140 hours of lessons in one evening? During the Biologists' Night, anything is possible. On January 13, the Faculty of Biology and the Inter-University Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG will join in one of the largest popular science events in Poland. Almost 100 attractions are planned for this year's Biologists' Night. 

- 'The response is very high. Usually, already in November, someone asks if there will be this Biologists' Night. Before the pandemic, our event was attended by around 2,000 people,' - says dr Elżbieta Sontag from the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology at UG, who coordinates the event at the Faculty of Biology.

This year, the theme of the event is 'Water - the source of life - present and future'. University of Gdańsk scientists have prepared dozens of attractions related to this theme, including workshops on creating a 3D model of a dolphin skull or a lecture on ecological disasters in rivers.

Special guests also took part in the organisation of some of these events. Between 5 pm and 8 pm, staff from the Gdańsk Zoo will show those interested in the nightlife of wild animals, and from 5.30 pm a workshop combined with a tour of 'Back to the Future' will start at the Gdynia Aquarium. 

For the first time in the history of Biologists' Night at UG, the event will also be hosted by students from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk. The young artists will present original projects inspired by... the skull of a European beaver.

Meanwhile, at the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG, participants will be able to explore the colourful world of plants and learn about molecular cuisine. All events take place as part of a popular science picnic in the main lobby of the IFB UG and MUG building from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm. 

This is the twelfth edition of the nationwide initiative and the twelfth time the Night has come to UG. This year, more than 200 biologists expressed their willingness to co-create the event. At the Faculty of Biology alone, the events will last for as many as 140 class hours. - 'This is a lot of work. We want to move away from such typical science to convey everything in an accessible way,' - says dr Elżbieta Sontag.

Programme of events at the Faculty of Biology: http://www.nocbiologow.pl/index.php?id=jednostka&nazwa=gdansk

Programme of events at the IFB UG and MUG: http://www.nocbiologow.pl/index.php?id=jednostka&nazwa=gdansk1