On 6 and 7 May, the twelfth edition of the National Science Centre (NCN) Days will take place in Katowice. We invite you to join us in celebrating and discussing the impact of the National Science Centre’s presence in the science funding system on the quality of research conducted in Polish institutions. This year marks the Centre’s 15th anniversary.
The National Science Centre Days are held annually in a different academic city in Poland. The two-day event is filled with meetings, workshops, and discussions about science in Poland and research funding.
We invite scientists, decision-makers in the field of science, administrative staff for research projects, research data managers, PhD students, and students planning to pursue their research careers after completing their undergraduate and graduate studies. The National Science Centre Days are an opportunity for a broad, open, and inspiring meeting of all those involved in developing Poland’s scientific potential.
Programme of the 2026 National Science Centre Days
Discussion panels
The official portion of this year’s National Science Centre Days will feature four open discussion panels. Registration for the events is not required, and admission is free.
6 May, 10.00 a.m.: The Limits of Cognition: Does Courage in Research Pay Off?
A panel dedicated to the tension between security and breakthroughs in science. The discussion will focus on the extent to which grant mechanisms encourage research risk-taking and the extent to which they may reward predictability. Participants will consider whether current project evaluation models support research courage, the real costs of intellectual hedging, and whether room for failure is essential for the development of science.
Moderator: Agnieszka Turska-Kawa, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof.; University of Silesia
Participants:
- Prof. Krzysztof Jóźwiak, National Science Centre
- Prof. Ryszard Koziołek, University of Silesia
- Prof. Michał Krzysztofik, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice
- Anna Malinowska, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof.; University of Silesia
- Agata Daszkowska-Golec, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof.; University of Silesia
Place: Lecture hall of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Silesia, ul. Uniwersytecka 4, Katowice
6 May, 12.15 p.m.: Quality – an Inherent Feature of Science
A panel discussion on the quality of scientific research. The starting point will be a consideration of what freedom means in terms of addressing research topics and what determines whether research is basic or applied. Panel participants will discuss the role of the National Science Centre in supporting research quality and the quality of its publication. They will discuss what expert review actually means at the National Science Centre, the difference between formal and content deficiencies in the evaluation process, and the options available to applicants whose projects have not received funding. This discussion will focus on what we can do now, using the tools we already have, to truly support the quality of science in Poland.
Participants:
- Prof. Mariola Łaguna, Council of the National Science Centre, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
- Alicja Kazek-Kęsik, PhD, DSc Eng. Assoc. Prof. of Silesian University of Technology, Council of the National Science Centre, Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice
- Prof. Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk, Council of the National Science Centre, University of Silesia
- Łukasz Michalczyk, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. of Jagiellonian University, Council of the National Science Centre, Jagiellonian University
The meeting was prepared by the Council of the National Science Centre. It will culminate in a competition on knowledge about the National Science Centre, with prizes.
6 May, 2.45 p.m.: The Limits of Responsibility: Research Ethics Under the Pressure of Results
A panel discussion on the tension between productivity pressures and ethical responsibility in research. The starting point will be the growing number of article retractions and cases of data manipulation, plagiarism, and “optimising” results for the point system. Participants will discuss how the culture of evaluation influences researchers’ daily decisions, the line between strategic action and abuse, and what institutional mechanisms can protect scientific integrity. This is a discussion about trust: whether the reward system promotes research quality or inadvertently rewards behaviours that undermine it.
Moderator: Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski, University of Silesia
Participants:
- Tomasz Dietl, Council of the National Science Centre
- Patrycja Rudnicka, PhD, Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Katowice
- Sebastian Werle, Silesian University of Technology
- Michał Tomaszek, Scientific Information Centre and Academic Library (CINiBA), University of Silesia
- Marlena Jankowska, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof., University of Silesia
Place: Lecture hall of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Silesia, ul. Uniwersytecka 4, Katowice
7 May, 2.00 p.m.: Between Passion and Burnout: The Invisible Costs of Success. How to Counteract Burnout in the Academic World? The Everyday Life of a Scientist
A scientific career is often based on passion, ambition, and a constant curiosity about the world. At the same time, it is associated with productivity pressures, competitiveness, funding uncertainty, and a blurring of the boundaries between work and personal life. This session invites reflection on the less visible costs of academic success and ways to build long-term satisfaction from research without sacrificing health and energy. Panel participants will examine the specific cognitive and emotional demands of research, the culture of “constant achievement,” and the pitfalls of perfectionism. Practical strategies for protecting well-being will be discussed, including: energy management, setting boundaries at work, micro-regeneration, realistic planning, and building supportive professional relationships. Researchers will also share their experiences. The National Science Centre will present mechanisms and facilities supporting employee well-being in projects, as well as options for managing unexpected events.
Moderator: Agnieszka Bielska-Brodziak, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof.
- Prof. Maciej Nowak, University of Economics in Katowice
- Prof. Oskar Kowalski, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice
- Katarzyna Więcek-Jakubek, HR department, University of Silesia
- Anna Wiktor, PhD, National Science Centre
Place: SpinPLACE, ul. Bankowa 5, Katowice
The recording of the discussion during the official part of the National Science Centre Days on 6 May will be available on the National Science Centre’s YouTube channel after the event.
Workshops and training sessions
The National Science Centre Days also feature workshops and training sessions. In Katowice, during nine workshop sessions, we will meet with scientists planning to submit applications, staff responsible for the administrative support of research projects at individual institutions, and those interested in research data management. We also invite you to participate in online training for applicants conducted regularly by National Science Centre’s discipline coordinators, online training related to open science, and webinars for administrative staff, which take place on average quarterly. We also recommend #NCNpodcasts, in which we discuss important issues for science in Poland, and inspiring conversations with scientists representing the #NCNgeneration, prepared to celebrate the National Science Centre’s 15th anniversary.
MORE INFORMATION
National Science Centre Days programme
National Science Centre Days announcement