A supply of knowledge and inspiration for the entire year. The 23rd Olsztyn Science and Art Days took place at the University of Warmia and Mazury
As every year, the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn has prepared a rich program of workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and other events proving that science is a great adventure and that there is an artist in all of us. The Olsztyn Science and Art Days began on September 25th and lasted three days. As every year, the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn has prepared a rich programme of workshops, lectures, demonstrations and other events showing that science is a great adventure and that there is an artist in all of us. The Olsztyn Days of Science and Art began on 25 September and lasted three days. For over 20 years, the arrival of crowds of young people in Kortowo (university campus) has been the surest sign that the Olsztyn Days of Science and Art are about to begin. This year was no different: on Thursday morning (25 September), the UWM campus was already hosting numerous groups of pre-schoolers as well as primary and secondary school students from Olsztyn and other towns in the region. Workshops: learning at your fingertips Representatives from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, among others, invited participants into their classrooms, offering workshops where attendees learned how landscape architects choose colours, where they draw inspiration, and how they apply this knowledge when designing green spaces. During other workshops (‘Let’s Protect Our Weeds’), participants discovered that plants we usually uproot, ignore or eradicate can be guardians of biodiversity, natural habitats for insects and… inspiration for artists and scientists. Meanwhile, faculty from the Department of Chemistry argued that ‘Every acid has its base’, and offered a series of colourful experiments and demonstrations. On Friday, the Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, specifically the Department of Animal Genetics, hosted a workshop for students aged 16 and over entitled “Discover the Secrets Written in Your Genes”, during which participants had the opportunity to carry out a genetic test themselves. “We use a simplified genetic-material isolation procedure, similar to the one used when registering for the bone-marrow donor database. Participants scrape epithelial cells with a brush, transfer the collected material to a test tube with a special liquid, heat it for ten minutes, and in this way obtain genetic material for simple single- or double-gene tests. Secondary-school students take part in the workshops, so, unlike university students, they do not, for example, have to prepare reagent mixes; these are ready for them. They simply insert the material into the device, which performs the analysis automatically,’ explains Dr Kamil Oleński, who co-led the workshop. Dr hab. Paweł Brym, a professor at the University of Warmia and Mazury, adds: “Students take two types of tests, and behind each lie two “secrets”: one is colloquially called “Can you be infected with HIV?” and the other is “Do you have the gene for addiction?” As you might imagine, students’ reactions vary depending on the results [laughter].” Both lecturers assured the group that the results were kept confidential, so each participant could decide whether to share them with their peers. The Department of Beekeeping at the University highlighted how important and beneficial pollinators are. During the workshop ‘People for Bees – Bees for People, or Life Sweetened with Honey’, participants learned about the structure and organisation of a bee colony, observed worker bees at work and saw a queen bee. There were also hands-on activities: everyone could make their own beeswax candle and bake honey gingerbread biscuits. The organisers also planned a sweet tasting, with honey available for anyone interested. The Food Science Department also served up something sweet, with sessions on the secrets of chocolate, among other topics. During the workshops, young explorers saw how chocolate is made from cocoa beans. They also had the chance to make their own chocolates and decorate them as they wished. Scientists from the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology discussed how to support the body, deliciously and effectively, in combating excessive oxidative stress. At the same faculty, participants also learned about brain function and the dangers of microplastics. The Faculty of Technical Sciences provided a true feast for science and technology enthusiasts. There were demonstrations of 3D printing, as well as experiments with electricity and chemical reactions. The workshop, titled ‘Idea Factory’, was led by Karolina Łabanowska, a graduate of two programmes at the Faculty of Technical Sciences, currently pursuing a third (logistics engineering) and a PhD candidate. Participants were immersed in the world of modern manufacturing technologies, learning how 3D printing works using FDM and SLA technologies, how precise laser engraving can be, and how three-dimensional forms can be created using a 3D pen. “We painted the engraved details with acrylic paints and coated the printed pendants with varnish. The children were very intrigued and said it was the best workshop they’d ever attended,” said Karolina Łabanowska. The Faculty of Economics encouraged young entrepreneurs to build their own company. Participants were tasked with devising a product, logo, name and mission, and pitching the idea to the group. There are no good ideas without a well-tuned brain. Representatives from the Faculty of Social Sciences had participants put theirs through a workout. While tackling the tasks, the children learned about the properties of the brain and how to take care of their ‘command centre’. On Thursday morning, the Faculty of Humanities offered, among other things, a lecture on Jan Kasprowicz’s “Dies irae”, while the Foreign Languages Centre invited students to learn about the superheroes of Antiquity. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine invited anyone fascinated by the world of pharmacy to a session in the pharmacy. Workshop participants had the opportunity to make their own moisturising vitamin ointments and to familiarise themselves with pharmacy equipment used to prepare suppositories, emulsions, suspensions, solutions and prescription powders. Representatives from the Faculty of Law and Administration invited participants to take a closer look at crime. During forensic-science workshops, attendees assumed the role of experts, analysing traces and evidence and exploring how the human mind responds when confronted with criminal mysteries. The Faculty of
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