On 6–7 May, the 12th edition of NCN Days will take place in Katowice. In this special year, marking the 15th anniversary of the National Science Centre, attendees are welcome to celebrate together and to reflect on the impact of NCN’s role in the research funding system on the quality of research carried out at Polish institutions.
NCN Days are held each year in a different academic city across Poland. The event offers two days of meetings, workshops and discussions on science in Poland and the funding of research.
Participation is open to researchers, policymakers in the field of science, administrative staff supporting research projects, research data management specialists, PhD students, and students planning to pursue research careers after completing first- and second-cycle studies. NCN Days provide a platform for broad, open and inspiring gathering of all stakeholders involved in developing Poland’s scientific potential.
Panel discussions
The official part of this year’s NCN Days includes four open panel discussions. No registration is required; admission is free.
6 May, 10:00 am The limits of knowledge: does boldness in research pay off?
A panel exploring the tension between security and breakthrough in science. The discussion will focus on the extent to which grant mechanisms encourage research risk-taking and whether they may, at the same time, favour predictability. Participants will consider whether current project evaluation models support bold research approaches, what the real costs of intellectual caution are, and whether space for failure is essential for the advancement of science.
Moderator: Dr hab. Agnieszka Turska-Kawa, Prof. at the University of Silesia
Participants:
- Prof. Dr hab. Krzysztof Jóźwiak, National Science Centre
- Prof. Dr hab. Ryszard Koziołek, University of Silesia
- Prof. Dr hab. Michał Krzysztofik, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice
- Dr hab. Anna Malinowska, Prof. at the University of Silesia
- Dr hab. Agata Daszkowska-Golec, Prof. at the University of Silesia
Venue: Lecture Theatre of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Silesia, ul. Uniwersytecka 4, Katowice
6 May, 12.15 pm Quality – a natural feature of science
A panel dedicated to the quality of research. The discussion will begin with a reflection on the freedom to choose research topics and the factors that determine whether research is basic or applied. Participants will discuss the role of NCN in supporting both research quality and high standards in the publication of research results. They will also explain what expert evaluation means in practice, how formal shortcomings differ from substantive shortcomings, and what options are available to applicants whose projects have not received funding. This is a discussion about what we can do now, using the tools we already have, to genuinely support the quality of science in Poland.
Participants:
- Prof. Dr hab. Mariola Łaguna, NCN Council, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
- Dr hab. inż. Alicja Kazek-Kęsik, Prof. at the Silesian University of Technology, NCN Council, Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice
- Prof. Dr hab. Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk, NCN Council, University of Silesia
- Dr hab. Łukasz Michalczyk, Prof. at the Jagiellonian University, NCN Council, Jagiellonian University in Kraków
The meeting is organised by the NCN Council. It will conclude with a quiz on the National Science Centre, with prizes.
6 May, 2.45 pm Limits of responsibility: research ethics under pressure for results
A panel on the tension between productivity pressure and ethical responsibility in research work. The starting point will be the growing number of article retractions and cases of data manipulation, plagiarism and “optimising” results for the points-based system. Participants will discuss how evaluation culture influences researchers’ everyday decisions, where the boundary between strategic action and misconduct lies, and what institutional mechanisms can protect research integrity. This is a discussion about trust: whether the reward system supports research quality or unintentionally rewards behaviours that undermine it.
Moderator: Prof. Dr hab. Tomasz Pietrzykowski, University of Silesia
Participants:
- Prof. Dr hab. Tomasz Dietl, NCN Council
- Dr Patrycja Rudnicka, Academy of Fine Arts, Katowice
- Prof. Dr hab. Sebastian Werle, Silesian University of Technology
- Michał Tomaszek, CINIBA, University of Silesia
- Professor Marlena Jankowska, Prof. at the University of Silesia, University of Silesia
Venue: Lecture Theatre of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Silesia, ul. Uniwersytecka 4, Katowice
7 May, 2.00 pm Between passion and burnout: the hidden costs of success. How can burnout in academia be prevented? The everyday life of a researcher
An academic career is often driven by passion, ambition and constant curiosity about the world. At the same time, it involves productivity pressure, competition, funding uncertainty and blurred boundaries between work and private life. This session invites reflection on the less visible costs of academic success and on ways to build long-term satisfaction with research work without losing health or energy. Participants will examine the specific cognitive and emotional burdens of research work, the culture of “constant achievement” and the traps of perfectionism. Practical strategies for protecting well-being will be discussed: energy management, setting boundaries at work, micro-recovery, realistic planning and building supportive professional relationships. Researchers will also share their own experiences. The NCN will outline the mechanisms and support measures designed to support the well-being of staff in projects, as well as options available in the event of unforeseen situations.
Moderator: Dr hab. Agnieszka Bielska-Brodziak, Prof. at the University of Silesia
- Prof. Maciej Nowak, University of Economics in Katowice
- Prof. Oskar Kowalski, Medical University of Silesia
- Katarzyna Więcek-Jakubek, University of Silesia, HR Department
- Dr Anna Wiktor, NCN
Venue: spinPLACE, ul. Bankowa 5, Katowice
A recording of the discussions held during the official part of NCN Days on 6 May will be available on the National Science Centre YouTube channel after the event.
Workshops and training courses
NCN Days also include workshops and training sessions. In Katowice, across as many as nine workshop sessions, we will meet with researchers planning to submit a proposal, staff responsible for the administrative management of research projects at institutions, and people interested in research data management. We also encourage participation in online training sessions for applicants, regularly delivered by NCN scientific coordinators, online training sessions on open science, and webinars for administrative staff, which take place approximately once a quarter. We also recommend #NCNpodcasts, in which we discuss issues important to science in Poland, as well as inspiring conversations with scientists representing the #NCNgeneration, produced to mark NCN’s 15th anniversary.
Co-organizers of the NCN Days 2026
Media patronage
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