Volunteering pays off! Students visit Białków
On 17 May, student volunteers involved in organising the scientific conference series Horizon Mars took part in a trip to Białków (Wińsko municipality), home to the Centre for Astronomical Education of the University of Wrocław. A total of 21 participants joined the excursion, which served both as a token of appreciation for their dedication to the conference and an opportunity to explore the wonders of the cosmos together.
The visit began with a warm welcome from the Centre’s manager, mgr Izabela Pelc, who introduced the group to the educational offer of the facility. The first part of the programme was led by mgr Kamil Bicz, who gave an introduction to the movements of celestial bodies. Thanks to the multimedia planetarium dome, participants were instantly transported through time and space, following the paths of the Sun, planets, and constellations.
Next, dr Paweł Preś spoke about the current state of knowledge regarding Mars. The Red Planet was not only the main theme of the conference, but also an important reference point for the future of human space exploration. The presentation also touched briefly on the grand political ambitions surrounding Mars exploration shaped by successive US presidential administrations—though that topic deserves an article of its own.
Accompanying this part of the session was a three-dimensional model of Mars displayed in the Centre’s foyer. The following lecture introduced the geology of the Moon. Participants quite literally “walked on the Moon”, stepping across a transparent floor revealing its topography.
The fourth part of the visit focused on the moons of Jupiter and Saturn—from rocky bodies to icy worlds concealing oceans deeper than those on Earth. Dr Preś and mgr Bicz jointly outlined a vision for the future exploration of these distant celestial objects.
– The trip was an incredible experience! After the intense period of volunteering during the Horizon Mars conference, the chance to visit the planetarium felt like a great reward. It wasn’t just fascinating – it was also a great way to bond. We spent time together, sharing our passion for science and space – said Dominika Sałaga, a student at NZPS, who was actively involved in last year’s conference.
Damian Wochnik, who also assisted with the conference, was equally enthusiastic: – For me, the trip was interesting, friendly, and enriching – he admitted.
The visit concluded with an intimate ceremony where certificates and expressions of gratitude were presented to those who helped organise and support the previous year’s conference. There was also a light reception and plenty of time for inspiring conversations.
During the certificate ceremony, dr hab. Bartosz Smolik, who coordinated the trip on behalf of the Institute of Political Science and Mars Society Poland, addressed the group:
– Thank you all for your cooperation so far. I hope you will continue to be involved in future conferences and similar events. I also encourage you to explore space-related topics from the perspective of the social sciences – an intriguing dimension of human activity that continues to expand.
Also present at the trip and the awards ceremony was dr hab. Paweł Turczyński, prof. UWr from the Institute of European Studies and President of the Wrocław branch of the Polish Society for European Studies (PTSE). Professor Turczyński highlighted the importance of the conference series:
“The initiative we began in 2020 continues to thrive and grow. After the third conference on space exploration and EU space policy, it’s clear that these events have become a permanent part of the academic life of our Faculty and are met with great interest by both researchers and students.”
It is worth noting that the Wrocław branch of PTSE co-organised last year’s Horizon Mars conference.
Saturday’s event showed that engaging in volunteer work truly pays off. It offers not only the chance to gain valuable new experiences, but also the opportunity to engage with science in a unique and memorable way. The trip was met with enthusiastic feedback from its participants and proved that the effort and commitment poured into organising a scientific conference is both recognised and appreciated.
AUTHORS:
Paweł Skorb
dr hab. Bartosz Smolik
dr hab. Paweł Turczyński
Date of publication: 28.05.2025
Added by: E.K.
