Prof. dr hab. Paweł Rudawy wins the “Social Responsibility of Science 2” competition

We are very pleased to announce that a grant to implement the Annual series of educational classes “Astronomical faculty” project in the Astronomy Education Center UWr was awarded to prof. dr hab. Paweł Rudawy.
The grant was awarded as part of the “Social Responsibility of Science 2” competition announced by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
Prof. Paweł Rudawy says:
Countries with the largest political importance, economical resources, and innovative potential compete in science and technology development, including exploration of the Universe and space flight technology, aiming for obtaining access to resources and modern technologies to expand their own political and economical potential. This technological, scientific, economical, and political competition can only be participated by countries with highly skilled staff, including well-educated school youth who subsequently continue their education in universities. One of the prime challenges that the national education system faces is creating a system of advanced, modern education of school youth and popularization of science in the field of basic sciences, including astronomy and related sciences.
The statutory purpose of the activities of the Astronomy Education Center of the University of Wrocław (AEC UWr, https://planetarium.bialkow.uwr.edu.pl/pl/) in Białków is interdisciplinary education of school youth and popularization of science in the field of astronomy and related sciences. AEC UWr achieves its education and popularization goals mainly by organising classes and educational shows for organised school youth groups in the mode of one-day school trips, implemented on commercial terms.
This year the AEC UWr introduces a new form of educational activities to its offer: annual cycles of classes called “Astronomical Faculty” aimed at advanced education of school youth in modern astronomy. “Astronomical Faculties” are dedicated to secondary school youth, with special focus on the youth attending courses with mathematical, physical, geographical, or natural science profile. The content conveyed contains the basic canon of contemporary knowledge in the field of astronomy, including astrophysics, extragalactic astronomy, even cosmology, expanding the unfortunately very limited knowledge passed on as part of the school curriculum. The “Astronomical Faculty” curriculum consists of: lectures given by science staff of the Institute of Astronomy UWr, calculational and practical exercises for lectures, and observation classes. The curriculum will be implemented in part at night, which stems from the need to observe astronomical objects. Thanks to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the University of Wrocław funding the program, it is completely free of charge for students
The AEC UWr is very well prepared to popularize science and education in the field of modern astronomy and related sciences, owning: RSA Cosmos digital planetarium (2 laser projectors 4K + Dolby 5.1), a seminar room and two lecture halls (all rooms are AV connected and have full multimedia equipment), an “Experimentatorium” experimental laboratory with stations for: robotics, optics, space flight simulator; a 3D model of the visible side of the Moon, a computer laboratory, an observation laboratory with telescopes, and recreational space in the conservatory. Practical activities will be supplemented with observation classes using modern classroom telescopes and visits to observation pavilions of the Astronomical Observatory UWr in Białków.