The second day of the International Maria Curie-Skłodowska Congress, entitled "Innovation is a Woman: Science - Business - Education" is currently underway. We are not slowing down and a lot is planned for today.
A panel, How to Educate Young People to be Europeans, chaired by Prof. Jan Pomorski, Chairman of the Committee for the Celebration of the 80th Anniversary of UMCS, together with outstanding panelists considered many issues related to education. The distinguished panelists included Dr. Joanna Mucha, State Secretary in the Ministry of National Education; Basil Kerski, Director of the European Solidarity Centre, and Prof. Sylwia Mrozowska, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Gdańsk. Among the key topics discussed was the Lublin Declaration, signed twenty years ago at the Lublin Castle.
Dr. Joanna Mucha said during the panel: - Today's world is changing in a turbulent way, i.e. in such a way that processes overlap and it is impossible to predict what their outcome will be. These are processes related to climate change, demographic change, digitalization, and in particular artificial intelligence. And if we think that in Europe we can get a great education and live wonderfully, and the whole world will "somehow" live and will not be affected by our perspective - then we are wrong (...). If we do not start to understand Europeanness as a mission, do not start to think about our European values as a responsibility, then as a consequence we will not cope with the processes that will take place in the rest of the world (…). The most important thing from today's perspective is to change our thinking about the European model, about the first world model in general.
In another significant panel, Education in the Meta World: What Do Schools and Universities Have to Offer the Alpha Generation?, moderated by Prof. Dorota Kołodyńska (Vice-Rector for Students and Quality of Education at UMCS), the panelists explored the challenges faced by educational institutions in addressing the needs of future generations. Panel participants included Katarzyna Lubnauer (State Secretary at the Ministry of National Education) Robert Firmhofer (Director General of the Copernicus Science Centre), Prof. Marlena Plebańska (President of the STEAM Foundation), and Katarzyna Olejnik (Director of the Paderewski International Primary School in Lublin).
Today’s program also features an immersive experience with the avatar of Maria Curie-Skłodowska. It is a truly amazing opportunity to engage with the congress’s patroness in a unique and innovative format.
The event could not miss topics related to culture. In the panel Education through Culture, moderated by Dr. Katarzyna Mieczkowska (Director of the National Museum in Lublin), and Izabela Pastuszko (Director of the UMCS Academic Centre for Culture and Media Chatka Żaka), panelists such as Michał Rydzewski Deputy Director for Professionalization and Support of the Cultural Sector and Scholarships at the National Cultural Center, Dariusz Wieczorek (Minister of Science) and Beata Stepaniuk-Kuśmierzak (Deputy Mayor of Lublin for Culture, Sports, and Participation), will discuss the critical role of culture in education and its potential to foster the development of young people.
Additionally, a panel focused on the forthcoming Maria Curie Exploratorium will be led by Dr. Mariusz Sagan (Director of the Department of Strategy and Investor Services at the Lublin City Office). Panelists include Jarosław Stawiarski (Marshal of the Lublin Province), Dr. Krzysztof Żuk, (Mayor of Lublin), and Prof. Radosław Dobrowolski (Rector of UMCS). The discussion will be centered on the establishment of the Maria Curie Exploratorium, a regional center for science, education, and new technologies, set to open in Lublin in the near future.
One of the closing events of the Congress will be the signing of a letter of intent, formalizing plans for the development of the Maria Curie Exploratorium.
The International Maria Curie-Skłodowska Congress "Innovation is a Woman: Science - Business - Education," has garnered significant interest, with engaging and fruitful discussions. These are two days full of science, meetings and thought-provoking debates. The organizers express their gratitude to all participants for their contributions.
A full photo gallery from the event will be available shortly.
Fot. Bartosz Proll
