Unconventional forms of science popularization in Poland. Aneta Mika Stefan Czarniecki High School Nr. 6 in Szczecin, Polish Physical Society, Division of Szczecin, Poland ([email protected]) Are the natural sciences popular these days? There is no obvious and unequivocal answer for this question. On the one hand, students discouraged with effort which they must put into learning science, avoid choosing such subjects for matriculation exams and also are reluctant for choosing studies related to these areas. On the other hand, well-chosen method of activating the students is able to enthusiastically encourage major numbers of young people to deal with natural science. One of such method is festival “Science on Stage”, which has been periodically held at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Department of Physics. By 2008 six such festivals has already been held. The first three of them were run under the name “Physics on Stage”, and the another three as a “Science on Stage”. Every year festivals were attended by over 200 teachers and students of all school types (from kindergartens to universities), until 2008, when for the festival came even 400 participants from all over the country. This testifies about the increasing popularization of such activities. Participants in the festival could present "on stage” in three basic categories. These include: • An experiment such as "Water" - a cycle of experiments", Diffraction and fractals", "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation". • Preparation of performances such as "The musical physics or the sounds around us", "The laws of physics and the human body". • Multimedia presentations such as "Thermonuclear fusion - the energy of the future", "Galvanic batteries - small electric power plants", "System PSR B1257 12". The festivals were accompanied by a photo and painting exhibitions covering the topic of natural sciences. Classrooms prepared for demonstrations of experiments or for the experiments to execute, were available for all participants. All presentations were evaluated by jury consisting academics of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Warsaw University, University of Silesia and the members of the Polish Physical Society. Next edition of “Science on Stage 4” festival will be held on 24-25 September 2010, also at the Department of Physics in Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. Its aim is to show the contribution of physics, other natural and technical sciences in solving energy problems of the World and Poland, and also finding new solutions in power engineering, which will secure rapidly emerging demand for the clean and cheap energy. Except the “Science on Stage” festival in Poznan, there are other popularizing events. The most famous event is known as the “Science Picnic”. It is organized inter alia by The Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw. The Copernicus Science Centre is a cultural institution created at the joint initiative of the City of Warsaw, the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher 1   

Education, and the Polish Ministry of National Education. “Science Picnic” is one of the biggest science-popularizing outdoor event in Europe. Science Festivals are held throughout the country, and are really popular. There are many worth mentioning events such as Lower Silesian Science Festival (held in Wroclaw, Legnica, Walbrzych and Zielona Góra), Festival of Science in Krakow, Lublin Science Festival, Baltic Festival of Science, Opole Festival of Science, Festival of Science in Chorzów and West Pomeranian Science Festival (held in Szczecin and Koszalin). Many universities have taken part in organization of European scientific event called Researchers Night. Crowds attracting outdoor activities and lectures, are held regularly in Szczecin, Poznań, Gliwice, Krakow, Tarnów and Nowy Sącz. So are the natural sciences unpopular? A huge attendance of young people at festivals seems to deny this statement. So maybe this is a signal, that it is high time to change or fair modify the school curriculum.  

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