University of Silesia in Katowice

Event Participants

The events of the European City of Science attract significant interest. Their diversity, themes, and engaging formats ensure that everyone can find something of interest. These aren’t just meetings within specific programme streams, conferences, or activities at the Kato Science Corner located by the Katowice Market Square, but also podcasts and social media broadcasts. The events are addressed to all audiences – young and old, students, teachers, those not connected to higher education, and representatives from various professions.

Our research and achievements!

Official materials related to the European City of Science Katowice 2024 are regularly published on the ISSUU platform. These include presentations on ECSK 2024 programme elements in both Polish and English, an information brochure, and details about the Scientific Programme for Silesia.

Of particular note is the publication ‘50 Outstanding Achievements of Silesian Science’, prepared for Polish Science Day. This publication reviews scientific research in various fields and artistic initiatives by researchers and artists from universities within the Academic Consortium – Katowice City of Science over the past decade. These scientific studies and artistic initiatives, and their role in the region’s transformation, are presented across six thematic pathways of the European City of Science Katowice 2024: Health and Quality of Life, Climate and Environment, Industries of the Future, Social Innovations, Industrial and Cultural Heritage, Creation and Criticism.

Find more ECSK 2024 materials here!

Cities Involved

As a result of the efforts undertaken by the City of Katowice and the academic community of the public universities in Katowice, Katowice became the first Central and Eastern European city to receive the title of the European City of Science.

The primary goal of ECSK 2024 is to support and continue the transformation of the region through science, provide its residents with unlimited access to knowledge and turn it into a fundamental instrument for civil dialogue. The goal of the European City of Science is to create a dynamic scientific, technological and educational environment that promotes innovations, intersectoral cooperation and improvement of the quality of life for the local community. One of the local objectives is the revitalisation of the Rawa River section. As part of ECSK 2024, efforts are being made to restore the river and its banks for recreation and as a space for scientific and social experiments. These activities align with the initiative to establish a Green Science Zone in this part of Katowice – a space where the urban and academic fabrics merge, open to all.

Seven public universities in Katowice will create the Network Science Centre based on prepared spaces for exposition and experiment, but mainly connected with the year-round programme offered to the visitors. This is an innovative concept for combining the idea of the science centre where scientific phenomena are explained and promoted with the actual scientific research conducted at our universities.

Key events of ECSK 2024

The events organised as part of the European City of Science are highly diverse. The organisers aim to strike a balance between local, regional, national, and European events. These include author meetings, conferences, cultural and popular science events, performances, concerts, workshops, and scientific walks, all designed for audiences of all ages.

Among the key events from the first half of ECSK 2024 is the European City of Science Katowice 2024 are:

• opening gala, a science-art show titled KATOPOLIS held in the Spodek Arena, which accompanied the launch of the 7th Silesian Science Festival KATOWICE;
• Polish Science Day in the European City of Science Katowice, during which ECSK 2024 representatives participated in debates at the European Parliament in Brussels. This visit was also an opportunity to showcase the exhibition titled ‘Where The Mountains Are Upside Down And Inside Out’ and to present short films coming from the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School at the University of Silesia;
• The EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) international conference;
• The European Talent Fair.

Events dedicated to young audiences are also noteworthy, including competitions held in cooperation with the European Commission: EUCYS (EU Contest for Young Scientists), where young scientists can present their skills, and the EU TalentOn competition, in which participants will develop innovative solutions that can improve people’s quality of life.

Scientific Grants

Science is essential for improving one’s quality of life. Science and education can also become the new industry of the region, supporting and attracting workers and residents from various parts of Poland and beyond. However, to conduct research at the highest level, appropriate funding is necessary, as well as efforts to increase the visibility and standing of universities nationally, across Europe, and globally.

At the University of Silesia, six research programmes have been launched for academic staff, doctoral school students, and students. These programmes include:

• Research Excellence Initiative;
• Visibility of Research Centres in City of Science;
• Creative Horizon in the City of Science;
• Science communication;
• Youth Science;
• Student Research Grants of the European City of Science.