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 Geoengineering offered young and curious individuals the opportunity to expand their knowledge of gypsum, not just as a building material. During the workshops, each child made their own casts, which they could decorate according to their individual preferences. The same faculty also encouraged them to explore the world of modern geography! During the interactive meeting, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR – the most famous app is PokémonGo), 3D cinema, and hologram technologies were presented.
Kortosphere, the headquarters of ODNiS
Kortosphere (PL: Kortosfera), the main organiser of the event, offered a wide range of attractions throughout the day. It was almost as if there were so many that they spilled beyond the building’s walls. Besides exploring the exhibitions, visitors to the University’s science outreach centre could take part in the “Superfoods” laboratory and investigate the hidden ingredients of popular foods for themselves. They could also watch rescue demonstrations and visit a mobile planetarium.
“The 23rd Olsztyn Science and Art Days are underway, and Kortosphere is packed, primarily with young people of all ages,’ says Mateusz Pikuliński, director of the Kortosphere Centre for the Promotion of Science and Innovation. ‘We’ve prepared première workshops on “Superfoods”, physics and chemistry demonstrations; you can see a Rubens’ tube, and there’s a lot happening at the Foucault pendulum – where even a flame occasionally appears. We also want to raise the topic of safety, so in cooperation with the Gietrzwałd Volunteer Fire Department we organised a rescue demonstration in the car park in front of the building, including cutting through a car body. Inside, we discuss how to administer first aid and how to react in the event of a fire,” explains Mateusz Pikuliński.
The director of Kortosphere could be found at ODNiS in the distinctive company of a robot dog, which drew a great deal of interest. As Mateusz Pikuliński notes, this shows the need to talk about new technologies and about what the future will look like – much less distant than it might seem at first glance.
‘The robot is designed to move without colliding with anyone. It can be used for tasks such as mapping rooms. It can also be programmed with various other functionalities, although from experience we know that at events like this we cannot use all of them, as it could be dangerous – both for participants and for the robot itself. However, I know it well enough to demonstrate a few of its impressive features,’ explains the head of Kortosphere.
From TikTok to UWM: a lecture starring a banana
The organisers also invited a special guest to Olsztyn: doktor_z_tiktok, aka Dr Konrad Skotnicki. He is a science communicator who covers topics related to science, space, climate education and ecology. He holds a PhD in chemistry and worked for many years at a research institute, studying potential anti-cancer drugs. Online, he talks about space, the difference between look-alike ingredients (such as chives and spring onions), and why Napoleon didn’t know about dinosaurs. He spoke to participants of the Olsztyn Science and Art Days about what he considers the best fruit: the banana.
“The history of the banana is absolutely fascinating. Very few people realise how popular the banana is. Of all the fruits in the world, bananas are the most consumed. They have created and toppled kingdoms, especially at the turn of the 20th century, as they were the economic backbone of countries in Central America. Bananas have sparked wars and are likely the first plant domesticated by humans – records of their cultivation date back over 7,000 years!”’– argued Konrad Skotnicki.
n an interview with ‘Wiadomości Uniwersyteckie’, Dr Konrad Skotnicki spoke about his beginnings as a science influencer. He said he had been absorbing popular-science content from an early age and that, to this day, one of his favourite pastimes is watching science-popularising videos from abroad on YouTube. His motivation to try something completely new was – as for many creative people – the pandemic and lockdown.
“I was still working at a research institute as a scientist at the time, but I spontaneously decided to record a TikTok about an interesting fact from elementary-particle physics – something seemingly uninteresting. I uploaded the video and it immediately got a lot of views, given it was my first science TikTok. So I figured people liked it, and the next day I recorded a video about why eyes are blue even though there’s no blue pigment in them. That video went on to garner several hundred thousand views. And here I am, posting popular-science content almost every day for several years now,” said doktor_z_tiktoka.
Konrad Skotnicki admits that although, on the internet, you need to attract audiences, you should take care not to cross the fine line between popularising science and offering far-fetched or even false information.
“Clickbait has to have some substance, and it also has to be grounded in science – it can’t simply be untrue. I believe it’s important that the hook serves as a starting point for telling a broader story or explaining a complex mechanism. I don’t like tidbits such as “If you stretched human DNA, it would reach from here to the Moon 500 times.” From that, you can only conclude that DNA is long – and that’s it. I prefer to start with this kind of fact and then talk about it in more detail,’ he explained, adding that Kortowo and Kortosphere, as well as the ongoing Olsztyn Science and Art Days, made a very good impression on him. ‘This is my first time at Kortosphere, and I think it’s my second time in Olsztyn. I walked from the railway station and I have to say the city is wonderful, and Kortowo, your academic town, is very green and friendly. Along the way, I passed numerous groups of children with their teachers who were delighted to be able to touch science and experiment.”
We also taste with our brains – so taste is an illusion
On the second day at ODNiS Kortosphere, another well-known science populariser was hosted: Adam Ogrodny, who runs the ‘Żółty krzeseł’ channel on YouTube and TikTok. His lecture, held by the Foucault pendulum, was titled ‘The Psychology of Taste: How the Brain Seasons Reality’.
“I spoke about how taste is only an interpretation of reality, not reality itself. It’s not just our taste buds that determine what we feel when we eat or drink, but the entire range of senses that “consume” along with us,” Adam Ogrodny told “Wiadomości Uniwersyteckie”, adding that the topic for his talk came to him spontaneously. “I learned that the theme of this year’s Olsztyn Science and Art Days is nutrition, and that’s how I came up with the idea. The truth is I’d wanted to explore this topic for some time, so this was a great opportunity.”
Adam studied logistics and big-data analysis but, as he admits, he did not want to pursue those professions.
“The road to what I do was long and bumpy [laughter]. I realised I was taking classes out of curiosity rather than to build a career in the subjects I studied. So I decided to explore the world the way I like – and share it with others. I enjoy doing this in different formats, and I try to inspire my audience through that. I really enjoy popularising science.”
The ODNiS guest also explained why he decided to publish on both YouTube and TikTok.
“I chose these two platforms because they’re different, use different formats and, therefore, allow content to be delivered in different ways. I started with YouTube—and it’s true you can say more there—but with TikTok we can reach completely different audiences, and do so much faster,” Adam Ogrodny concluded.
At the stand with microscopes and binoculars, we met Olga Kosewska, a laboratory technician from Kortosphere, who showed participants various superfoods.
“With my help, the children taking part in ODNiS examined nutrient-rich foods such as walnuts and carrots – and, to their greatest surprise, edible insects. What I saw on their faces was, above all, curiosity and often amazement at how things looked under magnification. I think it’s a great event because, alongside having fun, the children also gained knowledge – in this case about foods that have a positive impact on people,” said Olga Kosewska.
Meanwhile, Urszula Grykin, also a laboratory technician at Kortosphere, led workshops on functional foods.
“We’re explaining the difference between superfoods and ordinary foods. Participants carry out five experiments in which they can, among other things, detect health-promoting substances in items such as green tea or parsley. Interest is very high, especially as the topic of functional foods is currently so hot,” she explained.
Educational mini-town, or how a doctor and a firefighter work
It’s safe to say that most of us dreamed of being a firefighter or a doctor as children. Thanks to the Olsztyn Days of Science and Art, what was once the realm of imagination could, at least for a moment, become reality. At the miniciti station, you could feel like a surgeon preparing for an operation or a firefighter extinguishing a blaze.
“We offer visitors a short firefighter training session, while in the hospital setting we have three tasks: measuring blood pressure in the traditional way; disinfecting hands before surgery using a special fluorescent liquid that indicates areas requiring cleaning; and learning anatomy on a dummy,” says Gabriela Pufalska from miniciti.
The educational children’s town came to Olsztyn with only a fraction of what it normally offers, but by talking to its staff one could learn more about its activities, which are based on learning through experience.
“Besides teaching children specific professions, one of our most important goals is financial education. This includes things like using a payment card or making purchasing decisions,” explains Gabriela Pufalska, praising Kortosphere and the ODNiS initiative. “I’m amazed that UWM has its own science centre – it’s a wonderful initiative, and I congratulate your University on it. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit with my entire team, and I must admit, I was most impressed by the tractor (laughter). ODNiS is a wonderful event – you can see the children are very interested and having a great time here.”
Students visiting Kortosphere emphasised that each floor of the building hides different curiosities.
“I’m here on a class trip for the second time. It’s really cool. I like the chickens you can step on and they go to their pen, and I also like the different smells, like the smell of pigs,” said Michalina, a Year 1 pupil from Primary School No. 9 in Olsztyn.
“I saw this huge tractor here, which I’ll paint at home because I love drawing. This is my first time here and I really like it,” added her friend Lena.
Slightly older visitors, like Kamila, an eighth-year pupil from Primary School No. 311 in Olsztyn, also found something interesting for themselves.
“I really like it here, although I think younger children might enjoy it even more. Everything is very well planned, and it’s definitely worth coming every year. Today I took part in a biology and chemistry workshop about food. I also had the opportunity to design the T-shirt I’m wearing now,” she said.
Art and knowledge in one package, i.e. the theater in Kortowo
For the younger ODNiS participants, the professional Krakow theatre Kultureska was invited to Kortowo to present a theatrical performance titled “Granie na staganie”, an interactive vitamin concert for children. Audience members enjoyed a unique performance inspired by a poem by Jan Brzechwa. Children could see themselves reflected in the characters as if in a mirror and learn that “everything natural must be imperfect.” The performance touched on healthy eating and healthy daily ecological habits.
The second day of ODNiS also featured a theatrical experience. This time, it was provided by the Igraszka puppet theater from Warsaw, which presented a performance titled “Magic Honey” at the Faculty of Humanities .
“Besides its artistic value, this story also has an educational aspect regarding ecology and health. We address issues such as forest pollution and healthy eating. And after the performance, because puppet theater is an increasingly rare form of entertainment these days, we showed the children the puppets up close – they could touch and move them,” says Paweł Kołodziejski from the Igraszka Theatre, adding that the Olsztyn audience was very grateful, and that theater performances as part of the Olsztyn Days of Science and Art work very well.
“The atmosphere was good, the children reacted at the right moments and in the right way. For example, when a snake hissed, they got scared, making a characteristic sound, and when we emerged from behind the screen with the dolls, the surprise on the faces of the youngest ones, especially the ones who saw the dolls not moving on their own, was evident (laughter). The show definitely holds its own as one of the attractions of this science festival. We had a lot of fun performing“, added Paweł Kołodziejski.
Kortowo is not enough. Olsztyn full of science and art
It’s worth noting that engaging activities and lectures were held not only on the UWM campus. Representatives of the Faculty of Medicine, for example, invited participants to their headquarters at 30 Warszawska Avenue to demonstrate how biofeedback can be used to control certain bodily functions. Participants were asked to try altering their emotional state to influence skin temperature and heart rate, and then use biofeedback to determine whether this increased the effectiveness of conscious control. University affiliates, such as the State Archives and MultiCentrum , also organized events for participants of the Olsztyn Days of Science and Art.
Science is Everywhere: the Grand Finale at Galeria Warmińska
After two intense and fascinating days on the University of Warmia and Mazury campus, the Olsztyn Science and Art Days moved to the Warmińska Gallery. Everyone who attended the festival, whether intentionally or by chance, could enjoy attractions prepared by the Kortosphere Centre for the Popularisation of Science and Innovation (workshops, Mars rovers, a mobile exhibition), as well as workshops led by UWM scientists, dance demonstrations and workshops, physics and chemistry demonstrations, and a meeting with “Aleksandra and Piotr Stanisławski”, science journalists and authors of the popular-science blog “Crazy Nauka”. They captivated the audience with a presentation entitled “Once Upon a Time!” – about myths surrounding old foods and often deceptive nostalgia. Later, they were available for behind-the-scenes conversations or to take the ever-popular selfie.
Paradoxically, the desire to put down our smartphones and log off for a moment was evident in the huge popularity of the ecological-postcard workshops run by the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.
“Everyone could create a personalised postcard and then send it to friends or take it home as a souvenir. We made them using silicone and traditional stamps. The postcards featured mainly plant motifs—for example, flowerbeds with edible plants, which allude to the theme of this year’s ODNiS,” explained “Dr Mariusz Antolak” from the Department of Landscape Architecture in an interview with UWM FM Radio. But that was not all that Kortowo’s landscape architects offered on Saturday.
“We also presented an exhibition from the European campaign ‘Our Food, Our Future’, which the Landscape Foundation implemented several years ago to encourage the purchase of local food. We also talked about edible trees and insects, among other things,” added “Dr Eng. Antolak”.
The ever-reliable Kortosphere prepared an engaging programme, with visitors arriving at their stands even before 10:00 a.m., ahead of the official opening. The youngest participants took part with great curiosity, including in chemistry experiments.
“We prepared a set of chemical experiments using both reagents derived from everyday foods and those produced in the laboratory. The youngest participants performed oxidation–reduction reactions in a way that made the colour changes clearly visible. The experiments are complex, but we strive to make sure children have no difficulty understanding what is happening,” explained “Katarzyna Złotkowska”, a laboratory technician at Kortosphere.
Educator Bartosz Bałdyga, in turn, admitted that Kortosfera has significantly improved its skills in presenting its offerings outside its headquarters. This was influenced by, among other things, summer campaigns on the “Summer with Radio and TVP” tour and its presence at the Olsztyn Green Festival. All of this contributes to the increased recognition of the Kortosfera science center.
“During all three days of ODNiS, there was a huge interest in what we had to offer. We were visited by many random people – gallery customers – as well as those who already knew us, even from our outreach events. During the summer, we traveled all over Poland, so I think our brand is becoming increasingly recognizable. I must admit that all these experiences have improved our team’s skills in working outdoors and in communicating with a wide audience” said Bartosz Bałdyga.
The 23rd Olsztyn Science and Art Days have become history, and the grand finale at the Warmińska Gallery proved that science and art do not have to be confined to laboratories or theatre halls.
“I think the best proof that ODNiS has found its place in the shopping mall is that the laboratory reagents ran out faster than the entire event. On Saturday, we were visited by residents of Olsztyn and the surrounding region of all ages, with various professions, often unrelated to science or education. This shows that this format should be continued in the future”, Mateusz Pikuliński told Radio UWM FM .
The director of Kortosphere admitted that inviting science popularizers known from the internet was a bull’s eye.
“I thought the number of people who visited Kortowo on Thursday was very large, but what happened on Friday at Kortosphere, near the UWM University Library and Conference Center, exceeded our wildest expectations. Crowds of students of all ages strolled through Kortowo. I think the program, enriched by well-known scientific influencers, attracted the attention of slightly older youth, and I must admit, that was very important to us,” said Mateusz Pikuliński, promising that further innovations would be prepared next year.
“We’re tired, but very happy. I hope we’ll recover quickly and return soon with new proposals. As for the Olsztyn Days of Science and Art, we intend to expand their format even further next year. We want to reach as many residents of Olsztyn and the surrounding area as possible. We recognize the need for departments to get out into the open, as evidenced by today’s event at Galeria Warmińska.”
This year’s ODNiS was held under the slogan: “We Eat Knowledge“. The event offered an opportunity for an interdisciplinary look at science and art through the lens of nutrition, health, ecology, and innovative technologies. The program was divided into five thematic panels: Earth (natural sciences, ecology, geography, climate change, renewable energy sources), health (nutrition, dietetics, medicine, sport and recreation), society (social sciences, economics, politics, law, media and communication), art (theater, film, music, dance, literature, graphic arts, painting), and technology (mathematics, computer science, engineering, technical sciences, energy).
dbp, mw
