During his stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Polish astronaut dr Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski will connect live with Polish children and youth on four occasions, including during an event hosted at our university as part of the IGNIS mission’s accompanying educational programme.

Each event will culminate in a live connection with the International Space Station and a conversation with the Polish astronaut. Each gathering will feature around eight hours of diverse educational activities, including workshops, lectures, thematic panels, and science picnics.

Each event, including ours, will host approximately 300 participants – mainly winners of space-themed competitions organised by POLSA since autumn 2024. Additionally, children, teenagers, and teachers from primary and secondary schools that actively implement the “space path” curriculum will also attend. These meetings are closed events, and participant lists have been prepared well in advance.

During the event, participants will connect with the ISS via radio transmission. This link is made possible thanks to the support of amateur radio operators from the ARISS programme. The questions for Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski were selected through the “Ask the Astronaut” competition, organised by POLSA in December 2024. Accompanying the radio link will be space-themed workshops designed for children, teenagers, and university students (aged 8-25).

In Wrocław, a science picnic and numerous experimental demonstrations will also take place, prepared by the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Wrocław, and in particular by employees of the Institute of Astronomy.

Special guest Piotr Kosek from Astrofaza will share insights into Polish experiments conducted aboard the ISS. A panel discussion is also planned, focusing on space technologies adapted for everyday use, featuring space experts working in Poland and at ESA.