Join the tour 'Within the City: Urban Art'

The EuroScience Open Forum 2024 (ESOF2024), which was held from 12 to 15 June in the International Congress Centre in Katowice, brought together leading scientists from Europe and the world under the slogan ‘Life changes science’. The programme included lectures, seminars, debates, workshops, poster presentations, and exhibitions. The conference theme centred around energy transition, sustainable development, cultural identity and societal transformation, scientific excellence, healthy society, and digital transformation. ESOF2024 programme featured several hundreds of speakers from Poland, Europe, and the world who took part in 130 thematic sessions and 90 poster presentations . The conference attracted approximately 3500 participants from 40 different countries . There were also accompanying events: EU Prize for Citizen Science 2024, Green Growth Ahead, and the European Talent Fair – a European job fair for young scientists and people interested in taking up research work. The last day of the conference presented a great opportunity to network outside the ICC and to discover the scientific potential of Silesian universities directly. The ESOF2024 conference was a meeting place, a dynamic platform for knowledge and innovation exchange, which showed that science is ever present in our lives. We often perceive science as abstract and disconnected from our everyday lives. This is why such events as ESOF2024 are so important. They remind us that science is not something foreign to us – it is a field that brings changes to many areas of our lives and responds to the challenges posed by reality. We would like to thank all participants for their active involvement and contribution to the success of the event.

Another day of the ESOF 2024 conference is behind us, filled with inspiring events and activities. Participants had the unique opportunity to take part in the EU TalentFair, addressed to early-stage academics and people interested in taking up research work. The event offered workshops where participants could learn about best practices in open science and develop their skills, e.g., in creating and implementing research data management plans. At the ESOF 2024 conference, participants could listen to inspiring lectures by distinguished keynote speakers: Jara Pascual (CEO of Collabwith), Sir Andy Haines (Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine), Prof. Sabina Leonelli (University of Exeter, UK), Isto Huvila (Uppsala University, Sweden), Prof. Toma Susi (University of Vienna). The International Congress Center visitors could enjoy an all-day poster session and activities organised by the Horizontal Contact Point Southwestern Poland, which attracted great interest.

The opening ceremony began the 11th edition of EuroScience Open Forum – Katowice 2024. The gala, hosted by Łukasz Lamża, PhD – Creative Director of European City of Science, was attended by, among others: Marcin Krupa, PhD, Mayor of Katowice, Prof. Eng. Maria Mrówczyńska, Deputy Minister of Science, Manuel Aleixo, representative of the European Commission for Research and Innovation, Marek Wójcik, Voivode of Silesia, and Anna Kwaśniewska, Chair of the Management Board of Metropolis GZM and Director of the Department of Education and Social Affairs of the Marshal’s Office. Panel ‘How can science transform cities and regions?’ opened the deliberative part of the conference. In addition to the current and former mayors of Katowice, it was attended by Prof. Eng. Jerzy Buzek , Member of the European Parliament.

Watch the live broadcast of the Opening Ceremony of the 11th EuroScience Open Forum ESOF2024 Opening Ceremony: Live broadcast 

Date: June 12, 2024 Time: 19:00-21:00 Place: International Congress Centre (MCK), Multipurpose Room C MC: Anna Butrym Number of guests: 500 Refreshments: yes, menu attached Artistic program: A show about EMNK 2024: a story painted in sand + dance shows (produced by Agencja Medialna YOMA) Format: standing party Detailed description: Katowice City of Science: an unforgettable artistic spectacle for everyone to remember. We will showcase the power of science and the good it brings to the society as a whole.  Elements that will appear in the show based on and presenting KATOWICE being the actual city of science: In the first part, the dancers will show their education process on the academic benches of a lecture hall; the way they look for answers and solutions to the issues they touch on their educational path. At some point, everyone starts dancing together, various symbolic fields of science appear behind them in 3D - chemical elements, geometric figures, calligraphy letters, drawings of nature, and the students throw stacks of paper into the air, symbolically finding solutions and answers to the scientific questions. The second part of the show changes the mood and expression of the artistic medium. This time, participants will watch an animation in the form of a story painted with sand, which will not only show the logo of the City of Science Katowice 2024, but above all will present a story about what a positive impact education, science and development have not only on young people who want to evolve in their fields, but also on their entire surroundings and community. The third entrance is a return to the place where knowledge was always the centerpiece: to the library. A book appearing on one of the shelves will take everyone to a mysterious laboratory. No one will emerge from it the same as before. Instead, they will become fascinated with various geometric figures. Towards the end, an animation will highlight three points symbolizing the universities involved in the program. While a line is drawn (the green science zone), and appearing beneath are a map of Katowice and the final logo of the City of Science KATOWICE 2024!