The University of Szczecin is proud to host a special guest – Dr. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, an astronaut from the European Space Agency and the second Pole in space. The “Man in Space” event attracted a large crowd that filled the university auditorium.
During the first Polish technological and scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS) – IGNIS – Dr. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski also conducted an experiment coordinated by our university, which examined the survival of genetically modified yeast (enriched with tardigrade protein) in space.
The meeting was preceded by a presentation of footage from the IGNIS mission and a conversation with Prof. Ewa Szuszkiewicz from the Institute of Physics at the University of Szczecin, an astrophysicist and astrobiologist who coordinated the University of Szczecin’s Yeast TardigradeGene project, which was carried out during a space flight. Dr. Aneta Mika, a physicist and member of the Presidium of the Main Board of the Polish Physical Society, introduced the audience to the mission and phenomena occurring in space. Among the attendees were Piotr Krzystek, Mayor of Szczecin; Bartosz Bożyński, First Deputy Voivode; Dariusz Wieczorek, MP, Vice-Chairman of the Education and Science Committee; representatives of the Polish Space Agency; guests from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education; representatives of the Szczecin education system; staff and students of the University of Szczecin; and, above all, residents of Szczecin and pupils from the local schools.
It’s worth investing in yourself and your studies, devoting time to building your knowledge. The most important thing is to choose a field you truly enjoy and become a specialist in it. Virtually any discipline can be a good starting point – biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, mechanics, electronics, electrical engineering, or medicine. Passion is key. If you become proficient in your chosen field, the path to applying for an astronaut position will become much easier, emphasized Dr. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski.
The meeting consisted of two parts. In the first, Dr. Aneta Mika and Jarosław Marendziak, a journalist from TVP 3 Szczecin, interviewed Dr. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski. In the second, the guest of honor fielded a series of questions from the audience. Topics of interest included safety, concerns, challenges, and pressures associated with a space mission; functioning on the ISS, including daily activities; the impact of isolation on the human psyche; cognitive aspects; and what astronauts miss most in space. The youngest participants most frequently asked about what it takes to become an astronaut and what career path to choose to work in the space sector.
The meeting was prepared in cooperation with the University of Szczecin, the city of Szczecin, the Polish Space Agency and the support of the Vice-Chairman of the Education and Science Committee – MP Dariusz Wieczorek.
