Experience and discover - Centrum Nauki Kopernik

No wonder, since the rich educational offer tailored to audiences of all ages, interesting events and, above all, a practical and unconventional approach to science - attracts like a magnet. Since the "Big Bang" in November 2010. - an outdoor show directed by Saskia Boddeke and Peter Greenaway - the inauguration of the center's opening - the site has been growing in line with its mission - "to inspire experience, understanding of the world and responsibility."

From the very beginning, the center's founders have been reaching out to audiences with initiatives that may seem very innovative at the time of their launch. Just a month after opening, in 2010. CNK opened the world's first Robotic Theater, with humanoid robots - RoboThespian - created by the British company Engineered Arts Ltd. as actors. Currently, the theater features three young humanoid actors who have settled in well at CNK. They move with the help of compressed air - they can speak in many languages, gesticulate, and express emotions. They bring a lot of joy to young audiences, and show older audiences a different perspective on the development of theater.

A visit to CNK is like an all-day expedition full of adventures. On the premises, you can see permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as take part in workshops that facilitate the exploration of issues related to biology, new technologies and everyday human life.  In addition to the Robotic Theater, it is worth mentioning here the Heavens of Copernicus, a planetarium that is also the showcase of the site. It offers a whole range of attractions: from children's movies, sky walks, concerts and events - all space-themed, of course. It's real fun for lovers of celestial entities.

The Experimentation Zone, on the other hand, created as part of a partnership between Samsung and Plus, allows visitors to conduct nearly 200 experiments on their own. It is reminiscent of a game of uphill walking - with each experience, the recipient gains knowledge that can be used at the next station. One can also embark on a journey to learn about oneself as a human being and test one's functioning, e.g. the capabilities of one's body, sensitivity to light, color perception, susceptibility to illusions, as well as experience whether one is able to drive a car after drinking alcohol. 

The "Bzzz!" exhibit designed for Najs, is the perfect product for little explorers to see what it's like to perceive the world from an animal perspective. This sensory pathway allows children to explore the natural world around them through touch, hearing and sight, while answering questions that children often ask - such as what is air, sound, shadow, etc. - thereby educating adults.

n addition to interactive, interesting exhibitions, it also provides thematic classes in biological, chemical, physical and robotic laboratories, allowing us to discover new knowledge and get answers to our questions under the guidance of experts.  CNK prepares and vigorously develops educational programs dedicated to teachers and their students. These include: The Future is Today, Little Explorer's Club, ESERO, Dream Constructors, Make It, as well as traveling exhibitions and mobile exhibitions such as Planetobus and Naukobus, which travel throughout Poland, particularly to those establishments that have difficult access to science centers. In addition, the e-Copernicus platform features digitized lesson plans, podcasts, videos and webinars to supplement lesson topics. 

A real treat and a new spot on the map of Warsaw, created for young people full of passion and the desire to develop competencies, is the center for educational innovation - otherwise known as the Copernican Revolution Workshop. , "Using knowledge of learning, we want to design solutions for education and science communication of the new generation. Effectively combine science and science teaching with the interests, passions and needs of today's students and the opportunities offered by technology today," - said at the grand opening of the Laboratory on March 31, 2023.  Robert Firmhofer, Chief Executive Officer of the Copernicus Science Center. "Our goal is to support young people in preparing for the challenges of the future, "he added. 

So what is PPK? It is a place for research and development work created for residents of Warsaw, scientists from all over Poland and the world, where they can carry out their projects from A to Z. It's here, in well-equipped workshops (with professional equipment used to produce prototypes) and laboratories, (equipped with high-tech instruments and apparatus allowing to conduct biological, chemical and physical experiments), new exhibitions, exhibits, educational aids, lesson plans, as well as interdisciplinary projects and events are created together with partners. Sharing the new space with other researchers involved in education, the Copernican Revolution Workshop invites scientific institutions, engineers, psychologists, sociologists, educators, artists, inventors and business representatives, who, using the infrastructure of the Copernicus Science Center, can carry out their own projects or join those carried out by the Center. The originators of this initiative hope that the PPK will become a true creative melting pot, where bold ideas will be turned into innovative solutions.

Among all these attractions and educational investments, the initiatives created with an adult audience in mind should not be overlooked. We are talking about "Evenings for Adults", which are created in cooperation with Samsung. Each , "Evening" is a special event on a different topic, which is a lot of fun for both humanists and scientific minds. The program for each event is carefully crafted. There is no shortage of medical and scientific topics given, in short 45-minute lectures, musical shows and those with stars over our heads. 

So far, the "Evenings" have discussed such topics as intimate human relationships, Slavic folk beliefs related to the summer solstice, psychoactive drugs and chemical compounds, music and the voice, and the relationship between sight and memory. Stay tuned for programs of future "Evenings for Adults". www.kopernik.org.pl/wydarzenia/wieczory-dla-doroslych

This is a real intellectual feast. Scientific stuff served in such an attractive way that such an evening can be a good idea for a date, spending time with friends or finding time for yourself. 

The Copernicus Science Center surprises, educates and is constantly evolving. It is a scientific command center open to everyone. Educators working at CNK are true science enthusiasts, eager to infect visitors with their passion. The hands-on opportunity to explore makes people like to come back there and discover new things! And we will find out about what new things are coming up at CNK soon!