We have concluded Poland’s largest science festival! The ninth edition of the Silesian Science Festival Katowice took place on 6–8 December under the slogan ‘Dare to experiment!’. Once again, the rich and diverse programme included thousands of activities located on more than twenty stages and in thematic zones, all of which encouraged visitors to broaden their knowledge and discover new areas of science. By participating in fascinating lectures, workshops and meetings with invited guests, we were able to stimulate our curiosity, find answers to our questions and experiment in a creative and inventive atmosphere.
Time for an experiment – Night at the City of Science
The 9th ŚFN Katowice opened a special event – Night in the City of Science. For starters, we had the opportunity to attend the ‘Sounds of Knowledge’ concert performed by the Silesian University of Technology Symphony Orchestra. The musicians, led by the outstanding young conductor Miłosz Korpol, took us on a journey through different musical worlds – from classical pieces, through soundtracks from well-known films, to energetic Latin American rhythms.
At 7 p.m., the performance ‘EXPERYMENT’, directed by Piotr Jankowski, began. Together with the artists, we took a look at the fascinating (and terrifying!) world of psychological research ethics – the play is inspired by the famous prison experiment conducted in 1971 by Prof. Philip Zimbardo. As spectators-participants – the boundary was blurred during the performance – we were invited to reflect on the morality of a person forced to function in an oppressive reality. The result will remain in our memories for a long time. The suspenseful spectacle asked universal questions about the nature of good and evil, forcing both the audience and the artists to confront the darkness within us. Excellent acting combined with austere set design and disturbing music and sound made it impossible to remain indifferent to the play.
After the performance, a discussion entitled ‘The limits of certainty – what are we capable of?’ took place, with the participation of Mariola Paruzel-Czachura, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof., Prof. Marcin Zajenkowski, Rafał Cekiera, PhD, Assoc. Prof., and director Piotr Jankowski. The meeting was moderated by Marcin Moroń, PhD.
1st POP Science Congress and Academy of Popular Science Competences
The International Congress Centre also hosted the 1st POP Science Congress, accompanied by the Academy of Popular Science Competences (5–7 December). The events, held under the patronage of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, were aimed at science communicators, as well as people involved in supporting processes and the professional organisation of events promoting knowledge. This year's first edition was a prelude to the establishment of the POP Science Cooperation Network. The focus of the industry meetings and networking sessions was, among other things, to build a programme of joint activities and increase the importance of the community of specialists in the field of science communication. The programme of the Academy of Popular Science Competences included workshops led by distinguished representatives of the world of science, such as Konrad Skotnicki, PhD, Sam Gregson, PhD, David Price, Łukasz Lamża, PhD and Horst Hörtner. The invited guests shared practical methods and strategies for communicating complex scientific content, as well as tips regarding teamwork and creating a safe environment for experimentation in various fields of knowledge.
New and experimental attractions at the 9th ŚFN Katowice
The programme of the ninth edition of the Festival included new, publicly accessible activities, which participants could attend, among others, in the Physical Culture District, the Open Education Room, the Senior Zone, the POP Science Zone, the Future Planning Office, Science Behind the Scenes, as well as on many stages, including the Silesian Hall of Fame Stage, the Rawa Valley Stage, the Mental Health Stage and the I Like Science Stage: Power of Experiments.
This year, new and unique Special Zones awaited the festival audience. In the Film Zone, we could explore the art of cinematography during meetings with outstanding representatives of the world behind the camera – creators of, among others, the series Król and Heweliusz as well as Biała odwaga and Ostatnia rodzina. The Zone's programme also included inspiring discussions on the universality of film language, the significance of major awards and experiments in cinema, as well as the creation of productions for younger audiences. All those interested could also take part in screenings of award-winning titles (Un Chien Andalou, Rabbit à la Berlin, Skarbek i tajemnica magicznego sreberka) and a review of polar films (Do Ziemi Torella, Zimny Ląd, Gorączka polarna).
As part of the Science Fiction Zone, we went on a fascinating journey through the world of science fiction. The stage hosted meetings with well-known and renowned Polish SF writers: Rafał Kosik, Magdalena Salik, Michał Cetnarowski and Michał Protasiuk; respected game experts discussed the complexity of computer game worlds, such as The Alters, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ibru, based on Olga Tokarczuk's novel Anna In the Tombs of the World. Participants could also attend a concert by Bruno Lubas, author of the soundtrack for The Invincible, and the premiere of Mateusz Nowak's book, edited by Prof. Paweł Jędrzejko, featuring previously unpublished interviews with Stanisław Lem, entitled Zdziwienie i interpretacja, czyli literatury uczymy się ciągle. Ze Stanisławem Lemem rozmawia Mateusz Nowak (Surprise and Interpretation, or How We Are Constantly Learning Literature. Mateusz Nowak Interviews Stanisław Lem) (Katowice 2026).
Fascinating activities also took place on the I Like Science Stage: Power of Experiments, organised in cooperation with Tomasz Rożek, PhD. There, we could seek scientific inspiration and explore complex issues under the guidance of renowned researchers, including Agata Kołodziejczyk, PhD (neurobiologist and astrobiologist), Krzysztof Kurdyła (specialist in space technology), Artur B. Chmielewski (scientist, employee of NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California) and Ada Florentyna Pawlak, PhD (anthropologist of technology, lawyer and art historian). The programme of the Stage also included artistic events such as an extraordinary journey through the music of the night sky – the concert ‘Copernicus' Lullabies’. This artistic and educational project combined the worlds of music, science and astronomy into a multidimensional spectacle that delighted with its refined arrangement and masterful performance.
During the 9th ŚFN, we were also able to get closer to the Sun and admire its surface, reproduced with attention to every detail, including sunspots, spicules and filaments. We are, of course, talking about the stunning Helios installation, which hung over the City of Science Market of Ideas – a seven-metre-diameter sculpture that masterfully combined the architecture of the Sun with a spatial sound composition. The project was created by Luke Jerram, author of, among others, the mobile installation Gaia, which we could admire during last year's 8th edition of ŚFN.
Polish journey into space – Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, PhD once again at ŚFN
The Silesian Science Festival in Katowice once again welcomed Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, PhD, the second Polish astronaut in history, who, as a member of the Axiom 4 crew, participated in the IGNIS technological and scientific mission to the International Space Station (25 June–15 July 2025).
The ESA astronaut took part in numerous meetings with the festival audience, during which he talked about his journey into space and the research carried out in orbit (‘Astronaut of the future. Space exploration in the context of the IGNIS mission’). He also took part in a conversation with Artur B. Chmielewski, PhD and Tomasz Rożek, PhD on space technologies and contemporary competition in the context of space exploration (‘Space technologies today: Why do we fly into space and who is leading the global race?’).
Meetings with special guests
An indispensable part of every edition of the Festival is meetings with invited guests representing important scientific and research centres, as well as culture and the arts. This year, we participated in inspiring conversations with representatives of global science, such as Ginny Smith, Sam Gregson, PhD, Katie Steckles, Alex Baker, PhD, Benjamin Still, PhD, Chuma Mbambo-Lado, Kat Phillips, PhD, Prof. Takaharu Tezuka, Goof Buijs, Horst Hoertner, Michael Fowler, Davide Ruzzon, Fiona Zisch, Prof. Norman Davies and Carlos Castañon. The festival activities were also led by an outstanding group of Polish scientists and researchers, including Prof. Katarzyna Kłosińska, Karol Wójcicki, Prof. Irena Lipowicz, Anna Łosiak, PhD, Wojciech Mann, Prof. Maciej Szpunar, Małgorzata Rejmer, Prof. Tadeusz Sławek, Agnieszka Gajewska, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. at the Adam Mickiewicz University, Piotr Jaxa, Zbigniew Rokita, Mariola Paruzel-Czochara, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof., Marta Alicja Trzeciak, Konrad Skotnicki, PhD, Prof. Marcin Zajenkowski and Aleksandra Przegalińska, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. at the Kozminski University.
Competition galas during the 9th ŚFN
During the three days of the Festival, we met the winners of several competitions – both those who have been recognised in the scientific world for years and distinguish winners in the country and internationally, as well as completely new initiatives supporting young, promising science enthusiasts.
On Saturday, 6 December, the POP Science Awards gala was held, recognising outstanding science communicators. This year's winners include: Sebastian Szklarek, PhD (Blog or website), Mateusz Kalisz (Video blog), Piotr Kosek and Leszek Błaszkiewicz, PhD, DSc – creators of the POP Science podcast (Radio broadcast or podcast), Katarzyna Wyrwas, PhD, Assoc. Prof. (Think globally, act locally – scientist and/or lecturer from a university in the Silesian Voivodeship) and Damian Jabłeka (Think globally, act locally – resident of the Silesian Voivodeship). This year, the POP Science Special Award – Outstanding Science Communicator was presented to journalist Jarosław Juszkiewicz and the popular science portal Pulsar.
On Sunday, 7 December, we found out who were the laureates of the Silesian Scientific Award – a distinction awarded to individuals who have made a special contribution to the development of science and art and strengthened the position of Silesian academic centres in Poland and worldwide. In the ‘Employee’ category, the award winners were: Prof. Jolanta Jastrząb (Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Katowice), Marta Nowacka-Chmielewska, MD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. at the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice (Academy of Physical Education in Katowice), Prof. Eng. Rafał Scherer (Częstochowa University of Technology), Janusz Szewczenko, PhD, DSc Eng., Assoc. Prof. at the Silesian University of Technology (Silesian University of Technology), Prof. Maciej Misiołek, MD, PhD (Medical University of Silesia in Katowice), Prof. Maciej Mitręga (University of Economics in Katowice), Izabela Krasiejko, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. at the Jan Długosz University (Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa) and Agata Daszkowska-Golec, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. (University of Silesia in Katowice). The winner in the ‘Doctoral Students’ category was Eliza Gaweł, MA, while the Special Award of the Mayor of Katowice went to Krzysztof Cieślikowski, PhD – both winners represent the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice. The competition jury also honoured Damian Jabłeka, Deputy Director of Planetarium - The Silesian Science Park in Chorzów, who was awarded for his activities for the development of Silesian science, as well as Wojciech Saługa, Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship, Monika Rosa, Member of the Polish Parliament and Senator Halina Bieda, who were honoured for their contributions to Silesian science.
The final of the OFF Science competition also took place on the same day. The aim of the Award is to recognise young inventors and their innovative projects, which lead to the creation of original and practical solutions that have a real impact on our lives. The winning inventions include: BioMata – a smart mat that supports healthy posture, presented by a team consisting of Marek Ples, Sławomir Suchoń, Jessica Otczyk, Damian Stasiak and Mikołaj Opszała (Main Prize); Barania Frania by Witold Holeksa (Special Prize) and Senior Support System created by Piotr Śpiechowicz, Anna Olszak, Kacper Romuk, Emil Pająk and Stanisław Trojan (Audience Award). The competition committee awarded a distinction to the invention Zakładka dla Dziadka (Bookmark for Grandpa) by Natalia and Aleksandra Krajewska.
On Monday, 8 December, we found out who won three competitions aimed at young people – school and university students and innovators – taking their first steps in the world of science. In their projects and initiatives, they successfully combine creative experimentation with creativity, technology and courage in thinking about how to change the present and create a better future.
● sChOOL Science – European Funds for Young People
In the ‘Secondary Schools’ category, first place went to the project ‘From Waste to Waist – items made from bioplastic obrained from waste’ by Anna Buszka and Emilia Kwiecień from the Agricultural Education Centre School Complex in Żarnowiec. Second place went to the project ‘An app for detecting cancerous changes in the oral cavity’ by a team consisting of Oliwia Hikiel, Maja Wronowicz, Natalia Masłowska and Hanna Motyka from the Third Secondary School with Bilingual Classes in Zabrze. The third prize went to the creators of the project ‘Electric Hound 200’ – Dawid Milat, Paweł Klos and Antoni Lorek from the Col. Gwidon Langer Technical School Complex in Cieszyn. The competition jury also awarded two special prizes, which went to Zuzanna Bartoszewska and Magdalena Zjeżdżałka from the I.J. Paderewski Academic Secondary School No. 10 in Katowice for their project ‘Greenery for Generations’ and Amelia Osiecka and Agata Lipka from the Tadeusz Kościuszko Secondary School No. 1 in Mysłowice for their project ‘Joint Lessons’.
In the category of grades V–VIII, the winners of the competition were: Miłosz Kukien and Szymon Krosny from the ŻOREK Private Primary School (project ‘My Smart City’); Zofia Godawa from Primary School No. 1 in Wisła (project ‘The city of cooperation’); Łucja Ciemniewska, Antoni Ciemniewski, Michał Lej and Bartosz Wrzecionka from Primary School No. 1 in Wisła (project ‘Uncorked Vistula River’); Alicja Włodarska and Natalia Wicher from Kornel Makuszyński Primary School No. 3 in Będzin (project ‘City of the Future’) and Szymon Matysiewicz from Alfred Szklarski Primary School No. 29 with Sports Classes in Dąbrowa Górnicza (project ‘Eco-City’).
The winners in the category of grades I–IV include: Ewa Semla from Primary School No. 2 in Gliwice (project ‘Evo Sphere City’); Pola Ziemińska from Henryk Sienkiewicz Primary School No. 21 with Integrated Classes in Gliwice (project ‘Capsules of the Future’); Bartłomiej Kirmes from Primary School No. 3 in Pszczyna (project ‘Ecology – School Playground’); Jakub Januszek from Adam Mickiewicz Primary School No. 2 in Kłobuck (project ‘WIATROMOBIL – vehicle of the future’), and Nina Tomczyk from Henryk Sienkiewicz Primary School No. 21 with Integrated Classes in Gliwice (project ‘Ekusio placusio’).
● Power Teams. Student Project Competition
First place in the competition and the Audience Award went to the SKN Micromechanics team for their project ‘Intelligent systems in motion’ (members: Aleksander Giemza, German Goor, Michał Szadziewski, Jakub Kozłowski, Igor Torbus, Norbert Leśniak; mentor: Jolanta Makowska, PhD, Assoc. Prof.). Second place went to the Hug a Bug team (members: Leonard Bartkowski, Wiktoria Kowolik, Dominika Palinker, Aleksandra Poźniak, Michelle Sitnik, Piotr Wierzbanowski; mentor: Artur Taszakowski, PhD). Third place went to the Hezky česky team for their presentation ‘Let's do it the Czech way!’ (members: Julia Machej, Natalia Jurkowska, Małgorzata Otorowska, Kamila Dróżdż, Karol Federowicz, Dawid Rogus, Magdalena Komraus, Robert Kajstura; mentor: Małgorzata Kalita, PhD, Assoc. Prof.).
● Invent the Future. Katowice – City of Science of the Future
The competition, the theme of which was ‘Smart, Healthy & Human City’, brought together nearly 50 university students who worked for 24 hours in 10 teams on social innovations responding to the challenges of the modern city. The Mentors' Award, as well as the competition victory, went to Team No. 7 – Lucky Future, composed of: Kacper Romanowski, Oliwer Lipok, Gabriel Gola, Łukasz Buryan (supervisor – Agata Hofelmajer-Roś) for the project: ‘Katowice hikikomori and demographic symbiosis’. The Audience Award went to Team No. 9 – Team KOSTKA, composed of Julia Herbuś, Matylda Klos, Artur Szlęzak, Piotr Buczek (supervisor – Weronika Jurczyk) for their project: ‘KOSTKA – Creative Open Zone of Creative Communication and Activity’.
ŚFN accessible to everyone!
The Silesian Science Festival Katowice is always a free and accessible event. During the Festival, facilities were provided for people with disabilities and special needs, including sign language interpretation, hearing assistance technology, spaces accessible to people with physical disabilities and friendly to people on the autism spectrum, as well as assistance for people with disabilities.
The Silesian Science Festival Katowice is a unique platform for social dialogue through science, as well as a place to develop passions and discover the richness of various fields of knowledge. Thank you for joining us in creating one of the largest events of its kind in Europe!
See the photo reports from each day of the Festival!
Detailed information about ŚFN Katowice can be found on our website and social media – you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Moreover, be sure to subscribe to the ‘Supernova’ newsletter and fill out a short survey about your impressions of the 9th edition of ŚFN Katowice.
The 9th Silesian Science Festival Katowice was organised by: University of Silesia in Katowice (leader and initiator of the event), City of Katowice (host city of the event), Metropolis GZM and Silesian Voivodeship (co-hosts), as well as Silesian University of Technology, University of Economics in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Katowice, and Częstochowa University of Technology.
Task financed by the Minister of Science and Higher Education. The project was co-financed from the budget of Metropolis GZM and the budget of the Silesian Voivodeship.
The Main Sponsor of the Festival is PKO Bank Polski. The Gold Sponsors are Tauron Polska Energia S.A. and iStudies by iSpot. The Gold Partners are the Łukasiewicz Research Network and the ING for Children Foundation. The Silver Partners are Lasy Państwowe (State Forests) and Scanmed S.A. The Bronze Sponsor is PZU. The Bronze Partners are ORLEN S.A.,
Koleje Śląskie, National Centre for Research and Development, Research and Academic Computer Network – National Research Institute (NASK), Teala. Strategic partners and main media patrons are: Polityka, Wiedza i Życie, Świat Nauki and Pulsar. Radio Katowice is the main regional media patron. Content partners are Jagiellonian University, Centre for Cooperation and Dialogue at the University of Warsaw, Copernicus Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies at the Jagiellonian University, Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute, Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Silesian Library, Silesian Museum, Planetarium – The Silesian Science Park, University of Silesia Press, Śląsk Scientific Publishing House, Powergraph Publishing House, Stronnicza Bookshop, Nauka.To Lubię! Foundation, Blisko Ciebie Foundation, Stoma Life Foundation, Poznawcza Foundation, Art Intelligence Institute Foundation, Scanmed S.A., Audica Polska, Pulsar, Granatowe Góry | Jerzy Pilch Word Festival, Krakow Film Festival. Partners of the event are: NDI, Foundation for the Development of Education, GAZ-SYSTEM S.A., Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, Chemical World, Kleks – Magia Kina, Do dzieła. Mobile Art and Sensory Workshop, Space Education Base – KoBae, Malowisko, 1000 Blocks Creativity Centre by Bricks4kidz, GIBUSIOLANDIA, SUPER GIGANCI Private Primary School.
The media patrons of the event are: National Geographic, PAP Nauka w Polsce (Science in Poland), Forum Akademickie, Radio 357, TVP Info, TVP3 Katowice, Dziennik Zachodni, Gazeta Wyborcza , wKatowicach.eu, Radio ESKA, Radio Bielsko, Radio Express, Radio eM, Gość Niedzielny, Świerszczyk Children’s Magazine, Ultramaryna, University of Silesia Magazine and Egida Student Radio.
Honorary patrons of the festival were: Minister of Science and Higher Education, Minister of National Education, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Minister of Climate and Environment, Minister of Development and Technology, President of the Polish Academy of Sciences, President of the Polish Patent Office, National Centre for Research and Development, Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Polish Space Agency POLSA, President of the Foundation for Polish Science, Marshall of the Silesian Voivodeship, Chair of Metropolis GZM, Mayors of Katowice, Częstochowa, Sosnowiec, Bielsko-Biała, Gliwice, Zabrze, Bytom, Chorzów, Rybnik and Cieszyn.