We are only a few weeks away from the start of one of the largest popular science events in Europe. During this year’s edition of the Silesian Science Festival KATOWICE, you will be able to experience over 700 different attractions, including shows, workshops, exhibitions, debates, meetings, lectures and many others.
The Silesian Science Festival KATOWICE is an annual event communicating science, organised since 2016 in Katowice by: University of Silesia in Katowice (leader and initiator of the event), Silesian University of Technology, Medical University of Silesia, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, Czestochowa University of Technology, University of Economics in Katowice, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, and Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Katowice, as well as the City of Katowice (host city of the event), the Silesian Voivodeship and Metropolis GZM (co-hosts).
The seventh edition of ŚFN will be combined with the opening weekend of the celebrations connected with awarding Katowice the title of European City of Science 2024 by EuroScience, so there are even more reasons to celebrate!
For the first time, three days of events for visitors are planned at the International Congress Centre. The festival will last from 9 to 11 December 2023. On the first day at 7 p.m. the science and music show KATOPOLIS will also take place which will open the celebrations of the European City of Science Katowice 2024. The event is created under the watchful eyes of Miuosh (rapper and music producer), Jan P. Matuszyński (director of feature and documentary films), Zbigniew Rokita (winner of the Nike Literary Award for the book ‘Kajś. Opowieść o Górnym Śląsku’ [Somewhere. A story about Upper Silesia]), and Mateusz Znaniecki (film director and actor). On stage we will see performers such as Natalia Grosiak, Julia Pietrucha, Dawid Tyszkowski, Mela Koteluk, Piotr Rogucki and Igo. The choirs and musical groups associated with universities organising the event will also perform during the show. Tickets for this extraordinary spectacle can now be purchased via the eBilet website – but you have to hurry, because they sell like hot cakes! The income from ticket sales will be donated to support the development of young people in the Silesian Voivodeship as part of the programme implemented by the European City of Science Katowice 2024 in partnership with the National Children’s Fund. Events within ECSK 2024 are organised by the Academic Consortium – Katowice City of Science (Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Katowice, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, University of Economics in Katowice, Silesian University of Technology, Medical University of Silesia, University of Silesia in Katowice).
The programme of the 7th Silesian Science Festival KATOWICE is published on an ongoing basis and can be found on the festival website. Special guests will include such personalities as: Prof. Mike Berners-Lee (world-renowned expert in the field of sustainable development and climate change), Prof. Derrick de Kerckhove (researcher in the field of new media, relations between society, culture and technology), Kathryn Harkup, PhD (chemist, science communicator, writer), Prof. Lewis Dartnell (professor of biology at Oxford University, whose research concerns astrobiology and the search for microbial life on Mars), Niamh Shaw, PhD (STEAM sciences communicator, writer, researcher), Alaina Wood (scientist, activist and climate communication specialist), as well as distinguished guests from Poland, including Prof. Krzysztof Zanussi (director, screenwriter and film producer), Maciej Płaza, PhD (novelist, doctor of humanities, translator of English literature) and Prof. Andrzej Dragan (professor of physics at the University of Warsaw and the National University of Singapore). Participants will also have the opportunity to meet Alex Barker, David Price, Greg Foot, Mikołaj Sokół, Piotr Orleański and Hanna Rothkaehl.
The programme of this year’s edition also includes the presentation of awards in three competitions: OFF Science – Review of Garage Inventions (awarded for pioneering devices and solutions, as well as innovative ideas that change technology that has been used for years), POP Science (awarded in five categories: Video Blog; Website or Blog; Radio Broadcast or Podcast; Think Globally, Act Locally – Academic Community; and Think Globally, Act Locally – Resident of the Silesian Voivodeship) and the Silesian Scientific Award (awarded to people who significantly contribute to the development of science and present outstanding artistic achievements, as well as promote Silesian science on the national and international arena).
We also encourage participants of the 7th ŚFN to visit special zones: the Post-Industrial Diseases Zone and the Motorsport Zone. A novelty during this year’s edition of the Festival will be the Young Science and Art Programme on the Rawa Valley Stage, where outstanding scientists and artists under 30 years old will perform. In addition, participants will be able to listen to lectures on the Silesian Hall of Fame Stage and World Science Stage, as well as take part in activities on the Tomasz Rozek, PhD’s I Like Science Stage. We also invite you to participate in talks on the Pulsar Stage, co-created by the editorial team of the Pulsar scientific portal, and in activities on the Radio 357 Stage, which include, among others: panel led by Zbigniew Rokita on the KATOPOLIS show. Moreover, those craving art will be treated to numerous exhibitions – you will be able to see almost 280 works presenting various techniques (linocuts, graphics, photographs, posters, models, moving sculptures and multimedia works), created by talented artists from Silesian universities.
With the youngest guests in mind, we will create the Children Build The City Of Science Family Zone where we want to develop children’s passion for exploring the secrets of modern science through playing. In addition to educational games, workshops and shows for the younger and older participants, there will be a Free Play Zone where you will find both toys and teaching aids. A laser show by physicists from Lund University in Sweden will certainly be an extraordinary experience for the youngest (and not only for them), thanks to which they will not only learn the principles of physics, but will also be able to admire the laser lights.
The joint celebration of the seventh edition of ŚFN and the awarding of the honorary title of European City of Science to Katowice also brought many other novelties to the Festival programme. First of all, it was built around six thematic paths of the European City of Science Katowice 2024: Climate and Environment, Health and Quality of Life, Industries of the Future, Social Innovations, Industrial and Cultural Heritage, Creation and Criticism. Separate scenes will be devoted to individual issues, available as part of the City of Science Market of Ideas. In addition, we will invite participants to participate in activities prepared by Łukasz Lamża, PhD on the ECSK Reading Nature Stage.
You can download free tickets to this year’s Festival now online. Most attractions will be available without restrictions, but additional registration is required for selected activities (including workshops and special events) due to the limited number of places.
Monday, 11 December, is especially dedicated to students and teachers. Participating in various attractions, such as lectures, workshops or shows, can be an excellent alternative to traditional lessons at school. To make sure that you don't miss anything, we encourage you to follow the Festival’s social media, visit the Festival website frequently, and subscribe to the ŚFN ‘Supernova’ newsletter'!
Join us in celebrating the 7th Silesian Science Festival KATOWICE and the opening weekend of the European City of Science Katowice 2024 on 9–11 December 2023! You can't miss it!