“Experiment is older than science. The only thing older than experiment is curiosity—the first and most important characteristic of the human species, responsible for our drive to know everything”. This is the point of view of Prof. Ryszard Koziołek—General Director of the Silesian Science Festival Katowice, Rector of the University of Silesia. See how experimenting can manifest itself in our everyday life and how we can perceive it.
“An experiment is the implementation of curiosity, helpful especially when the real object of our curiosity is too far away, too big, too small, too fast, or when we do not know what it is or whether it exists at all. When we do not have the right tools to measure the circumference and weight of the Earth, the speed of light and sound, the laws of inheritance, the navigation of bees, or the communication of trees, we conduct experiments. Especially when, apart from curiosity, we have our suspicions, a hunch, an intuition, an idea, a hypothesis, and finally a theory. Although all sciences today use experimental methods to test theories, each of us experiments as well. Since childhood we have been checking, testing, modelling, forecasting: Is it hot? Will it withstand my weight? What will they do if I say this? Maybe this will encourage them to read it? Let's try this…
We experiment not only out of curiosity, but also out of caution. Experiments prepare us for the unknown, especially for what may turn out to be dangerous and threatening, for disease, drought, floods, famine, pollution, or depletion of energy sources. But also for what kind of job we want to do; what we like, what we can do, what we are skilled at. We experiment to avoid unnecessary risks.
If today we are looking for an answer to the question of what is the best thing that school and academic education can give to children and youth, the answer is: daring them to experiment”.
And it is that slogan—”Dare to experiment!”—which will accompany us during the upcoming 9th edition of the Silesian Science Festival Katowice, taking place from 6 to 8 December. Be sure to share your ideas for festival activities and take part in the recruitment for the programme of the 9th ŚFN—submit experimental proposals that combine various fields of science and methods of its communication. You can submit your proposals until Monday, 31 March. Dare to look at the world from a new point of view!
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