From 20 to 22 February 2024, as part of the Polish Science Day in the European City of Science Katowice 2024, representatives of the Academic Consortium Katowice City of Science will be visiting the European Parliament.
Two debates are scheduled for 20 February. The first one, devoted to the topic of science and education as the main instrument of regional transformation, based on the example of Silesia, will be led by Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski, Vice-Rector for International and Domestic Cooperation of the University of Silesia.
The person conducting the second meeting entitled ‘How to win against populists? – young voters and the future of democracy’ will be Łukasz Kohut, Member of the European Parliament.
During the opening, Prof. Iwona Jelonekan from the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Silesia, councillor of the Silesian Voivodeship Assembly, will deliver the inaugural lecture ‘We are greening the coal heart of Europe’.
The visit will also be the opportunity to present the work carried out by the European University Transform4Europe, an international alliance of ten universities, of which the University of Silesia in Katowice is a member.
During the official opening of the visit, speeches will be given by:
- representative of the Minister of Science and Higher Education,
- representative of the Mayor of Katowice,
- Kazimierz Karolczak – Chair of the Metropolis GZM,
- Ewelina Wójcik – Director of the Regional Office of the Silesian Voivodeship in Brussels,
- Ryszard Koziołek – Rector of the University of Silesia, Vice-Chair of the Conference of Rectors of Universities in Poland,
- Eng. Celina M. Olszak – Rector of the University of Economics in Katowice, Chair of the Regional Conference of Rectors of Academic Universities,
- Grzegorz Hańderek – Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Katowice,
- Grzegorz Juras – Rector of the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice,
- Tomasz Szczepański – Rector of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice,
- Maciej Nowak – Vice-Rector for Research and Academic Staff Development of the University of Economics in Katowice,
- Eng. Marek Pawełczyk – Vice-Rector for Research and Development of the Silesian University of Technology,
- Jarosław Mamczarski, PhD, DLitt, Assoc. Prof. of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music – Dean of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice
- Iwona Jelonek, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. – Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Silesia, Director of the Centre for Biomass Energy Research and Education,
- Elżbieta Bieńkowska – European Union Commissioner for the Common Market, Industry and Entrepreneurship in 2014–2019, Vice-Chair of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Infrastructure and Development in 2013–2014, member of the Council of the University of Silesia,
- Katarzyna Mizia-Stec – Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs of the Medical University of Silesia,
- Sławomir Smyczek – Vice-Rector for Education and International Cooperation of the University of Economics in Katowice,
- Michał Szczęsny – Chair of the University Council of the Student Government of the University of Silesia,
- Michał Gębicki – Chair of the University Council of Doctoral Student Government of the University of Silesia.
Where The Mountains Are Upside Down And Inside Out exhibition
and a screening of film etudes from the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School at the University of Silesia
During the visit to the European Parliament, the exhibition of the Academic Consortium Katowice City of Science – Where The Mountains Are Upside Down And Inside Out – will be presented. The exhibition will take the form of a visual micro-essay.
The exhibition will present geological cores obtained from the Jankowice Hard Coal Mine in Rybnik, as well as the collection of metallophytes of Prof. Adam Rostański – plants that, thanks to adaptation, are able to survive in a polluted environment, as well as a painting by Ludwik Holesz created on the basis of plant traces imprinted in coal.
The participants of the visit will also be able to watch film etudes by students of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School at the University of Silesia.