Pyrkon Fan Convention was named ‘Populariser of Science’ in the ‘Team’ category.The Organiser appreciated Pyrkon&'s Science Zone as a place combining fun andscience in a special way. The award ceremony took place on 11 December 2024.
“I have been responsible for the Science Zone since 2018 and I am very happy to see how it has grown over the past few years. Our goal is to show that science is not boring and that Poland is home to exceptional promoters of knowledge. I also see a growing interest in what we offer in the zone, because apart from lectures on different branches of science, we also do fascinating workshops and meetings with invited scientists,” said Anna Pawłowska-Zygarowicz, PhD, organiser of the Pyrkon Science Zone. “I would also like to emphasise the huge contribution of my helpers, that is the volunteers who have seen all the changes in the zone over the years,” she added.
In this year's 20th edition of the ‘Populariser of Science’, the Science Zone of the Pyrkon Fan Convention was one of the twenty-three finalists. It got the accolade in the ‘Team’ category. The award ceremony took place on December 11, 2024 at the Press Centre of the Polish Press Agency in Warsaw.
‘Populariser of Science’ is a competition organised by the ‘Science in Poland’website, published by the Polish Press Agency Foundation under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Science. Every year, the event recognises initiatives that, through their activities, significantly contribute to the dissemination of scientific knowledge in a creative and inspiring way. The competition is held in five categories: Animator, Institution, Scientist, Team and Media.
The beginnings of the Science Block (former name of the Science Zone) date back to 2011, the first edition of Pyrkon taking place at the Poznań International Fair. Since 2019, it has been a place for lectures and demonstrations conducted exclusively by professionals, scientists and people who are involved in popularising science on a daily basis.
The Science Room on Pyrkon can accommodate 400 people. The Zone also allows for educational booths as well as workshops. During the last edition of the convention, the science shows by Heweliusze Nauki were held in the Earth Hall, the largest hall of the Poznań International Fair, and thousands of convention participants watched broadcasts of the events on an external screen.
On June 13-15, 2025, fans of science will have the opportunity to meet many special, world-famous guests, during the 25th anniversary of the Pyrkon Fan Convention. This year, the Zone includes a new section focused on ‘true crime’, which means several lectures prepared by a team of crime fiction writers, podcasters and scientists. In addition to that, the Zone plans to invite scientists particularly popular with the convention participants. Pyrkon's Science Zone is also nationally known for accessibility workshops, including introduction to sign language class provided there. The convention works together with the Labrador Foundation, which over the years has been continuously supporting the rehabilitation of people with disabilities and explaining the special needs of people using assistance dogs.
The event will traditionally take place at the Poznań International Fair over 3 days. Further details can be found on the convention's website at www.pyrkon.pl.
