Science for Society

What a night!

1 night, over 10 000 guests, 130 science celebration events, 12 hours of experiments, hundreds of laboratory reagents and countless curious questions.

We have just finished celebrating this year’s edition of the European Researchers’ Night in Olsztyn.

There is a reason why the European Researchers’ Night is called the longest night in the year – first guests started their scientific adventure as early as 10 AM. Within the first couple of hours the main venue, located at the premises of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS and Olsztyn School of Higher Education, was visited by over 4 000 pupils and students from local and regional schools.

This year’s edutaining events of ERN have been marked by a significant interactivity, following the rule of Confucius: Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I’ll remember. Let me do it and I’ll understand. Hence, both young and older participants of the Night, no matter if being science-addicts or science-reluctants, could explore the edutaining nature of research with their own hands by e.g. taking a test on celiac disease, building bacteria living in our digestive tract, designing a natural cream with freeze-dried fruit, checking the content of antioxidants in their favourite juice, and verifying the power of their hearing in a mobile center of hearing pathology. In addition, the attendees could enjoy meetings with interesting and inspiring nationally-recognized guests, e.g. journalist Łukasz Jakóbiak, dietitian Konrad Gaca and writer Tomasz Jastrun. One of the most mind-exciting events was the Science Roast – science stand-up comedy night – where researchers of different specialties presented their studies with a slight pinch of salt.

Plenty of attractions awaited the guests also in the University of Warmia Mazury, which invited everyone to the Kortowo campus. People regardless of age, social or educational background could take advantage of a number of science celebration events such as bioexperiments, workshops in a mobile planetarium, interactive exhibits of Copernicus Science Centre, theatre play, as well as meetings with popular Polish actors.

In the City Centre we could get an insight into the backstage of researchers’ work, admiring tissues ”locked” in stained glass prepared by one of Institute’s scientists engaged in the research on scarless skin wounding.

Last guests of the Night headed home after 1 AM.

The next European Researchers’ Night is coming soon! Don’t miss it on September 29th, 2017!

European Researchers’ Night this Friday in Olsztyn!

Over 130 experiments, science shows, hands-on workshops and other edutaining activities wait for Warmia and Mazury residents. Olsztyn is one of the two national hosts of the most important popularization event in Europe – European Researchers’ Night! Don’t forget to visit us on September 30^th. (więcej…)

SCIENCE IS ART! [see the footage]

Building bacteria models and genetic chains, designing cosmetics from lyophilisated fruit, CSI laboratory – these and many other edutaining events awaited guests of the Scientific Picnic “SCIENCE IS ART!”, which took place at Olsztyn Old Town on June 25^th, 2016.

Every enthusiast of research endeavours could take part in hands-on workshops, interactive science shows, experiments and competitions prepared by the scientists from the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS and invited guests from the Institute of Geophysics PAS in Warszaw , Botanical Garden PAS in Powsin, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding PAS in Jastrzębiec and Copernicus Science Centre.

This was the second edition of the Picnic „SCIENCE IS ART!” organized as a part of Olsztyn Art Summer by the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS and Olsztyn Cultural Center. This year’s partner of the event comprised also PAS Division in Olsztyn and Bialystok headquartered in Olsztyn. Scientists, leaving their laboratories, wanted to familiarize residents of the region with the crucial role of research achievements in our everyday life and inspire the youngest to discover ”science gene” that may evolve into a life passion in the future.

Feedback:

TVP Olsztyn (od 10:10); Radio Olsztyn

Photo footage:

www.olsztyn.com.pl; www.olsztyn24; www.olsztyn.wyborcza.pl

Gallery:

Science Picnic „Art of Science” coming soon!

On Saturday June 25th, the Centre of Olsztyn Old Town will change into a giant laboratory, full of experiments, workshops and science shows. The researchers from the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS will convince residents of the city that science is also a kind of art. Artists and researchers share a common passion for discovery, experimenting and a mind open to pioneering challenges. Theories created by physics, virtuoso experiments of chemists or images seen under the microscope are undeniable pieces of art.

Programme of the Picnic includes i.a. mind-exciting interactive exhibits of the Copernicus Science Centre, allowing the guests to test the speed of their reaction to light and sound triggers, and learn how to deceive our sight.

All families will have a chance to take part in the workshops on a gluten-free diet and learn what gluten really is and who and why should avoid it. They will also get in the roles of „Gluten seekers” trying to elute it from the samples of wheat flour. During hand-on workshops titled „Tasty skin”, guests of the Picnic will get familiarized with the practical use of fruit powders in the process of designing cosmetics, and take the samples of individually prepared creams home.

Scientists from the Institute of Geophysics PAS in Warsaw will help us to trigger our own earthquake and explain why shocks of similar magnitude cause little damage in some regions whilst catastrophes in other. Science shows prepared by researchers from the Botanical Garden PAS in Powsin will let us get an insight into the role of Seed Banks in the conservation of plant biodiversity in relation to species threatened by extinction.

Science enthusiasts will also try their hands at dactyloscopic workshops used in forensic science laboratories, and design their own models of bacteria. In addition, we can expect a show of plush organs taking part in the digestion process (1:1 scale), helping us to find answers on the questions about the length of intestine and super powers of our stomach

Old Town scene will host the competition called „Secrets of a human body” and workshops on building DNA with sweet jellies.

„Art of Science” Picnic will start at 12:00 in the heart of Olsztyn Old Town, and last until 16:00. Participation is free of charge!

Organizer: Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS
Co-organizer: City Culture Centre
Partner: PAS Division of Olsztyn and Bialystok headquartered in Olsztyn

Institute at the 20th Picnic of Polish Radio and Copernicus Science Centre

HEALTH – this is the title of the anniversary 20th Science Picnic of the Polish Radio and Copernicus Science Centre, which took place in Warsaw on May 7^th, 2016. The event was visited by a record number of people who could enjoy research celebration events prepared by over 200 institutions from Poland and abroad.

Institute PAS in Olsztyn organized 5 edutaining science shows. ”Inside gluten” workshops explained the causes of the coeliac disease, while “Healthy reproductive tract” pointed to the factors contributing to the disorders of a female reproductive tract. ”Uninvited guests of our body” science show allowed the guests to learn about the dangers carried by ticks. What is more, researchers from the Laboratory of Microbiology presented germs transferred from hand do hand and instructed the youngest how to wash hands properly. In addition, we offered all the participants of the Picnic an occasion to visit a mobile laboratory for conservation of biodiversity in order to see the effects of acidification of the aquatic environment on the health of the fish.