Archeologist dr Wacław Kulczykowski from the Faculty of History of the University of Gdańsk and software developer Mateusz Sokalszczuk from Scriptwelder Studio were selected finalists of the current, 16th edition of the Popularizer of Science 2020 competition in Team category.

Since 2015 dr Wacław Kulczykowski and Mateusz Sokalszczu have been creating scientific PC games together. Until now, they have launched Excavate! (2015) and Waterworks! (2020), free on-line games, played over million times by the international audience.

-This tremendous success comes from our cooperation in creating scientific PC games – highlights dr Kulczykowski from UG Faculty of History. – Also the category we have been nominated for carries significance. Seemingly, our ‘team’ is rather atypical: I am an archeologist, Mateusz is a software and video-game developer. However, combining our vastly different skills together, we are able to promote science in an original, unusual way. By doing that, we want to show how important the interdisciplinary cooperation actually is. We are happy, that the competition’s Jury has recognized us and we feel honored even getting to this stage.

Read more: PC strategy game developed in cooperation with UG

The 16th edition of the "Popularizer of Science" competition, which awards scholars, media people, institutions and social activists, whose passion is to share knowledge, saw roughly 100 submissions. The Jury selected 18 finalists during the first stage of the competition, who have been nominated for the award this year.

The award giving ceremony is expected to take place in January of 2021. Winners will receive awards for the following final categories: scientist, animator, team, institution, media and also grand prize winner – a person receiving Popularizer of Science 2020 title.

More information on the PAP Science in Poland website.

Translation: Adam Myzyk