Three student science clubs with funding from FAST

The Student Activity Fund (FAST) program supports academic entrepreneurship, commitment to develop scientific research, innovation and creativity. FAST is a local program initiated by the Mayor of Wrocław, and each project that is chosen has a chance to receive a subsidy of up to PLN 5,000. 

This spring, for the third time in a row, the Wrocław Academic Center announced the launch of their program in which students were able to apply for the subsidy. Now, the time has come for the science clubs to finally carry out the selected projects. At Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences three student science clubs received funding for two of their projects.

The first awarded project is called Sensorowo-roWeRowO. The subsidy was acquired by the Geodesy Student Science Club. But it’s not their first success this year. They made an important discovery during one of their science camps in Szczeliniec Wielki. It turned out that the highest point of the Stołowe Mountains, the Pradziad's Armchair, is 3 meters higher than textbooks say.

The Sensorowo-roWeRowO project focuses on creating a bicycle sensor that will collect data on the condition of road surfaces and air quality on Wrocław's bicycle routes. Student Adam Pałęcki, president of the science club is in charge of the project, but the idea was born thanks to the club's supervisor, Dr. Kamil Kaźmierski: – I cycle a lot, so road and cycling path surfaces are important to me. I’ve been guided by my navigation system onto fields and cobblestone roads too many times. I couldn’t find any application, website or tool that would inform me about the condition of the roads or would be able to guide me better. So I shared this thought with my students at a science club meeting. This is how the idea for the project was born – says one of the academic teachers, supervising the Geodesy Student Science Club, adding that after intense brainstorming, members of the science club also came up with the idea to measure the air quality at the same time.

Currently, air pollution is measured by sensors placed high up, on roofs for example, which does not accurately reflect the air quality closer to street level. By measuring the dust level with a sensor attached to a bike, members of the science club will be able to collect more accurate data from paths that are often used by both cyclists and pedestrians.

In order to collect the appropriate measurements, the device created by the students will have to consist of a GNSS locator, an accelerometer that will measure the vibrations, an air dust sensor and a temperature and air pressure sensor that will be needed to correct the influence of humidity on the results.

– Using an accelerometer, we plan to measure and map out roads with a smooth surface based on the vibrations it will record. By examining the different vibration results from gravel, asphalt and cobblestone roads, we will try to determine and ultimately classify the roads that cyclists will use our device on, on a daily basis – explains Dr. Kaźmierski. The second supervisor of the scientific club, Dr. Adrian Kaczmarek further explains: – The air quality will be measured by dust sensors, which will determine the amount of PM 1.0 PM 2.5 and PM 10 particles. For greater accuracy, we also want to introduce software corrections regarding the temperature, pressure and humidity of the air so that the laser sensor doesn’t misread any fog as dust.

The members of the science club plan to build three prototypes with which test drives will be performed. They want to encourage the residents of Wrocław to take part in them to collect data from various routes. Ultimately, the club wants the devices to be small and portable. Perhaps one day they will be mounted on cars, trams or backpacks and they will be able to keep people informed about the quality of the surface and air of the routes they take.

– We plan to visualize the collected data on a website, but maybe in the future we will also develop an app, as part of our work at the science club after we complete the project financed by FAST – says the president of the Geodesy Student Science Club.

The second project which received funding from FAST is a joint venture of two scientific clubs – Landscape Architecture Student Science Club and Spatial Planning Student Science Club “PUZZLE”.

The main goal of the EduGarden project is to create a community school garden in the area belonging to the Vocational School Complex (Zespół Szkół Zawodowych – ZSZ) No. 5 in Wrocław. It’s planned to involve various social groups – schoolchildren, students, teachers, local residents (including seniors) and allotment owners.

As part of the community school garden, a green space will be created in line with the education profiles at ZSZ No. 5, intended for social and educational purposes. Thanks to this, teachers, students and partners working with the school will also be involved in the project. As the project manager from the “PUZZLE” Student Science Club, student Mariusz Skupień says: – EduGarden is our second project financed by FAST. In this edition, we are also designing a garden, but in collaboration with the Landscape Architecture Student Science Club. We want specialists in this field to help us choose the right plants, among other things. We have already finished an open workshop for residents, youth and teachers, during which we collected a lot of ideas which we will use to develop the concept of the garden. Now we just have to get to work and start gardening.

The workshop for residents was aimed at discussing the management of gardens, providing the community with information about the basic rules of arranging garden spaces, garden styles, functional and spatial planning, as well as plant selecting and the impact of gardens on climate change and epidemiology conditions.

The project is of a social and educational nature, as it will involve collaborating with the local community – especially with allotment owners who have extensive practical knowledge about gardens. Ultimately, the school plans to open its yard to residents and make the area available to all visitors. As Mariusz emphasizes: – The fact that it is a vocational school allows us to work with young people who will be able to use the garden for educational purposes. Some students will be able to deepen their knowledge of plants, and for example those studying carpentry will be able to learn how to make wooden benches, tables and flower pots with us.

The three student science clubs have until December 31 to finish their projects.