Guide to student science clubs of the Faculty of Biology and Animal Science

• For those interested in bees: the "APIS" Beekeepers Student Science Club
• For those interested in healthy animal diets: the Animal Nutrition Student Science Club
• For those interested in furry farm animals: the Breeders of Small Ruminants and Fur Animals "FutrOwce" Student Science Club
• For those interested in wild animals: the Theriologists Student Science Club
• For those interested in plants: the Plant Biologists "Mlecz" Student Science Club
• For those interested in anthropology: the "Juvenis" Student Science Club
• For those interested in biology and computer science: the Bioinformatics Student Science Club
• For those interested in medical, biological and chemical sciences: the Interdisciplinary Society of Biomedicists

Student Science Clubs enable students to develop various interests and competences. Participation in such clubs not only brings educational benefits, but can also become an opportunity to master the art of self-presentation, which can be a valuable point on your CV, especially if you develop your practical skills. In addition, student scientific clubs also organise trips, events and festivities, both in Poland and abroad. 

At the Faculty of Biology and Animal Science, biology enthusiasts will surely find the right society for themselves – from clubs for those interested in plants, animal nutrition and biomedicine, through chinchillas, alpacas and wild animals, to bioinformatics and human skeletons. Take your pick! The most active clubs at the faculty are:

The Interdisciplinary Society of Biomedics, the Anthropologists "Juvenis" Student Science Club, the Bioinformatics Student Science Club, the Plant Biologists "Mlecz" Student Science Club, the Small Ruminants and Fur Animals "FutrOwce" Student Science Club, the Beekeepers "APIS" Student Science Club, the Theriologists Student Science Club and the Animal Nutrition Student Science Club. 

Membership in a Student Science Club also opens doors to international scientific conferences. Participants of the Teriologists society were in Brno at the MendelNet conference, and members of the Bioinformatics Student Science Club went to Davos for a "European Association for Animal Production" conference. Students' clubs also organise various events, such as the Student Activity Day or the National Student Anthropology Conference, and take part in national conferences, such as "50 shades of crime" or Funeralia - as was the case for members of the "Juvenis" Student Science Club. Some of them also have a chance to appear on the radio, such as the Interdisciplinary Scientific Society of Biomedics on Radio Luz, and the vast majority also publish articles in scientific journals.

So a lot is happening at these student clubs. Important moments such as attending conferences, organising events, meeting online and publishing are a big part of the life of the student community belonging to these clubs, but not a dominant one. Students' clubs are also about having fun.

The Beekeepers "APIS" student's society

– Working at the "APIS" Student Science Club is primarily a passion. We learn together and often from each other, but we also remember to have fun. Our club is the perfect place to meet interesting people, always willing to help with research and projects, and working with bees allows you to come into contact with nature and get to know these fascinating insects. It's a chance to get to know more about their lives, how important they are to us and the environment around us. Besides, nothing tastes better than honey straight from the hive - laughs Alicja Rybak, the president of the "APIS" club. Members of this club take care of bee families in the university apiary and organise trips to other apiaries. They build hotels for solitary bees and bumblebees, conduct research and write popular science articles. They have also been responsible for co-organising entomology workshops and participated in Art and Science workshops, using beeswax in their projects.

The Animal Nutrition Student Science Club

The Animal Nutrition Student Science Club brings together people with a broad interest in feed and animal nutrition. - Everyone in Poland knows a nursery rhyme about a black cow with maroon spots chewing grass while wiggling its head. But not everyone knows that grass is not enough in the basic diet of a cow - laughs Arkadiusz Płatek, chairman of the Animal Nutrition Student Science Club, emphasising that people responsible for the selection of feed or animal feed should know the basic secrets of feeding, so that animals do not suffer as a result of the breeder's ignorance.

The Small Ruminants and Fur Animal Breeders "FutrOwce" Student Science Club

People less interested in the nutritional aspect of animal husbandry can sign up for the Small Ruminants and Fur Animal Breeders "FutrOwce" club. This student's club is a community of people passionate about sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas, rodents, lagomorphs and canines. Jakub Smoliński, chairman of the club, admits that they are like a family: - When I joined the club a few years ago, I immediately felt I was part of a crazy big family! 

In addition to the great atmosphere, the "FutrOwce" Student Science Club, on top of offering students a chance to broaden their knowledge on the topic of small ruminants, hair biology, animal behaviour and microbiology, also focuses on acquiring practical skills and working in the field.

- The birth of litter and shearing are two memorable activities at the Research and Educational Station in Swojczyce. Our club focuses on practical work in the field, which, contrary to appearances, is incredibly relaxing. This year, we will also have more than one trip to Poznań, because we have started cooperation with the Puchaty Patrol (Fluffy Patrol) - an association for the rescue of chinchillas and small animals. Nothing pleases us more than selfless help - says Jakub.

The Theriologists Student Science Club

Alpacas and sheep are cute, but some people are interested in different kinds of animals than farmed ones. The Teriologists Student Science Club deals with the study of mammals, mainly wild ones, and they plan to expand their activities to ornithology. - Our more interesting tasks include tracking animals in the field and inventorying small mammals and bats living in Poland. Recently, the Teriologists Student Science Club also established cooperation with the Society for the Protection of Bats "Nietoperek", thanks to which members of the club had the opportunity to take part in the international annual bat count in an underground site near Międzyrzecz. We also plan to organise scientific camps, among others in the Strobrawski Landscape Park and in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of cooperation with students from Sarajevo, together with the Plant Biologists "Mlecz" Student Science Club - says the chairman of the club, Wojciech Godlewski.

Plant Biologists “Mlecz” Student Science Club

The "Mlecz" Student Science Club of Plant Biologists is a great choice for those interested in botany. Their main goal of research has recently become peat bogs in the Trzcińskie Mokrady swamps in Radomierz, and they plan to cooperate with one of the Polish National Parks in the near future.

The Anthropologists "Juvenis" Student Science Club

The Anthropologists "Juvenis" Student Science Club is intended for people who are interested in human biology. It has been operating continuously for 12 years. Members of this Student Science Club actively participate in academic life, as well as in science camps, during which they participate in archaeological and anthropological excavations. As the chairwoman Daria Gromnicka emphasises, scientific research is an indispensable element of their activities: - We deal with a wide range of topics - from analysis of bone material, to research in the field of primatology, ergonomics, sexuality and human attractiveness, forensics and archeology, and related sciences. We also go to excavations, during which students have an opportunity to get to know the material in practice and feel like Indiana Jones - says Daria.

The Bioinformatics Student Science Club

After all, not everyone wants to be like Indiana Jones. The Bioinformatics Student Science Club is for those with a more analytical approach, who prefer being a programmer than an adventurer. This Student Science Club focuses on the development of scientific and commercial aspects. - In terms of science, we emphasise the development of key skills in the analysis of real biological data. The results of our work are published in journals with an Impact Factor and Ministry of Science points, which are a strong foundation for the development of a scientific career. With regards to the commercial approach, we focus on presenting areas where bioinformatics is used, among others in developing biotechnology companies in the field of drug development and commercialisation. Such meetings allow students to focus on career development opportunities after graduation - says Krzysztof Kotlarz, chairman of the club.

The Interdisciplinary Biomedicists’ Scientific Society

And at the end - a choice for the undecided. Something for those who cannot decide which field and discipline of science is their favourite. The Interdisciplinary Society of Biomedical Sciences combines several areas: medical, biological and chemical sciences. It brings together students who develop a passion for science, especially in the field of innovative therapeutic solutions based on the use of biomedical techniques. They carry out research on the development of therapeutic strategies used in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. - We are an interdisciplinary club, which gives us great opportunities. We work primarily with stem cells that are not yet well understood, and we hope that our research will someday help in the treatment of all sorts of diseases. We bring together people who do not want to reproduce research, but we try to write history ourselves. This is evidenced by the fact that as many as three members of the club were among the winners of the "Young Minds" award during one edition! - its president Natalia Romek proudly emphasises.

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