More Than 700 Science Enthusiasts Gather for Third Maritime Festival of Science

On the first day of the Maritime Science Festival, primary and secondary school pupils had the opportunity to discover maritime customs and traditions, the history and origin of the boatswain's call, and explore the University's study programmes. During practical workshops, attendees learned how shipping containers arrive in Gdynia and discovered the keys to effective selling. Budding engineers also built their own Bluetooth speakers, tried their hand at robot programming, and tackled the logical challenges of the ‘IT Escape Room’. A variety of laboratories and simulators were also open to visitors, including: the Materials Testing Laboratory, the Hydroacoustics Laboratory, the Automation and Robotics Laboratory and the Marine Propulsion Plants Simulator. 

The second day of the festival launched with a live demonstration of a liferaft deployment. Participants saw first-hand how a liferaft inflation sequence is triggered from its canister capsule and learned how it functions in emergency situations.

Throughout the day, pupils also attended captivating shows at the A. Ledóchowski Planetarium, took part in sessions at the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Simulation Laboratory, and experienced a virtual reality simulator designed for specialist transport, shipping, and logistics (TSL) vehicles. The ‘How to Survive in a Liferaft’ workshops, conducted entirely inside an inflated raft, proved to be a major highlight.

The final day of the Maritime Festival of Science took on a celebratory atmosphere, culminating in a maritime picnic held on 13 June 2026 on the grounds of the Faculty of Navigation campus. The picnic served as the grand finale to the three-day celebration of science.

Visitors explored stalls featuring fascinating demonstrations and attractions prepared by staff from the GMU Maritime Institute, the Student Parliament, and members of various student scientific circles, including: 'Translog' Transport and Logistics, Sea Quest, Transport Engineering, Cargo, Seamed — Maritime Medicine and Rescue, and Microbot. These were joined by representatives of the GMU Student Parliament. The event also featured interactive exhibitions from public services, including the Maritime Border Guard Regional Unit and emergency medical technicians with an operational ambulance 

The festival stage remained lively throughout the day with sea shanty concerts performed by the ‘Zawisza Czarny’ Male Shanty Choir and Jakub Paluszkiewicz. The traditional maritime music brought a distinct nautical flair to the waterfront, drawing in passers-by who were walking along Kościuszko Square and Gdynia Marina.

Visitors also maintained the opportunity to climb inside a liferaft to explore its survival equipment.

In addition to enjoying the shanties, refreshments, and interactive exhibitions, maritime and sailing enthusiasts were treated to short boat trips along the picturesque Seaside Boulevard. Run by the Sailing and Water Sports Centre, these short coastal cruises proved immensely popular.

The Maritime Picnic, and indeed the entire Maritime Science Festival, provided an exceptional opportunity to connect our University’s academic community with young minds who may well become the researchers of tomorrow. Events like this demonstrate that science is not confined to the pages of textbooks, but actively surrounds us in our everyday lives. 

 We would like to express our sincere thanks to all members of staff, students, and doctoral candidates involved in organising the 3rd Maritime Science Festival. Special thanks also go to the team at the Sailing and Water Sports Centre, the Maritime Institute, the Maritime Border Guard Regional Unit, and the attending paramedics for their active support and contribution to the event's success. 

The project is co-financed by the state budget under the ‘Social Responsibility of Science II’ programme, awarded by the Minister of Science.

Honorary Patronage:

Mieczysław Struk – Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship
Aleksandra Kosiorek – Mayor of the City of Gdynia
The Gdańsk Board of Education 

Media Patronage: 

gospodarkamorska.pl
Radio Eska
trojmiasto.pl