A tram, scholarships and a science picnic in Gdańsk on the Fahrenheit Day

26.05.2022

Near exactly 336 years ago, on 24th of May 1686, Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit was born in Gdańsk – a physicist and engineer, inventor of, among others mercury thermometer, creator of the world-famous scale of temperature measurement, and patron of the Fahrenheit Universities, which are co-created by the Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk University of Technology and the University of Gdańsk. On the occasion of his birthday, three leading universities in Gdańsk, together with the City of Gdańsk, are organizing the celebration of Fahrenheit Day, a new science festival in the city. A special tram has just run onto the tracks in Gdańsk, a science picnic will be held next Sunday at Góra Gradowa, and Fahrenheit Scholarships return in a new, wider version.

– For many years we have been trying to keep the memory of this outstanding scientist. In Gdańsk, we can find many accents reminiscent of Daniel Fahrenheit. It is i.a. thermometer standing at Długi Targ street or the plaque in the place of his birth, at Ogarna street. There is also a tram named after him and a play staged at the Miniatura Theatre. We are also glad that the Fahrenheit Universities, a union of the three largest Gdańsk universities, chose him as their patron said Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, President of Gdańsk.

In a press briefing organized in 24th of May 2022 together with President of Gdańsk Aleksandra Dulkiewicz took part representatives of the Fahrenheit Universities: Rector of the University of Gdańsk Prof. Piotr Stepnowski, Vice-Rector for Science of the Medical University of Gdańsk Prof. Michał Markuszewski and Vice-Rector for Organization and Development of the Gdańsk University of Technology Prof. Dariusz Mikielewicz.

On Fahrenheit’s birthday, a special tram set off for the Gdańsk tracks, which for the next year will promote the idea of integrating the leading Gdańsk universities, whose patron is the famous scientist born in Gdańsk. However, this is only one element of the Fahrenheit Day celebration. The Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk University of Technology and the University of Gdańsk are organizing supporting events together with the City of Gdańsk and Hevelianum.

Fahrenheit Day celebration. Student holiday and science picnic

Last weekend, students and residents could have fun at Plac Zebrań Ludowych during the Gdańsk Juwenalia 2022 – the largest student holiday in northern Poland – and enjoy the attractions and scientific demonstrations in the Fahrenheit Universities tent.

However, on Sunday, 29th of May 2022 from 11 a.m. till 6 p.m. the Fahrenheit Science Picnic, organized by Fahrenheit Universities together with the City of Gdańsk will take place on the premises of Hevelianum at Góra Gradowa 6. The event is open, admission is free (except for permanent exhibitions in the premises of Hevelianum, visiting will be payable according to the price list).

– During the Picnic, we will invite participants to discover science together through play. There will be shows prepared by research workers, students and doctoral students of our three universities – said the representative of the FarU’s authorities Prof. Piotr Stepnowski, Rector of the University of Gdańsk during the presentation of the Fahrenheit Universities’ tram.

More information about the Picnic and other initiatives related to the Fahrenheit Day in Gdańsk is available on the Fahrenheit Univerisites’ website.

The Fahrenheit Scholarship in a new version

From the next edition, changes are planned in the award of the Daniel Fahrenheit, funded by the President of Gdańsk. The scholarship has been in operation since 2005, and it was created on the initiative of President Paweł Adamowicz.

– It is a program enabling talented Gdańsk high school graduates to go to foreign universities. So far, we have spent over PLN 15.5 million on the scholarship program, and this amount has allowed us to award as many as 436 scholarships to 150 people. Today, however, we think of Gdańsk as a place that should attract students, instead of sending them to other countries. Therefore, from next year, we want to slightly change the formula of the scholarship – emphasized Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, President of Gdańsk.

The new scholarship project was developed in agreement with the Fahrenheit Universities and will be put to the vote during one of the next sessions of the Gdańsk City Council.

– In the new formula, the scholarship program of the Mayor of the City of Gdańsk for students and doctoral students assumes the award of one research scholarship for an exceptionally gifted person to start studies abroad, worth between PLN 3,000 and 6,000. PLN per month – said Prof. Adriana Zaleska-Medynska, Director of the Fahrenheit Universities, co-creator of new scholarship’s formula, during the press conference. – Further changes are the granting of flats and research scholarships worth up to PLN 6.5 thousand per month for three doctoral students from abroad who will continue their studies in Gdańsk. The last assumption is to fund at least ten one-off research scholarships for special activities for Gdańsk, which will amount to PLN 10 to 20 thousand.

More information about new formula of scholarship is available ant the FarU website.

Universities and the City of Gdańsk remember about Fahrenheit

The tram presented today is not the first one that is associated with the figure of the famous physicist. Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit is the patron of the Pesa Swing tram no. 1015. In 2008, the Fahrenheit meteorological column was unveiled at Długi Targ, and in the place of his birth at Ogarna 95 street you will find a commemorative plaque devoted to him. The establishment of the Fahrenheit University is, in turn, a reference to several hundred years of scientific traditions in Gdańsk, which are co-created and continued by Gdańsk universities. The name of Daniel Fahrenheit is also borne by the Primary School No. 88 in Gdańsk Świbno, and the scientist is also the patron of one of the covered yards of the Main Building of the Gdańsk University of Technology. In turn, near the Medical University of Gdańsk runs Fahrenheit street, and at Grodzka street is home to the Fahrenheit hotel. The creator of the thermometer even patronizes one of the carillon bells in the Main Town Hall.

Fahrenheit universities, or Gdańsk universities, are joining forces

The Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk (currently: Fahrenheit Universities) was appointed in autumn 2020 at the joint request of the Rectors of the Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk University of Technology and the University of Gdańsk.

Its most important task is to promote the image of Gdańsk as a strong academic centre, as well as the best use of the resources and potential of the three universities that make it up, i.a. by conducting joint research and development works, joint promotion and ranking policy in Poland and internationally, as well as representing the common interests of universities towards state and local administration and legislative initiatives.

Thanks to the possible future federalization of the universities, Gdańsk would become one of the strongest academic centres in this part of Europe.

photo Krzysztof Krzempek/Gdańsk Tech