The 8th Silesian Science Festival Katowice, which took place on 7-9 December 2024 at the International Congress Centre, was the culmination of the entire year of celebrations of awarding Katowice the title of European City of Science 2024. Participants were able to take part in over a thousand scientific activities located on over twenty thematic stages, nearly two hundred exhibition stands and special zones, prepared by over two thousand scientists and science communicators.
Each day of the 8th ŚFN began with a special opening lecture given by an invited guest, who shared the secrets of science with us and allowed us to dive into the Festival. On Saturday, 7 December, participants were able to listen to a lecture by Prof. Jeff Forshaw entitled ‘Black holes. The key to understanding the Universe’, during which the scientist explained the mysterious phenomenon of black holes found in outer space. On Sunday, 8 December, we could participate in a lecture by Prof. Andrzej Dragan ‘Does the present exist?’, during which we learned the latest information about the theory of relativity. On Monday, 9 December, we listened to a lecture by Prof. Lewis Dartnell ‘How the Earth shaped the history of humanity’, during which we looked at our life on Earth and its dependence on processes occurring in the environment.
All of this activity took place beneath the Gaia artwork, which was suspended in the ceiling of the hall, allowing visitors the opportunity to see what our planet looks like from the perspective of space.