The festival will be formally inaugurated with the presentation of the Honorary Doctorate of the University of Wroclaw to Professor Shūji Nakamura on Thursday 17 September at 12 pm at the Leopoldinum. The Japanese-born American physicist was awarded the Nobel Prize last year "for the invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes, which has enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources"
The Lower Silesian Science Festival starts on Friday 18 September with the lecture "Light-Darkness in Culture and Literature" to be delivered by literary historian Professor Bogusław Bednarek. The lecture is held at the European Union Hall in the Law Faculty building (ul. Uniwersytecka 7/10) at 10 pm.
Light is the central theme of this year's edition of the festival. A number of lectures on light by physicists, chemists and astronomers are provided in the programme. However, sessions featuring researchers in humanities will also be devoted to light. It is the festival's tradition that the audience can also take a stroll in Science Park. Both students and academic teachers will be waiting for you in the stalls along the Old Town Promenade. This event is particularly popular with families with children. Science Park kicks off on Sunday in the Puppet Theatre's vicinity.
All in all, the festival offers over one thousand different events, lectures, shows, meetings and guided walks. Some of them are available only by prior reservation. A detailed plan of the festival is available at www.festiwal.wroc.pl.
