Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry RCH1

"One must travel to learn" (Mark Twain)

The end of June, as every year, will not spare anyone. Whether it's students bravely enduring exam sessions, diploma students persistent in their resolutions, or the lecturers themselves trying to keep their finger on the pulse, when the thoughts of the gathered are directed towards the longed-for rest. It was no different in the case of a small delegation, which proudly represented our University far beyond the southern border of the country during this stressful period.

Photo 1. General György Klapka Square in Komárno

Komárno is a relatively small tourist town located on the border of Slovakia and Hungary, which hosted many specialists in the field of computer science, electronics and electrochemistry from June 28, 2023 to June 30, 2023. Workshops held at the János Sely University The 3rd International Workshop on Trends in Electronics and Informatics and the 12th International Workshop on Surface Engineering attracted representatives of research universities from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany and Poland. The group representing the Silesian University of Technology included both students: Hubert Knap, Daniel Szymura, as well as employees and PhD students of the Electrochemistry Group: mgr inż. Weronika Maciak, mgr inż. Aleksander Olesiński, mgr inż. Magdalena Marny and mgr inż. Marta Wala.

Photo 2. Participants of the Workshop in Komárno

During the ongoing workshops, the members of the Silesian University of Technology delegation not only had the opportunity to participate in lectures on, among others, the safety of using self-driving vehicles, the development of artificial intelligence, methods of programming and improving the functionality of materials, but also to present the results of their research to a wider audience:

Photo 3. Hubert Knap “Surface treatment of titanium veterinary implants”

Photo 4. Weronika Maciak “Formation of ceramic-polymer coatings on titanium implants and their stabillity”

Photo 5. Aleksander Olesiński “Influence of current parameters on the properties of the oxide layers formed in the process of plasma electrolytic oxidation”

Photo 6. Magdalena Marny “Synthesis of TiO₂-ZnO coatings by plasma electrolytic oxidation”

Photo 7. Marta Wala “Influence of Zn and Fe addition to NiCu alloy on its electrocatalytic activity towards urea oxidation”

There was also an opportunity to discuss with representatives of individual universities in Europe, or to hear suggestions regarding the next stages of research work.

Photo 8. Courtyard of Europe in Komárno

Apart from the main conference room, each of the workshop participants could broaden their knowledge about the city, its monuments and get to know the biography of János Hugo Bruno Sely, a 20th-century Hungarian endocrinologist, after whom the name of the University was derived. Of course, after such a "history lesson", the trip plan could not miss a walk around the market square, the photographs of which will remind you of the last days of June for a long time.

Photo 9. Fountain in the Courtyard of Europe in Komárno

We congratulate the participants of the workshop on proudly representing the Silesian University of Technology, and we wish all students equally picturesque journeys during the upcoming inter-semester break.

The trip was financed under the CEEPUS 2022/2023 network entitled "Engineering as Communication Language in Europe", whose general goal is to create communication and cooperation between engineers dealing with various fields of science. We cordially encourage you to participate in international trips organized in the European Union.

Fun fact no. 1: Although it has not been officially confirmed, it is very possible that the name of the city of Komárno may refer to the extremely vicious population of mosquitoes (Polish: Komar = Mosquito) in the city - the students had the opportunity to conduct preliminary research on this hypothesis firsthand.

Fun fact no. 2: Despite the fact that the city is located in Slovakia, most of the inhabitants speak Hungarian. Fortunately, when ordering zmrzlinas and hranolkys, there was no dictionary needed.

Fun fact no. 3: Near General György Klapka Square, there is the second smaller Courtyard of Europe with a fountain with an international message - each pavilion present there is modeled on the architecture of a different country. If you ever visit Komárno, don't forget to find this hidden location.

Author: Magdalena Marny