History

Origins and History of the MINT.pb Project (2021–2024)

The MINT.pb project is an international scientific and educational initiative bringing together young people from the Academic Secondary School of the Białystok University of Technology (ALO PB) and the Elisabeth-Gymnasium in Halle. The project was born out of a passion for the sciences, fostering connections between people and breaking down barriers – not only historical ones but also those arising from the challenges of the pandemic.

The Initiative’s Beginnings: Spring 2021

The project’s origins date back to spring 2021, when Artur Kuźmicz, MA, made contact with Ms Elisabeth Ritter from the Polish-German Youth Cooperation (PNWM) organisation. Substantive support from the PNWM provided the key impetus for further action.

Despite the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a relationship was established with Mr Steffen Kreuzmann of the Elisabeth-Gymnasium in Halle, which officially marked the start of the Polish-German partnership.

Remote Collaboration and the Launch of the MINT Portal (2021–2022)

Over four semesters, young people from both schools took part in regular, weekly online sessions. In the initial phase, the meetings were designed to foster integration – they served to break down language barriers (by alternating between Polish, German and English), to present the schools and their towns, and to exchange knowledge about regional traditions. A group of around 25 pupils and teachers from Poland and Germany were involved in the initiative.

Over time, the programme has increasingly evolved towards interdisciplinary scientific research. Together the young people developed a methods for measuring water, air and soil pollution. The results of their research were presented during seminars at the Foreign Languages Centre of the Białystok University of Technology (SJO PB).

During this period, pupils from ALO PB – under the supervision of Anetta Pogrebniak, MA, Marzena Smolewska, MA, and Artur Kuźmicz, MA – created the trilingual website MINT.pb. Jonasz Michaluk, a pupil at ALO PB, was responsible for the technical development of the portal in the subsequent phase.

The Transition to Face-to-Face Learning: 2023

The year 2023 marked a breakthrough with the first study exchanges to Germany and Poland. Although the initial trips were organised with caution due to post-pandemic restrictions, the face-to-face meetings proved to be a great success both academically and socially. The German group was supervised by Mr Gordon Dannat and Ms Katharina Mororua.

Work in the university laboratories at the Białystok University of Technology became the heart of the project:

the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences (WBiNoŚ) and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (WM) at the Białystok University of Technology: the pupils carried out experiments, learning about research methodology and the activities of student research societies. We would like to thank Prof. Monika Kalinowska and Dr Adam Bajkowski for their academic support of the young people.

Dynamic Development and Expansion of the Research Base (2023–2024)

Between 2023 and 2024, the project consistently expanded its scope to include new areas of research such as the analysis of the presence and properties of poisonous plants in the urban environment.

New university faculties joined the collaboration:

Białystok University of Technology (Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics): Continuation of laboratory classes and instrumental measurements under the supervision of academic staff.

University of Białystok (UwB): Participants took part in sessions at the Faculty of Biology (analysis of biotope aquariums) and the Faculty of Physics (observations of the Foucault pendulum and a visit to the UMB Planetarium).

Regional, Social and Cultural Dimensions

• One of the key objectives of MINT.pb, alongside scientific research in the PB’s laboratories, is the promotion of the natural, historical and cultural heritage of Podlasie.
• Official visits: Programme participants were officially welcomed by the Mayor of Białystok and the Marshal of the Podlasie Voivodeship, and in Germany by the Mayor of Halle.
• Academic collaboration: The young people collaborate regularly with the academic community, research societies and the student union, playing an active role in the region’s academic life.
• Sightseeing and educational programme:
  • Tykocin: Exploring the history of the town, the castle, the Baroque church and the Great Synagogue.
  • Supraśl: Visiting the Icon Museum, the Museum of Printing and Papermaking, and the Supraśl Monastery.
  • Kopna Góra: Analysing forest ecosystems during a visit to the European Bison Demonstration Reserve.
  • Białystok: The historical and contemporary architecture of the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship.

Promoting and informational activity

The academic achievements and the proceedings of each edition of MINT.pb are regularly documented and published in the media:

• University and school websites: The ALO PB, SJO PB, Białystok University of Technology and partner faculties’ websites.
• Dedicated website and promotional materials: The MINT.pb website and official ALO PB information materials.
• Local and social media: Reports on the websites of Białystok City Council, the Marshal’s Office of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, Halle City Council, and on official social media profiles.

Implementation of the Statutory Objectives of the Polish-German Youth Cooperation (PNWM)

The overarching idea behind the MINT.pb project is the implementation of the objectives of the Polish-German Youth Cooperation (PNWM), as set out in the 1991 Intergovernmental Agreement:

1. Mutual understanding and breaking down barriers: Working in laboratory teams and joint trips foster the establishment of lasting relationships and help to dispel entrenched stereotypes.
2. Development of language skills: Practical use of German, English and Polish in the context of the specific nature of the natural sciences.
3. Fostering civic attitudes: Promoting European values, openness and responsibility for the natural environment.
4. Interdisciplinary education: Combining the analysis of contemporary environmental challenges with an exploration of multicultural historical heritage.

Expressions of our gratitude

The success of the MINT.pb project would not have been possible if not for the institutional and personal suport. We would like to express our gratitude to:

• The Polish-German Youth Cooperation (PNWM) – for funding the project and for the ongoing professional guidance provided by Ms Elisabeth Ritter and Mr A. Motyka.
• The management of the PB Academic Secondary School – for creating optimal organisational conditions and supporting the pupils’ international activities.
• The authorities and academics of the faculties at PB, UwB and UMB – for their openness, for making research infrastructure available and for sharing their knowledge with the younger generation of researchers.

DEVELOPMENT AND HISTORY OF THE MINT PROJECT (2025–2026)

The MINT project, run by the Academic Secondary School of the Białystok University of Technology (ALO PB), underwent a dynamic evolution between 2025 and 2026. The initiative, which began as a bilateral partnership with a single partner school [the Elisabeth-Gymnasium in Halle], has developed into a fully-fledged international network for scientific and educational cooperation.

The expansion of the network began in 2024 on the initiative of Artur Kuźmicz, MA, who established contacts with further schools in Germany. As a result, in addition to the existing partner – the Elisabeth-Gymnasium in Halle – the following institutions joined the programme: the Realschule Plus in Kirn, the Robert-Bosch-Berufskolleg in Duisburg and the Klara-Oppenheimer-Schule in Würzburg.

2025: Integration into the local community and research

In 2025, cooperation with the Elisabeth-Gymnasium in Halle was continued and deepened. This edition saw an increase in interest in participating in the project from young people in Poland (25 participants) and Germany (17 participants). The German group was supervised by Fabian Jabs and Sara Trautmann, whilst the Polish side was represented by Artur Kuźmicz, MA, Anetta Pogrebniak, MA, and Marzena Smolewska, MA.

The students’ research focused on an in-depth analysis of air pollution within the school’s infrastructure. The empirical data collected was used to develop proposals for optimising the use of space and the day-to-day organisation of the school.

• Academic collaboration: The pupils carried out measurements and analyses in the laboratories of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences (WBiNoŚ) and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (WM) at the Białystok University of Technology, whilst familiarising themselves with the achievements of student research societies.
• Support from the university authorities: The significance of the project was recognised by the Rector’s Office of the Białystok University of Technology, which hosted official receptions for the participants. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Rector of the Białystok University of Technology, Prof. Katarzyna Halicka, PhD, Eng., Prof. Monika Kalinowska, PhD, and Adam Bajkowski, PhD Eng., for their kindness and support for the initiative.
• Promotion of the region and cultural programme: The project acquired significant promotional traction at regional level. Participants met with the Mayor of Białystok [Tadeusz Truskolaski, Tomasz Klim] and the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship [Łukasz Prokorym, Wiesława Burnos, Jacek Piorunek], the Mayor of Halle [Alexander Vogt] and the German Consul in Gdańsk [Cornelia Pieper]. The educational programme included:
• Regional education: Visits to Białystok, Tykocin (synagogue, castle, museum, Baroque church) and Supraśl (Museum of Icons, Museum of Printing and Papermaking, Monastery).
• Science and nature education: Visits to the European Bison Demonstration Reserve in Kopna Góra, the Planetarium of the Medical University of Białystok, the Faculty of Biology and the Faculty of Physics at the University of Białystok.

2026: Scaling up the initiative and interdisciplinary partnerships

The year 2026 was a landmark year in terms of the number of participants and the scope of the research carried out. Białystok hosted four groups of young people from Germany, who undertook a variety of scientific programmes.

Exchanges under the Polish-German Youth Cooperation (PNWM)

Elisabeth-Gymnasium in Halle (27 participants from Poland, 18 from Germany) and Realschule Plus in Kirn (11 participants from Poland, 9 from Germany): The teams carried out projects focused on environmental analysis. The first group investigated biological and chemical water pollution, whilst the latter one carried out an analysis of wastewater from Białystok.

Projects under the Erasmus+ programme

Robert-Bosch-Berufskolleg in Duisburg (57 participants from Germany): The participants learnt about the region’s economic and educational potential during a meeting at the Marshal’s Office with Mr Jacek Piorunek, a member of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Executive Board. The practical part included sessions in the laboratories of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Białystok University of Technology (electron microscopy, virtual welding simulators, first-aid courses). The German group was supervised by Tatjana Kiljan, Waldemar Gawenda and Andreas Faust. The programme for the visit was drawn up by Artur Kuźmicz, MA, in collaboration with Amelia Sachnik.

Klara-Oppenheimer-Schule in Würzburg (6 participants from Germany): The group carried out an interdisciplinary comparative project in English on food quality and the physicochemical ageing processes of medicinal products. The group was supervised by Thomas Herter and Gerlinde Strauss. The programme was prepared by Artur Kuźmicz, MA, in collaboration with Renate Wallner.

Teaching innovation:

For the first time in the project’s history, German teachers delivered their own lectures, introductory and summary sessions directly at the ALO PB premises for a Polish-German group, and conducted laboratory experiments at the Faculty of Biology, Nature and Environmental Sciences (WBiNoŚ).

Cooperation with the Medical University of Białystok (UMB): A significant turning point was the establishment of close cooperation with the Faculty of Pharmacy at UMB, the UMB Centre for Medical Simulation and the UMB Department of Radiopharmacy, where lectures were regularly held [e.g. on microplastics in water and organisms, and the use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) as one of the most important model organisms in biomedical, genetic and pharmaceutical research] as well as theoretical and practical sessions on emergency medical care at the UMB Medical Simulation Centre, where a total of 65 people were trained in emergency medical care. The pupils from ALO PB and the Klara-Oppenheimer-Schule in Würzburg were particularly impressed by their visit to the Department of Radiopharmacy at UMB, where they learnt about the highly specialised research capabilities of this institution. We would like to extend our special thanks to the researchers at UMB for opening up the world of modern medicine and pharmacy to the young people. We would like to express our gratitude to:

• Prof. Wojciech Miltyk, PhD (Pharm.),
• Prof. Alicja Rydzewska-Rosołowska, PhD (Med.),
• Justyna Hermanowicz, PhD (Pharm.),
• Anna Gromotowicz-Popławska, PhD (Pharm.),
• Agnieszka Ukalska, MA.

Ecology and environmental protection:

The project was expanded to include cooperation with the Municipal Police in Białystok. Participants took part in three diagnostic workshops using a mobile air quality testing laboratory (the ‘Smogobus’).

For the first time, pupils from Poland and Germany took part together in classes held in Germany and run directly by a German technical university – the Bingen University of Applied Sciences [Technische Hochschule Bingen], based in Bingen am Rhein. The sessions in the TU Bingen laboratories focused on water pollution, water quality, green roofs and plants useful for counteracting the urban heat island effect, as well as methods to prevent the deterioration of green roofs.

List of Partner Schools:

School name	School address
Elisabeth-Gymnasium	Murmansker Str. 14, 06130 Halle (Saale), Germany
Realschule Plus Kirn	Halmer Weg 27, 55606 Kirn, Germany
Robert-Bosch-Berufskolleg	August-Thyssen-Str. 45, 47166 Duisburg, Germany
Klara-Oppenheimer-Schule	Stettiner Str. 1, 97072 Würzburg, Germany

Scale and Scope of the Project

The MINT partnership network comprises of four schools with different educational profiles, located in four different regions of Germany.

Given that the Academic General Secondary School PB has a student body of around 250 pupils, the participation rate in 2026 reached a record high:

• ALO PB pupils’ trips abroad: 27 pupils (Halle), 11 pupils (Kirn).
• Partner groups hosted at ALO PB: 18 people (Halle), 9 people (Kirn), 57 people (Duisburg), 6 people (Würzburg).
• Overall figures: A total of 128 people from Poland and Germany took part in study visits and international exchanges at partner institutions abroad. Even more pupils and teachers from ALO PB, as well as from partner schools in Germany, were involved in programmes hosting foreign groups.

For the first time, Sylwia Dobkowska, MA, and Mateusz Nitkowski acted as youth supervisors during trips abroad. The project’s broad scope also attracted volunteers – pupils from ALO PB, students and academic staff from PB and UMB who were not part of a formal exchange.

Digital Transformation: The MINT Portal

In autumn 2026, a comprehensive modernisation of the official science and education portal was carried out.

• Multilingualism and service: The portal is available in three main languages (Polish, German and English) and includes summarised descriptions of the programme objectives in 10 additional languages.
• New digital architecture: Adapting the website to the current standards and web templates of the Białystok University of Technology required intensive work by the technical team. The work was carried out by students Jakub Franczuk and Borys Chomicz under the supervision of Artur Kuźmicz, MA, with substantive and organisational support from Tomasz Huścio, PhD Eng., and Sergiusz Jakuszewicz, B.Eng.
• Practical relevance of the content presented: The portal brings together a wealth of multimedia documentation and research findings. The reports compiled by the students, covering areas such as phytotoxicology, water analysis, and air and soil pollution, provide practical, environmentally friendly recommendations for school and university infrastructure.

Project Objectives

The MINT project is underpinned by the consistent implementation of the principles of Polish-German Youth Cooperation (PNWM), as set out in the 1991 Intergovernmental Agreement. The academic objective is intertwined with the aim of fostering understanding between the younger generations of Poles and Germans.

• Integration and relationship-building: Working in laboratory teams and a joint cultural programme help to break down linguistic and cultural barriers.
• Skills development: Participants improve their command of German, English and Polish in the context of scientific terminology.
• Civic attitudes: International project work fosters attitudes of openness, responsibility and a sense of European community.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the organisations and individuals whose commitment made the MINT project possible in 2025–2026:

• Polish-German Youth Cooperation (PNWM) – for funding the international exchanges and for the expert support provided by Ms E. Chmielewska and Mr A. Motyka.
• The Mayor of Białystok, the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship and the Mayor of Tykocin – for supporting our inter-school cooperation initiative, hosting successive Polish-German groups, promoting the towns and the region, and for the very interesting discussions and exchange of views.
• The management of the Białystok University of Technology – led by His Magnificence the Rector of the University and the Vice-Rectors – for providing access to the laboratory facilities and for their support of youth initiatives.
• The Deans and academic staff of the University’s faculties – in particular the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
• The management and staff of the Medical University of Białystok – for enabling pupils to work in specialist medical and pharmaceutical laboratories.
• The management of the Białystok University of Technology Academic Secondary School – for creating the conditions for the project’s development and for their ongoing organisational support.