Great interest in Junior and Senior Technical University
The new academic year at the Silesian University of Technology means that not only students returned to classes, but also the youngest science lovers began another season of their adventures. On October 17th, 2026, a new series of classes within the Junior and Senior Technical University began. Classes are organised by the Science Popularization Centre of the Silesian University of Technology.
Children from 6 to 12 years of age take part in the classes. The limit of places for classes has been filled in just a few minutes. The classes are very popular among the youngest and their parents. In the first session, children had to choose from biomechanics, civil engineering, robotics, and space sciences. Only 15 people qualified for the latter, and 50 more were on the reserve list. The interest in the subject of space among the youngest is huge.
- The cosmos has always fascinated humans, inspiring them to transcend the frontiers of knowledge, explore the unknown and search for answers to the most fundamental questions. Today, when the Silesian University of Technology is developing its activity in the area of space research and international cooperation, building this fascination among the youngest is also becoming particularly important – admitted Dr Eng. Sandra Grabowska, Prof SUT– director of the Science Popularization Centre of the Silesian University of Technology.
An excellent example of popularization of space sciences among children was the workshop “Mars Mission – First steps on a New Planet,” implemented as part of the initiative of the Junior and Senior Technical University by Oliwia Bursztynowicz, Agata Miąskiewicz and Natalia Szołtysek (students of Management and Production Engineering Faculty of Materials Engineering and Industrial Digitalization). The participants set off on an extraordinary journey to the Red Planet, exploring the mysteries of the Martian landscape, exploring the laws of physics, experimenting, and taking on the challenges of programming a research rover. Science became for them a real adventure, full of discoveries, emotions, and independent action.
- I loved the volcano. I could see how it explodes, how lava flows from it and on Mars - said Janek Zawadzki. The little ones were so curious that some agreed that they would like to fly into space in the future.
The parents did not hide their joy that the classes were organized in such a way that the children became even more fascinated by the cosmos.
- My son Janek is very interested in space, so these workshops were well aimed at him. I studied at the Silesian University of Technology, for many years I have been taking part with children in various events and workshops at the Polytechnic, because you do it in a very cool style – said Krzysztof Zawadzki.
Agnieszka Kliks-Pudlik, a mother of two boys participating in the workshops, added that she did not have to encourage her sons to participate in classes on this subject. She “hunted” for workshops places.
- It was not easy, because the limit of places was literally exhausted in a few minutes. We were particularly interested in this subject, because my boys are very interested in space – she admitted.
In the course of one-hour classes, the children learned how craters are formed, what is the rain of meteorites, how to program a rover and how a volcano erupts on another planet.
- The workshops showed how much can be passed on to young audiences through a wisely designed education based on experience. At the Science Popularization Centre, we believe that great discoveries begin with small questions. Perhaps it is during such meetings that future scientific passions are born, which in a dozen or so years will result in participation in real space missions. Because the path to the stars begins with curiosity - and our role is to awaken and nurture this curiosity - added Sandra Grabowska.
The next classes at the Junior and Senior Technical University will be held in November. Details can be found on the website of the Science Popularization Centre.
fot. Adrianna Kasperska
