Discovering science without limits! Researchers’ Night of the Silesian University of Technology 2023 is already behind us
Science is available to anyone who wants to learn about it - we found out about this on Saturday, October 7, during the 18th edition of the Researchers' Night of the Silesian University of Technology. This year the event was held under the slogan "Science without limits".
This year's Researchers’ Night of the Silesian University of Technology has come of age - it was its 18th edition. It brought changes in the location - most of the activities took place in the Centre of New Technologies and the Educational and Congress Centre in Gliwice, and only workshop classes were carried out in the workshops and laboratories of the faculties in Gliwice, Zabrze, Katowice and Rybnik.
- Over 500 scientists involved in the preparation of over 170 shows on four campuses of the Silesian University of Technology. We are proud that this is the 18th annual Researchers’' Night, which attracts the inhabitants of the region to our doors - welcomed the participants dr hab. Eng. Aleksandra Buczyńska-Ziembińska – initiator of the event and director of the Science Popularization Centre of the Silesian University of Technology.
The inauguration of the event was attended by the Vice-Rector for Infrastructure and Promotion, dr hab. Eng. Tomasz Trawinski, prof. SUT, Vice-Rector for Science and Development prof. dr hab. Eng. Marek Pawełczyk, the mayor of Gliwice Adam Neumann and the vice-president of AIUT Leszek Olejorz.
- Our adventure with the Researchers’ Night began 18 years ago. Our scientists were involved in this initiative from the very beginning and did not carry out this activity under duress, but have been doing it with great satisfaction. I would like to thank everyone, including the entire Centre for the Popularization of Science - said dr hab. Eng. Tomasz Trawinski, prof. SUT Vice-Rector for Infrastructure and Promotion.
- The Silesian University of Technology is a Research University, the only one in the region, one of 10 in Poland. This status has been awarded to us thanks to an ambitious development plan and achievements, and these achievements are increasing year by year. Our scientists create great research, cooperate with industry and it happens in our laboratories. Today we show only a taste of the entire potential of the Silesian University of Technology - added prof. Marek Pawełczyk.
The inauguration of the Researchers’' Night was an opportunity to award the statuettes of the "Science Popularizer of the Silesian University of Technology 2022", which were awarded to dr Eng. Aleksandra Mierzejowska, dr Barbara Solecka and dr Eng. Krzysztof Tytkowski (on behalf of dr Tytkowski the award was collected by dr Eng. Piotr Dudzik), as well as prizes for the winners of competitions organized as part of the Researchers' Night of the Silesian University of Technology 2023.
During the Researchers' Night, we argued that science has no boundaries and can be accessible to anyone who wants to learn about it. The slogan referred to the scientific
activities of the Silesian University of Technology community, supporting the improvement of the quality of life of society in many different areas. Therefore, the participants could learn about the projects of educational and therapeutic devices for children and young people with disabilities, implemented as part of the program of the same name - "Science without limits". The stand was prepared by students from SKN AI-METH under the supervision of dr Eng. Małgorzata Muzalewska, SKN Biokreatywni under the supervision of dr Eng. Agnieszka Guzik-Kopyto and Mrs. Magdalena Nowak and Jolanta Zabuska-Mamczur - therapists of the Special Educational Centre for Disabled Children and Youth in Dąbrowa Górnicza. There was also a presentation of the project by dr Eng. Agnieszka Labus and Daniel Bobrowski, Paulina Olszówka and Zuzanna Ściebura entitled "Gryfny old age" dedicated to supporting the functioning of older people.
“Science without limits" also had another meaning - it included the activities of scientists from the Silesian University of Technology in the field of aerospace engineering. Participants could learn about space architecture, the design of satellites and stratospheric balloons, the use of unmanned aircraft and preparation for the profession of a pilot.
The Researchers' Night of the Silesian University of Technology gathered a total of over 170 popular science activities from 20 different areas of science - not only related to engineering and technology, but also to, among others, biology, chemistry, geology, foreign languages and communication. There were also cultural events, such as percussion workshops, a presentation of the Academic Dance Ensemble "Dąbrowiacy", a composite concert, board games, a fire show and theatre performances. The youngest science lovers, in turn, could visit the Kid Zone prepared by the Silesian University of Technology Library with their parents to spend time together.
The organizers of the Researchers' Night of the Silesian University of Technology were the Silesian University of Technology and the Science Popularization Centre. The event partner was the City of Gliwice. The institutional partner of the Researchers’' Night was the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis. The honorary patronage was taken by the Minister of Education and Science, the Education Board in Katowice and the Council for the Promotion of Science of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
The project is co-financed from state budget funds allocated by the Minister of Education and Science under the "Social Responsibility of Science II" Program.
