PROJECT CO-FINANCED FROM THE STATE BUDGET

Beneficiary Name: Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Heavy Organic Synthesis “Blachownia”

Program Name: Social Responsibility of Science II – Popularization of Science

Project Name: Łukasiewicz’s Magic of Light – Phase II

Grant Agreement No.: POPUL/SN/0342/2023/01

Project value: 448 118, 55 zł

Grant amount: 268 835,08 zł

Project period: 01.12.2023 – 30.11.2025

The project is being carried out by:

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Heavy Organic Synthesis “Blachownia”

Purpose of the project

The main goal of the project is to promote science and the work of scientists among the project’s target groups, namely children and young people.

The first initiative of the project is a series of chemistry workshops aimed at preschool and early elementary school children from the Opole and Silesian provinces. The workshops have two main goals. The first is to popularize science and make it easier to understand one of the most important natural sciences—chemistry—and the second is to introduce project participants to the extraordinary inventor and discoverer, Ignacy Łukasiewicz, and his contribution to the development of Polish science.

The workshops are a series of popular science and educational chemistry demonstrations presented in an original, unique format, which will take place at 8 educational institutions in 2024–2025, with an estimated 400 participants in the project.

The second initiative of the project consists of four science picnics organized on the grounds of the Łukasiewicz-ICSO “Blachownia” Institute in Kędzierzyn-Koźle in 2024 and 2025. The picnics are aimed at students in grades 4–6 of elementary school as another way to popularize scientific fields such as chemistry, physics, pharmacy, and biotechnology. This outreach will take place through outdoor workshops led by Ignacy Łukasiewicz (pharmacy, petrochemistry, light, cosmetics manufacturing), Maria Skłodowska-Curie (theory of radioactivity, fluorescence, chemiluminescence), and scientist-educators from Łukasiewicz-ICSO “Blachownia” (MOLecular cuisine). We will also provide children with access to a mobile science park, where every visitor will be able to learn interesting facts about physics and chemistry, as well as operate fully interactive devices on their own.

The goal of the third initiative within the project is to raise awareness of the work of chemists through study visits to a leading research institution in Poland. Six study visits are planned for classes in chemistry and related fields at secondary schools in the Opole and Silesian provinces. The program includes: a motivational lecture titled “Why Become a Scientist?”- a discussion of, among other things, programs from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education such as the Applied Doctorate, EU mobility programs, and acceleration and startup initiatives offered by the Łukasiewicz Research Network: the Program for Olympiad Winners, the Łukasiewicz Accelerator, etc. In addition, we will take young chemistry enthusiasts on a tour of the Łukasiewicz-ICSO “Blachownia” facility, including visits to the laboratories and production halls of the Research Groups operating at the Institute.

As part of the project, we will produce and publish online, as open access content, at least 10 educational videos featuring simple chemistry experiments that can be replicated at home, in preschool, or at school.

Contact

Magdalena Tomaka, MSc Eng. – Project Manager

Phone: +48 77 487 36 41

Mobile: +48 600 057 817

Email: magdalena.tomaka@icso.lukasiewicz.gov.pl

Magdalena Krowicka, MSc Eng. – Project Financial Manager

tel. +48 77 487 31 60

Phone: +48 721 413 712

Email: magdalena.krowicka@icso.lukasiewicz.gov.pl