The 1st International Young Researchers Conference has concluded at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences at Bialystok University of Technology.

Three days of meetings, 17 presentations, 3 oral sessions, 1 poster session, 2 workshops, and even a city game. Participants, mainly from Polish universities, gathered at the 1st International Young Researchers Conference: Ideas, Research, Training. Bialystok University of Technology hosted the event, which took place in a hybrid format.

Topics presented by young scientists included concrete recycling, an art gallery design, a hand and forearm rehabilitation orthosis concept, and a nursing robot, among many others. Researchers showcased the results of their studies conducted within the framework of engineering, master’s, and doctoral projects. They presented diverse issues from various fields, including energy efficiency, sustainable university development, solutions for the visually impaired, and eco-friendly construction. The technical and, most importantly, practical dimension connected all the projects.

– The research areas addressed by the PhD students from the Doctoral School of Bialystok University of Technology span various sectors like industry, construction, and biomedical engineering, where technology plays a key role in improving our daily lives – explained Adriana Dowbysz, MSc, a member of the Doctoral Student Council at Bialystok University of Technology, Secretary of the Board of the Agreement of Doctoral Students of Technical Universities, and a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, as well as the winner of the Best Doctoral Student Award at Bialystok University of Technology for the academic year 2021/2022.

During the interdisciplinary meeting, 15 PhD students from Bialystok University of Technology presented their papers, joined by researchers from the Silesian University of Technology, Gdansk University of Technology, Rzeszow University of Technology, and the Technical University of Košice in Slovakia. The academic presentations began on 5 September. One of the papers presented was titled “Numerical Comparative Analysis of Mechanical and Contact Parameters of Orthopaedic Scaffold Fixation Methods”. Behind this complex title lies the promise of benefits for patients recovering from orthopaedic injuries.

– An orthopaedic scaffold is a bone implant used when there is a defect in the bone. My work addresses the flaws of currently used constructions. The main advantage of the scaffold is that its fixation does not cause as much damage to the bone as other solutions, thus helping to prevent limb amputation – explained Anita Gryko, a PhD student at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

A completely different topic was presented by Krzysztof Duch from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, who focused his research efforts on climate protection, presenting a poster on “Eco-Friendly Solutions in Low CO2 Emission Construction”.

– A distinctive feature of technical universities is that many research projects have a very practical aspect, offering great hope for real-world implementation, such as building prototypes that can be sold to companies. This technical aspect translates into the social usefulness of these projects in the form of new devices and technical solutions. Our PhD students are strongly involved in areas aligned with the university’s departments, such as electronics, mechanics, construction, and IT solutions, which are particularly popular nowadays. We strive to involve younger people in research and development activities, resulting in individuals with innovative ideas joining our doctoral school. Our staff ensures they are guided towards success – said Piotr Golonko, MSc, who served as the Chair of the Doctoral Student Council at Bialystok University of Technology for four years and will soon defend his doctoral thesis.

The initiative organised by the doctoral students allowed participants to share the results of their research, exchange information with other researchers, and, importantly, establish research and business contacts for future collaboration. The experiences gained will facilitate the young researchers’ future work in interdisciplinary teams.

An additional highlight of the meeting was the opportunity to meet professors from the scientific committee (chaired by Prof. Michał Kuciej, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering), who provided substantive feedback and guidance during the sessions. Such feedback from academic authorities will help those taking their first steps in research to direct their efforts and further develop their scientific endeavours.

The young scientists also participated in two soft skills workshops. The first, on cultural differences, was led by Joanna Szydło, PhD, from the Faculty of Management Engineering at Bialystok University of Technology. Monika Śleszyńska, PhD, from the Foreign Languages Centre at Bialystok University of Technology presented the principles of clear scientific communication.

The icing on the cake was the awarding of prizes to four authors for the best presentations at the event. Two of the winners were our PhD students – Arkadiusz Bożko from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Maciej Kozłowski from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences. Some of the presented papers will also be published in a conference monograph.

We thank the participants for attending the 1st International Young Researchers Conference: Ideas, Research, Training. We hope this event marks another step towards technical innovations that foster collaboration among young researchers worldwide.

We encourage anyone interested in an academic career to join the Doctoral School of Bialystok University of Technology, which prepares PhD students for scientific development through an interdisciplinary approach. The education is conducted in Polish and English, lasts four years (eight semesters), and is delivered by highly qualified staff.

– Completing the doctoral school is not only the first step in an academic career but also a path to industrial development. Our innovative solutions can have a real impact on improving the quality of life – says Adriana Dowbysz, MSc, PhD candidate at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, on the key role of doctoral education in the socio-economic environment.

The 1st International Young Researchers Conference was organised by the Doctoral Student Council of Bialystok University of Technology and the Agreement of Doctoral Students of Technical Universities.
The conference was held under the honorary patronage of the Rector of Bialystok University of Technology, the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, and the President of Białystok.

Partners: Bialystok University of Technology Development Foundation, University Council of the Doctoral Student Council of the Silesian University of Technology.

Visit the event website.