Marcin Kulasek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, visited the University of Silesia in Katowice on 23 April 2026.
Hosted at spinPLACE, the meeting was attended by representatives of the university authorities of the University of Silesia, as well as regional and local government authorities, including the Marshall of the Silesian Voivodeship, the Mayor of Katowice and a representative of the Metropolis GZM.
The discussion revolved around the concept of creating a space settlement simulation centre on the site of the ‘Wujek’ Coal Mine. The initiative has been launched by Dr Tomasz Rożek, the ‘Nauka. To lubię’ Foundation and the University of Silesia in Katowice; it involves using post-mining sites for research in areas including space technology, extreme environments and innovative future solutions. The centre has the potential to become a unique space for simulating conditions beyond Earth and developing technologies to support space exploration. With the help of Silesia’s strong research background, Poland can now take its place in the global race for innovation.
