“Science Popularisation” module
“SOWA – Społeczna Odporność Wspierana Innowacjami” [SOWA – Social Resilience Supported by Innovation]
The project is to strengthen the resilience of rural and small-town communities through the dissemination of knowledge and the creation of social innovations addressing contemporary challenges such as climate change, depopulation and economic crises. The initiative includes, among other things, a series of lectures, workshops using the Design Thinking method, the development of guidebooks and the organisation of an international forum for the exchange of experiences.
– Our priority is to equip rural and small-town communities with practical competences necessary for independently creating and implementing social innovations. Through the transfer of expert knowledge, we will provide local leaders with specific tools enabling them to moderate development processes effectively. In this way, we genuinely strengthen the social resilience of smaller centres in the face of contemporary social challenges – says dr hab. Katarzyna Zajda, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz.
- Project leader: dr hab. Katarzyna Zajda, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz (Centre of Social Innovations, University of Lodz)
- Total budget: PLN 666,884.87
- Funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education: PLN 532,567.91
“Instytut Kreatywnej Biologii 2.0” [Institute of Creative Biology 2.0]
The ‘Institute of Creative Biology 2.0’ is a project popularising biological sciences through free lectures, laboratory and field workshops, as well as interactive classes conducted by researchers from the University of Lodz. Its aim is to present the latest achievements in biology and demonstrate the impact of science on everyday human life. The project is primarily addressed to high school students and biology teachers. Thanks to its online format it also reaches audiences across Poland.
- Project leader: Dr Mariusz Krupiński (Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz)
- Total budget: PLN 351,990.25
- Funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education: PLN 281,592.20
"Scientific Libraries" module
“Digitalizacja i udostępnienie archiwum słownika książki polskiej 1946–1972” [Digitisation and Access to the Archive of the Polish Book Dictionary 1946–1972]
The project assumes the preservation, scholarly processing and wide accessibility of the unique archive of the “Słownik pracowników książki polskiej” [Dictionary of Polish Book Professionals] from 1946–1972. The collection comprises approximately 100,000 catalogue cards and 30,000 units of source materials documenting the achievements of individuals involved in the creation, production and circulation of books.
The project will include the conservation and digitisation of the collections, their scholarly processing, and the development of a modern, publicly accessible database enabling the search and analysis of the collected materials.
– This is an exceptional initiative implemented in cooperation with the Faculty of Philology of the University of Lodz, which rescues cultural heritage and makes it accessible to a wide audience. Thanks to modern technologies, thousands of unique materials will be preserved and transformed into an easily accessible source of knowledge about the people who shaped the history of the Polish book, and the database created within the project will support the development of the humanities and serve future generations – emphasises Tomasz Piestrzyński, Director of the University of Lodz Library.
- Project leader: mgr Tomasz Piestrzyński (University of Lodz Library)
- Total budget: PLN 300,000
- Funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education: PLN 237,600
“Cenne pomeranica i prussica pierwszego półwiecza XVIII stulecia w zbiorach Biblioteki UŁ” [Valuable Pomeranica and Prussica of the First Half of the 18th Century in the Collections of the University of Lodz Library]
The project continues earlier initiatives related to the processing and protection of old prints held in the collections of the University of Lodz Library. Its aim is the conservation, scholarly description and wide dissemination of a unique collection of prints from 1701–1750 originating, among others, from the historical regions of Pomerania, Silesia and Prussia.
The initiative includes the conservation of the collections, bibliographic description in accordance with international standards, digitisation of selected items and outreach activities, including the organisation of an exhibition. The project is addressed to researchers from various fields of the humanities as well as all those interested in the history of books, culture and science.
- Project leader: mgr Dorota Bartnik (University of Lodz Library)
- Total budget: PLN 293,600
- Funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education: PLN 233,200
The call for proposals ran from October to November 2025. Due to the limited number of applications that could be submitted by one university, the competition was preceded by an internal selection process. As a result, the University of Lodz selected six projects representing the institution – three in each programme module. Four out of the six applications submitted by the University of Lodz received funding, confirming the high quality of the prepared initiatives and their importance for the development of science, education and the protection of cultural heritage.
Source: MNiSW
Edit: Press Office, University of Lodz
