On 15 January 2016 the fifth annual Biologists' Night was held at the Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences of the Jagiellonian University. This year's edition of the festival comprised almost ninety different workshops, lectures and presentations organised by the Faculty units.
"The Biologists' Night is addressed to all people fascinated with biology, especially school students, but also younger children as well as adults. The main idea is to promote interest in biology among young people. Each year, our events are attended by large organised school groups as well as individuals, many of whom come here regularly," says the Faculty coordinator of the Biologists' Night Dr Joanna Homa of the JU Department of Evolutionary Immunology.
The programme of this year's Biologists' Night embraced a wide variety of topics, which made it possible to attract persons with diverse interests. Some lectures and events were concerned with the world of animals and plants, whereas others were devoted to various aspects of the functioning of human body or the secrets of laboratory research. Special field classes provided an opportunity to watch wild animals and plants in their natural environment. The events were organised and run by staff members and students of the JU Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, who acted as guides to the fascinating world of nature.
„Our aim is to encourage people not only to study biology, but also to watch it on everyday basis. When children during a family walk ask simple questions about animals and plants around them, their parents are often unable to give them any specific answers, which would both satisfy their curiosity and further stir up their interest. It is worthwhile to learn to watch and interpret the nature that surrounds us" – explains Dr Rafał Garlacz, the custodian of the JU Museum of Zoology.
The Biologists' Night was first organised five years ago, following an initiative by the Conference of Deans of Life Science Faculties at Polish Universities and the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. Currently, the festival involves institutions of biological research and education from all over Poland. The Jagiellonian University has taken part in the project since its very beginning. Within the framework of the JU Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, the festival events are run by the Institute of Zoology, the Institute of Environmental Sciences, the Institute of Botany, including the Botanical Garden, and, this year for the first time, by the Natural Sciences Education Centre . The student academic societies of the Faculty units also play an important part in the project.
