Perspectives: Prof. Marek Pawełczyk

ESOF2024 Is Going to Show How Life Changes Science

It’s one of the most significant events organised within the European City of Science Katowice 2024. ESOF2024—or the EuroScience Open Forum—is an international conference addressed to the representatives of science, entrepreneurs, politicians, journalists and the region’s residents. For several of days in June, people from around the world will arrive to Katowice to discuss the latest scientific achievements and their impact on society. What can we expect from such an extraordinary event? About this and many more tells us Prof. Eng. Marek Pawełczyk, Rector of the Silesian University of Technology and Vice-Chair of the ESOF2024 Programme Committee.

In a little over a month, Katowice, the European City of Science, is going to host ESOF2024. Are you among those who count the days to the event?

I do indeed wait for this event because it is a fantastic chance to invite numerous people representing various communities to our cities and universities. Most certainly our guests can spare some time to pay us a visit in our offices, laboratories and workrooms. These are people who we tell about our region and workplace. I hope that they can finally see these places with their own eyes. We will show them our hospitality and what we deal with every day.

It’s no secret that our universities keep putting all their efforts into gaining a strong position in the international arena. Although we become more visible and recognised, there are a lot of challenges to tackle. I think that a lot of people from the world of science and art still perceive our region as terra incognita. Incidentally, many may ask themselves what’s so exceptional about here that we have been trusted with the organisation of one of the most important international conferences. The question concerns not only issues related to the academic achievement but also the geographic location or culture. Mid-June will, therefore, be a time of confronting the expectations with reality.

I believe they will be thrilled. We live in one of the most interesting regions of Poland. We are famous for our hospitality and proud of our cuisine, but this is barely the tip of the iceberg. I think many people will be surprised even by how Katowice looks; the city is unlike many European cities, yet—in its own way—exceptional, attractive and with a distinctive identity combining its industrial heritage with modernity. I am pretty much convinced that ESOF2024 guests will be taken with this place.

It is worth saying that the Forum can be attended not only by scientists from around the world, but also by journalists, representatives of local governments and business, as well as residents of the region, who can participate in discussions and meetings taking place over several days. After all, ESOF is an open forum by its name.

Apart from educating young people, universities are research hubs. There’s a lot of work related to fostering our relationships with our environment, with entrepreneurs, authorities, journalists and residents. I believe cities like Katowice or Gliwice would have looked different had it not been for this many universities here. We do not know what the direction of transformation could have been then. Perhaps as many investors would not have arrived here, and neither would concepts for transforming the region have been invented. It’s important to speak out and show the value of our universities, how they cooperate and what they specialise in.

What words would you use to encourage the people of the region to attend the ESOF2024 conference?

I do not deny that I am very much looking forward to their presence. I would like to underline that our scientists—who are also residents of the region—have a great opportunity to showcase the results of their efforts and passion. Moreover, ESOF2024 is an opportunity to meet experts from around the world who will discuss the latest scientific discoveries that very often have a direct impact on our lives. By coming here, they express their respect for our country and region. I’m pretty much convinced that they feel a part of a scientific community sharing their knowledge selflessly. And it’s in this that I see an opportunity for the development of global science. Therefore, people from all over the world will meet in one place close to us, in Katowice; we all have a one-of-a-kind chance to see them personally and listen to what they have to say live.

I also want to add that the idea of ​​this unique conference is to provide knowledge in an accessible way. This is not a standard scientific conference with specialists representing a narrow research area meeting. It’s an open forum where the latest scientific achievements and their impact on society are discussed in a manageable way.

Everyone can benefit from it. People from all over the world will come to us to share their scientific passion; they will be our ‘neighbours’ for a few days, and we—on the other hand—will find out what new is happening in the world of science.

Our guests—in turn—will experience all the richness of the region in its full form and diversity, which is clearly visible in the diverse universities forming the Academic Consortium – Katowice City of Science 2024. Just look at the main thematic areas of the conference, which reflect the specific nature of our universities. We can find there Energy Transition, Digital Transformation, Sustainable Environment, Cultural Identity and Societal Transformation, Healthy Society and Changes within Scientific Excellence. Is it possible that this very diversity become the hallmark of the ESOF2024 conference?

Academic diversity is vital, indeed; it will allow us to gather people who look at similar issues from different perspectives in one place. It results not only from scientific expertise, but often from the place where the research is conducted. In June, all these people will be able to meet in Katowice to listen to each other and perhaps establish interesting cooperation afterwards. This clash of ideas can bring about an explosion of scientific creativity and result in breakthrough discoveries.

The areas you’ve mentioned are going to be the focal points for various topics, but they have one thing in common – transformation. Speaking of that, there will also be an interesting debate on changes in scientific excellence. It is an umbrella covering an extremely wide range of scientific activities. And this excellence can be understood in different ways. For some, it will be about scientific publications in renowned journals whereas others perceive it as new and ground-breaking ideas or innovative research in laboratories. I think it’s worth mentioning the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment: CoARA, intended to contribute to changing the way the scientific activities of researchers are assessed around the world. Since we’ll have the opportunity to host such outstanding experts from various research centres in Katowice, let's talk about the evaluation system, too. Let's share our experiences. The opportunity is rare and will not happen again soon.

How do you understand the scientific excellence, Rector?

Scientific excellence is high-quality basic and applied research contributing to scientific progress. Scientific excellence has to do with a certain attitude to be ever ready to take confident steps, therefore, being related to scientific courage. Naturally, it has to be backed by reliable evidence, yet requires the readiness to go beyond the applicable standards at the same time.

Last year at the Silesian University of Technology, we hosted the Nobel Prize winner Prof. Brian Kobilka, who was then awarded an honorary doctorate degree. He talked about having worked in the lab for over 20 years, all with the faith that the research direction he had chosen was right. He had such an opportunity and the results of his work are the effect of investing time and proper financial means. The thing about science is that sometimes it can take years to find out whether our intuition was right. If not, one should change their research direction then. That’s science.

While the word failure seems highly inappropriate in this case, I have the impression that the word success is also a taboo word among scientists.

Perhaps we, scientists, use this word not often enough. Indeed, many outstanding scientific achievements can be called successes. On the one hand, it’s scientific progress in its broad sense, on the other, it’s about individual achievements of the next stages of discovering fascinating phenomena, processes and methods. Employee promotions are certainly successes and vital to their professional development. It’s something that gives strength and persistence to continue research and perhaps become an idol to someone else. I think we would find many more examples of things perceived as scientific success.

Prof. Michael Matlosz, President of EuroScience, which is the institution co-organising the Forum, has taken part in four of its editions. A journalist asked him in one of the interviews, which edition was he fond of the most. He answered that each of them was different in its own way. He emphasised that every edition was its organisers' success, although it differed each time. What definition of success could we adopt, the ESOF2024 organisers?

Considering the exceptional nature of the Forum, I think that the high quality of the debate will be a success. I mean the clash between two sides: speakers, that is people presenting their research and opinions, with the audience, that is participants. I really hope for fine interaction between these people, especially ‘behind the scenes’, so to speak. If I see people talking to each other as I walk through the conference spaces, even in small groups, then I will feel we have achieved success. That’s the main reason behind ESOF. I do hope that participants and speakers leave Katowice with a wealth of new ideas, wonderful impressions, valuable networks, and even friendships!

My last question will concern the ESOF2024’s theme. How do you think life changes science?

It’s a very accurate one, although I must admit that I thought there had been a mistake and the order of the words had been reversed when I heard it for the first time. Isn’t it science that changes our lives? Because it undeniably helps us in many areas.

Although, the more I thought about it, the more wisdom I saw in it. I've warmed up to it. Life really changes science. We, scientists, should respond to what is needed at a given moment. I must admit that the coronavirus pandemic was probably the most powerful example of this. Science draws ideas from the wealth of other areas, even non-scientific; and it’s priceless. Thanks to this, we can see more and be inspired. At this point, I would especially mention the interdisciplinary research, and appreciate it. They often have their source in a person, their environment and perceived problems. The cooperation between disciplines turns out to be crucial.

The June conference will certainly be a space for establishing interdisciplinary cooperation.

I am convinced that this will be the case, which is why we are looking forward to hosting scientists, representatives of business and local governments, journalists, and the region’s residents.

Thank you for the interview.

Interviewer: Małgorzata Kłoskowicz, PhD