringing back the blue sky.” It was attended by the inhabitants of the region and representatives of local governments.
Kato Science Corner hosted the participants of the “Everything Works!” workshop, in which children learned what recycling, instruments, surroundings and music have in common.
In the Silesian Park, daredevils could face the eco-path of obstacles – Canmagedon, prepared by the RECAL Foundation for the Recovery of Aluminium Packaging.
- We have built a track within the framework of the project "Every Can is Valuable" - says Artur Lobocki from the RECAL Foundation for the Recovery of Aluminium Packaging. - We wanted to show that recycling is not difficult. Although this track seems difficult at first glance, after passing it turns out that it was not so hard. The same goes for recycling. Canmagedon refers to the different stages of recycling aluminium cans. The first station is collection, then sorting, until it leads us to produce new cans, fill them and put them in the store.
Ahead of us there is a weekend completing the ECO Week. We invite everyone to take part in the workshops “Eco-creatively” and “Precious Plastic” and the exhibition “Eco-toys.” A detailed schedule of events can be found at: https://program.miastonauki.pl/tydzien-eko
