About the Competition
This academic challenge was addressed to students as well as doctoral students of the University of Lodz. Participants were free to choose their topics, and one of the key objectives was to present complex issues in a manner that was accessible, engaging and consistent with scientific knowledge. In 2025, the competition received 54 articles, demonstrating the diversity of interests among young researchers and their willingness to move beyond traditional academic modes of communicating knowledge.
The Post-Competition Publication
The publication includes both the award-winning texts and articles that did not receive the main prizes but attracted the jury’s attention through their originality and strength of message. As a result, the book is not only a summary of the competition but also an invitation to look at science from a different perspective, as a space for storytelling, inspiring questions, surprising insights and the discovery of what may at first seem complex or distant. It also serves as an example of how the University of Lodz supports the development of science communication skills and encourages young people to share knowledge beyond the walls of academia.
The winners of the first edition, who are also contributors to this collective publication, include: Małgorzata Adamkiewicz, Lena Gryz and Paweł Jankiewicz in the individual category, as well as Patrycja Pych, Julia Saiki, Małgorzata Wielgus, Adrianna Zalewska and Nikola Zaniewicz, Zuzanna Sobańska and Zuzanna Wojewódzka, and Agnieszka Nojman and Paweł Jankiewicz in the team category. Their contributions enrich the volume with articles devoted, among other topics, to the impact of affective touch on physical and mental health, the relationship between smell and social behaviour, as well as the possibilities of using human remains as heritage objects.
More Than Just the Winning Texts
The book is not merely a collection of the best competition entries. It is complemented by contributions from experienced science communicators, including Natalia Osica, Karolina Głowacka, Łukasz Lamża, and Aleksandra Stanisławska and Piotr Stanisławski, as well as individuals involved in organising the competition and promoting science at the University of Lodz, among them Krzysztof Pabis, Marcin Frątczak, Anna Zatora, Angelika Siniarska-Tuszyńska, Michał Gruda, Beata Gamrowska, Marta R. Jabłońska and Łukasz Orzechowski. Thanks to this, the publication demonstrates not only what can be said about science, but also how science can be communicated in ways that spark curiosity, encourage questions and build bridges between the academic community and wider audiences. It may therefore be regarded as a guide for science communicators.
Let Us Share Knowledge and Experience
The publication (in Polish) is available in open access and can be downloaded from the Lodz University Press bookshop website. We encourage everyone to make use of the free e-book and join in the effort to popularise specialist knowledge.
