The “Young People for Fahrenheit” popular science conference was held on 17 November this year in the Uphagen House (a Branch of the Museum of Gdańsk at ul. Długa 12). The event under the honorary patronage of the Fahrenheit Universities in Gdańsk was organised by the Uphagen House Association. The conference partner was the Museum of Gdańsk, and the patron was the City of Gdańsk.

The conference took place on the 219^th anniversary of the death of a citizen of Gdańsk, Johann Uphagen, and the conference title referred to the patron of the Fahrenheit Universities (the Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk University of Technology and University of Gdańsk), Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, a researcher born in Gdańsk. In this way, two figures from the world of science, closely connected with Gdańsk, were put together.

The conference objective was to make the citizens of Gdańsk familiar with the directions in research conducted by Ph.D. students of the three universities making up the Fahrenheit Universities (the MUG, Gdańsk Tech and UG). The conference was interdisciplinary.

The President of the Uphagen House Association, Prof. Beata Możejko, greeted the attendees and invited Prof. Piotr Stepnowski, Rector of the University of Gdańsk, to open the session. Prof. Stepnowski stressed the importance of this kind of initiatives, which enable Ph.D. students to share experience and join in a discussion. Prof. Adriana Zaleska-Medynska, Director of the FarU, also took the floor and added that the conference was an excellent chance to forge bonds and make scientific contacts.

The opening lecture on Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit was delivered by an expert in Gdańsk-related issues, Prof. Andrzej Januszajtis. Four sessions followed and 12 papers were delivered (each speech accompanied by a presentation).

Lectures delivered during the conference:

From the fishing ground to the platter in a cultured way, or a few words about food safety culture, Tomasz Grybek, M.Sc., the University of Gdańsk

Electrons versus molecules: about the astrochemical evolution, Natalia Tańska, M.Sc., the Gdańsk University of Technology

The role of the immune system in Alzheimer's disease, doctor Adam Plotka, the Medical University of Gdańsk

In the service of plants and people. Identification of genes involved in the biosynthesis of pharmacologically active plant compounds, Izabela Perkowska, M.Sc., the University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk

Argumentative aspects of disputes over the return or restitution of cultural goods based on the example of cases concerning the collections of the British Museum, Agnieszka Plata, M.A., the University of Gdańsk

The influence of the newly discovered RNA particles on the development of the bacteriophage transferring toxins hazardous to people, Wojciech Wesołowski, M.Sc., the University of Gdańsk

The spatial layout of Gdańsk "villas" and residential houses – Wrzeszcz 1893-1922, Anna Półtorzycka, M.Sc., the Gdańsk University of Technology

The non-linear water waves theory, Laura Grzonka, M.Sc., the University of Gdańsk

Feliks Gadomski (1898-1998) – about a man pulled into the whirl of history, Kinga Alina Langowska, M.A., the University of Gdańsk  

Neuroimaging in psychology, Anna Marcinkowska, Ph.D., the Medical University of Gdańsk

Virtual reality technology in the context of heritage conservation, Szymon Kowalski, M.Sc., the Gdańsk University of Technology

Recombined virus-like particles as potential vaccine antigenes against viruses of the Flavivirus genus, Gabriela Brzuska, M.Sc., the University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk.

A lively discussion followed each session. At the end, Prof. Beata Możejko thanked the speakers and emphasized that they did very well fulfilling their task of popularising knowledge in various fields of science. It was the 1^st edition of this kind of conference, and its broadcast on the Zoom platform was supervised by Piotr Paluchowski, Ph.D., Member of the Management Board of the Uphagen House Association. The meeting was recorded and will soon be available at Youtube on the Video WMG channel.

Press materials by Prof. Beata Możejko

Photo: Agnieszka Grabowska, Museum of Gdańsk