This is unbelievable! The 27th The Science Picnic is now history...
The representation of the Silesian University of Technology took part in the 27th Science Picnic of the Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre. It presented almost twenty engineering and technical activities that attracted people fascinated by science.
Unbelievable! This year's Science Picnic of Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw was held under this slogan. According to preliminary estimates, the event was visited by over 36,000 people. Participants could visit seven zones: Creators, Future, Organizers, Civilization, Cult Experiments, Family and Health, as well as watch shows on a specially prepared stage or look into a giant laboratory.
Representatives of the Silesian University of Technology visited the Future Zone, and whenever someone, watching the fascinating and imagination-stirring shows, shouted "I can't believe it!", they smiled broadly and replied, "It's science!" and unveiled scientific secrets.
Recipients could gain access to scientific secrets through thick smoke emerging from beakers, flasks and cylinders. We assure you - nothing was burning. Chemical phenomena were under control by members of the Student Science Club of Chemists. Moreover, they were not the only ones who could be found behind the "smokescreen". Behind the "nitrogen" cloud were hiding Prof. Jarosław Sikorski and Prof. Kamil Barczak, explaining physical phenomena that occur at very low temperatures. Speaking of physics, the stand, under the supervision of Dr Barbara Solecka from the Institute of Physics, presented rigid body mechanics, the thermodynamic engine and the magnetic properties of matter.
Of course, the Future Zone included talks about artificial intelligence. Members of the Student Science Club of Application of Artificial Intelligence Methods AI-METH and the Silesian Phoenix team operating within the club explained from scratch how AI (artificial intelligence) algorithms work and how they are used in practice. Practical activities are very well known to team members. Thanks to them, the Integral SENSO project created many therapeutic devices and teaching aids supporting people with disabilities - including ReXio robodog.
Representatives of the Silesian University of Technology proved that science improves the quality of life of each of us. During the Picnic - in addition to SKN AI-METH supporting therapy and rehabilitation - the Bioinformatics Student Science Club, combining computer science and biology, was also present, working on a program to improve, for example, communication among people with disabilities.
Anyone who visited the polytechnic stand could see how much enthusiasm scientists and students have for the development of technology in transport. As it turned out, electromobility issues are on the agenda for them, and not only in the context of electric cars and buses operating in cities. It is also the world of motor sports. Light electric racing vehicles were presented by Silesian Greenpower, and the Formula Student class vehicle and the famous Elektra were presented by PolSl Racing.
However, participants could move not only on roads, but also "fly" in the sky. At the Silesian Erne stand (which is a member of SKN AI-METH), everyone could test themselves as a pilot of an airplane, helicopter and glider, completing a specific mission and performing aerobatic tricks.
The sight of drones may no longer surprise anyone, but their use may trigger a reaction: “Unbelievable!". Unmanned aerial vehicles are used, for example, in monitoring air quality, creating maps, and inventorying buildings and bridges. This requires a lot of practice from drone operators, as visitors to the stand prepared by Dr Eng. Aleksandra Mierzejowska and Dr Eng. Monika Żogała from the Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation. If we are talking about pilots' skills, they should have impeccable eye-hand coordination and great attention. Were such skills also demonstrated by the polytechnic participants of the activity? It was checked by Prof. Anna Bluszcz (Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation) through the Piórkowski apparatus, which is used in psychophysical fitness tests.
In the Future Zone we travelled for a moment to the past. It was a treat for computer game lovers who, at the stand prepared by Prof. Anna Manowska (Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation) could recall the classics of Raspberry Pi.
The Silesian University of Technology has shown that combining scientific forces produces very good results. The cooperation of four science clubs of the Faculty of Materials Engineering: SKN Technomat, SKN Mater-Tech, SKN Smart Production and SKN GetIT resulted in exciting activities about 3D printing technology. The COMPO-TECH Student Scientific Club operating at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering also showed the audience unusual materials. These were light, composite ballistic covers, the quality of which had been previously verified at the shooting range. Could they handle rubber bullets? Anyone who was with us at the Picnic knows this!
Is there room for creativity in scientific experiments? Of course! All visitors to the stand prepared by the team under the supervision of Dr Eng Monika Chomiak demonstrated such creativity. It was there that, after the thermoforming process of polymer materials, they took part in the finishing process and prepared unusual product forms. Artistic souls also had something to do at the stand of the Build Green Student Science Club, where art and civil engineering were combined, and participants learned how to make porcelain figurines.
The June day and sunny weather brought the desire to relax by the water. But the Picnic went on and the activities taking place there were impossible to miss. So we decided to cool down a bit... And it is all thanks to Dr Eng. Marek Kciuk and students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering who prepared a stand with a swimming pool! Of course, the pool was used for scientific purposes - participants controlled the boat by radio, checking the water level.
The icing on the picnic cake was a fantastic concert, prepared by the Piąta Faza band under the supervision of Prof. Małgorzata Szymiczek from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The sounds from composite instruments filled both the participants of the Science Picnic and the entire representation of the Silesian University of Technology with energy.
Tekst Aleksandra Wojaczek
