Scientists from the University of Silesia, Jerzy Jarosz, PhD, Associate Professor from the Institute of Physics, Małgorzata Karolus, PhD, DSc, Associate Professor, and Izabela Matuła, MSc Eng. from the Institute of Materials Engineering, represented the Silesian Science Festival KATOWICE during the Silesian Regional Week in the Polish Pavilion - an exhibition promoting our country at Expo 2020 in Dubai. Between 27 January and 2 February, employees of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Silesia conducted there a series of workshops for children.
Prof. Jarosz conducted a design and construction workshop “Space Mice - Build and Launch Your Own Rocket”, where participants were able to build various types of rockets, saucers, and flying objects (and then “launch” them using various launchers) and also made passengers for the vehicles - friendly Space Mice made of paper. Prof. Karolus and Matuła, MSc, conducted the workshops “Renewable energy sources” and “Urbanisation and metropolisation of the region - building materials throughout the centuries”, which were carried out under the common title “Become an engineer with the University of Silesia”. During the workshops, children built a selected device, vehicle or building – the more creative ones could design their object from the scratch, prepare the appropriate elements on their own and put together the model, while the less advanced and younger ones could use ready-made and previously prepared sets. Detailed descriptions of the workshops are available HERE and HERE.
“We were visited by children from such countries as Belgium, China, the Netherlands, India, Ireland, Japan, Canada, Columbia, Oman, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA, Italy and, of course, the United Arab Emirates, and some of them even came back to visit us several times”, says Prof. Małgorzata Karolus. “Many people thanked us for preparing such creative activities for children.” We also heard that we were one of the few, if not the only pavilion at that time, which prepared activities for children of different ages. For us, however, the greatest praise and the kindest thanks were the happy faces of the children and their genuine happiness after launching their own self-made rocket into the sky and the pride with which they presented their hand-built house with a well and a farm.”
Photo by the Marshall Office of the Silesian Voivodeship
Prof. Ryszard Koziołek, Rector of the University of Silesia, General Director of ŚFN, and Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski, Vice-Rector for International and Domestic Cooperation, were also part of the University of Silesia delegation to the Dubai Expo 2021. On Sunday, 30 January, they took part in the economic conference “Silesia - Land of Opportunity. Gateway to Europe”, during which representatives of the Silesian Voivodship talked with business representatives from the United Arab Emirates.
On the same day, the 30th Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity took place.
“Poles working in the Polish Pavilion in Dubai promoted the work of the Orchestra as much as it was possible. Due to the law in force in the emirate, we were not able to raise money, however, we distributed hearts and told people from outside our country about the idea of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity” says Prof. Małgorzata Karolus.
AAnd what else attracted the attention of visitors to the Polish Pavilion during the Silesian Regional Week? Chopin concerts (as Prof. Karolus comments: “A certain Syrian man attended every single one!”), performances by Teatr Gry i Ludzie, dance performances and workshops of the “Śląsk” ensemble, a fashion show, i.e. a collection of clothes handcrafted by Koniaków lace makers, delicious dishes served by the famous chef Remigiusz Rączka, as well as an exhibition showing the profiles of world-famous Poles (including, among others, an array of our best climbers, headed by Jerzy Kukuczka and Krzysztof Wielicki).On 2 February, the Polish Pavilion was visited by Princess Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan bin Mohammed bin Hasher Al Maktoum. Her family is headed by Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktum – the Emir of Dubai and the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. Sheikha Mozah is the first member of the Royal Family to fly as a qualified commercial pilot for Emirates Airlines.
Photos from the event are available HERE.
