This is the third edition already and it brings the next six winning teams – the Fahrenheit Champions of Cooperation. On Thursday 12 December, a ceremony was held to announce the results of this year's edition of the Fahrenheit Universities’ competition for science clubs. Nineteen teams made up of the members of as many as 37 science clubs from the MUG, Gdańsk Tech and UG competed for the trophies.

The participants gathered in the Invasive Medicine Centre of the University Clinical Centre to present their ideas and listen to the verdict. The guests were greeted by Prof. Aleksandra Gaworska-Krzemińska, Vice-Rector for Students’ Affairs at the Medical University of Gdańsk, and Prof. Adriana Zaleska-Medynska, Director of the Fahrenheit Universities in Gdańsk, presented a brief introduction to the main criteria of the competition. Later in the meeting, she also provided information on the ongoing work to change the competition's formula – a two-stage process for evaluating submissions (involving meetings with teams) and the introduction of mentoring support. Involved in the topic are the members of the Competition Chapter, including the Vice-Rectors for Students’ Affairs present at the event: Barbara Wikieł, Associate Professor of the Gdańsk Tech and Prof. Urszula Patocka-Sigłowy, Associate Professor of the UG.

Also present were the representatives of the local authorities. Monika Zdroik, Deputy Director for International and Inter-Regional Cooperation at the Department of Economic Development of the Office of the Governor of the Pomeranian Region, emphasized the most important aspects of the implementation of cooperation-based initiatives, and encouraged further development in Pomerania.

The speakers included not only project team members. Kamil Szefler, an engineer associated with the Gdańsk Tech, talked about challenges that become passions and about development opportunities for committed and determined people. Right after his speech, the floor was taken by Marta Moksa, director of O4 Coworking, who gave tips on how to prepare for interviews and for a dream job search, but also on how to analyse one's own needs and the employer’s expectations.

During the ceremony, all teams had the opportunity to briefly present the ideas they had submitted for the competition, and there were as many as 19 teams in this edition.

In the research and science project category:

• Bio-Waste to Bio-Best: environmentally friendly composites of the future
• EKODESy – modern solvents for therapeutical substances
• DepressionControlApp: Modern technologies as a protective shield for the mental health of the Fahrenheit Universities’ community
• The gut microbiome and psychological wellbeing and attitudes
• The search for new adaptogens: exploring potential plants with neuroprotective effects
• Regional corrosivity map
• ParkSense Dynamics – towards the precise diagnosis of muscle tremor in patients affected by Parkinson's disease
• Oxytetracycline-based metalloantibiotics: breakthrough drugs of the future in the fight against bacterial resistance
• The road to better implants: collaborative research at the interface of engineering and medicine
• How could an increase in tariffs on Chinese electric cars affect European economy?
• AlgoPower – Energy of the future from algal oils and sugars
• Construction of the Fast Neutron Dosimeter

In the social impact project category:

• Cyber Shield
• Economic debate tournament – Economics Open 2025
• BalticHumanHealth – Health with the Baltic Sea
• Grow healthy bacteria – through intestines to wellbeing
• A DRONE, or how does how physics see and heal?
• Physics-STRONG Students’ Conference
• Gniew as a 15-minute city. In search of a healthy and sustainable living environment

The project entitled “ParkSense Dynamics – towards the precise diagnosis of muscle tremor in patients affected by Parkinson's disease” by the Medical Intelligence Lab Intercollegiate Science Club received the highest score of all the submissions. Thus, the project won first place in the scientific research project category.

The aim of the project is to improve a portable device to measure muscle tremor in people affected by Parkinson's disease, which could contribute to better monitoring of the progress of the disease, thus improving the patients’ quality of life and sense of security. The authors argue that, in the perspective of several years and in the most optimistic one, the project will set new diagnostic standards.

The second place in that category was taken by the project “DepressionControlApp: Modern technologies as a protective shield for the mental health of the Fahrenheit Universities’ community” submitted by the PatientX (the MUG) and DeepDive (the UG) science clubs. The originators aim to create a prototype of an app that supports mental health by enabling the monitoring of the mental condition and preventing the escalation of problems. The authors assume that the app will increase user involvement in the self-help and therapy process owing to features such as the virtual assistant and gamification elements.

In third place came “The gut microbiome and psychological wellbeing and attitudes” project developed by the Interdisciplinary Healthcare Management (the MUG) and SciClub (the UG) science clubs. The main aim of the project is to investigate the correlation between lifestyle, including eating habits and stimulant use, and an individual's psychological wellbeing and attitudes, taking into account the role of the gut microbiome as a mediator in these relationships. Through an innovative research approach, the team want to support the development of new health promotion strategies.

The highest place in the social impact project category was awarded for the project titled “A DRONE, or how does physics see and heal?” The members of the Gdańsk Tech’s BioPhoton Inter-Faculty Students’ Science Club, the Gdańsk Tech’s Inter-Faculty Nuclear Students’ Science Club and the UG's SIWERT Medical Physicists’s Science Club want to contribute to raising awareness of the medical physicists’ role and tasks, which are essential for planning and implementing therapy, ensuring radiological protection for patients and staff and the best possible diagnosis.

Another award-winning project is “Gniew as a 15-minute city. In search of a healthy and sustainable living environment” based on the idea of the Students’ Psychology Science Club (the MUG), the Hulaj Urban Squad Science Club (the Gdańsk Tech) and the Spatial Economy Science Club (the UG). The aim of the project is to conduct research on the area under analysis in terms of the concept of a 15-minute city, cycling and food accessibility, as well as the quality of life of the inhabitants of that city. The plans include podcasts and feature articles, as well as a series of workshops for the residents (e.g. on mental health, nutrition education and the quality of life).

Also among the winners were the authors of the proposal titled the “BalticHumanHealth – Health with the Baltic Sea” from the Environmental Health and Epidemiology Students’ Science Club (the MUG), the SimLE Inter-Faculty Student’s Science Club, the Oceanographers' Student’s Science Club and of the “Kryl” Hydrologists’ Students’ Science Club. Those four science clubs will carry out surveys and environmental studies, analysing the level of environmental awareness and the selected parameters of the marine environment, including the occurrence of toxic microorganisms and the basic characteristics of water in the Baltic Sea. The project includes the promotion of health and active living in a clean environment, as well as the study of the impact of aquatic ecosystems on the health of people living in coastal areas.

The winning teams can start activities as early as January, and they must spend the grants by the end of 30 October 2025.

Photo: Gregmar