Life changes science: Perspectives

The time has come for life to change science so that it works not just for the benefit of one species, but for the benefit of all living beings on Earth.

Prof. Ryszard Koziołek
Rector of the University of Silesia, leader of the Academic Consortium Katowice City of Science 2024, ESOF 2024 Champion, and Chair of the Committee

ESOF, the EuroScience Open Forum, has provided for more than 20 years an exceptional platform for exchange and debate on what science is, how it is practiced and what it can bring to society. ESOF 2024 in Katowice offers a unique opportunity to make science real, engage citizens, facilitate encounters and create new ideas for the benefit of all.

Prof. Michael Matlosz
President of EuroScience

The latest events, such as the coronavirus pandemic and war in Ukraine, clearly showed us that life has a real influence on what happens in science and that science, regardless of the discipline, may provide us with breakthrough solutions. I would even go further: here, science is understood as a reasonable method for solving certain, sometimes very complex issues.

Prof. Michał Daszykowski
Vice-Rector for Research and Finance at the University of Silesia in Katowice, chair of The Programme Committee of the ESOF2024

The ESOF is unprecedented in terms of the scale and complexity of the approach presented to academia. It creates a diverse and inclusive space for dialogue between representatives of universities, scientists, students and doctoral students and the socio-economic environment.

Jaroslaw Olszewski
PhD student, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, "Scientific Assistant at the Center for Translational Medicine, WULS"

Life changes science... The more I thought about it, the more wisdom I saw in it. I've warmed up to it. Life really changes science. We, scientists, should respond to what is needed at a given moment. I must admit that the coronavirus pandemic was probably the most powerful example of this. Science draws ideas from the wealth of other areas, even non-scientific; and it’s priceless. Thanks to this, we can see more and be inspired.

Prof. Eng. Marek Pawełczyk
Rector of the Silesian University of Technology,
Vice-President of the ESOF2024 Programme Committee

We are not islands, and we are not alone in our laboratories and departments. It is impossible not to interact within our society; we go home every day to meet our families and friends and engage in other activities. We are human beings and we influence each other. We should think about how we can strengthen this natural relationship—this is the key point when we talk about collaboration.

Jara Pascual
CEO of Collabwith
ESOF2024 Keynote speaker

Katowice as the European City of Science 2024 is a community committed to both the celebration of science and the challenges of the modern world. We place this approach at the center of our thinking about the future of society and the place where we live.

Anna Budzanowska, PhD
ESOF2024 Champion