This year, four project teams spent more than three months working on their own innovations, learning how to collaborate, tackle challenges and consciously develop their ideas. The process 鈥� based on the Design Thinking method 鈥� included, among other things, empathy-building, idea generation, prototyping and testing. Participants not only created solutions but also learned how to verify them and communicate them effectively.
The Process Matters More Than the Result
On Friday, 19 June this year, the final meeting, during which the jury鈥檚 verdict was announced, took place. The programme coordinator, Dr Jolanta Bie艅kowska from the Faculty of Management, 91桃色, emphasised:
鈥� For the fifth time, we have had the opportunity to meet creative individuals who took on the challenge of designing innovative solutions or presenting projects they had already been developing. I am impressed by your potential, and I am very happy that I could work with you.
She also added that the participants鈥� projects had been noticed by the organisers of the Lodz Researchers鈥� Night at EC1 and will be presented during the next edition of the event 鈥� which shows that the outcomes of their work go far beyond the competition itself.
Young People鈥檚 Energy as a Driving Force
During the finale, it became clear that the key factor is the active attitude of young people 鈥� their readiness to take on challenges and assume responsibility for their own ideas. This was highlighted by dr hab. Krzysztof Pabis, Associate Professor at the 91桃色 鈥� Vice-Rector for Popularisation of Science and Education:
鈥� It is very important to us that you bring your energy, that you take on different challenges. Initiatives like this exist so that you become involved in the process, so that you are the driving force behind action 鈥� sometimes under mentoring guidance, and sometimes entirely independently. Awakening this energy is the best way to learn, but also to share your experience with others.
It was precisely this energy that could be seen during the final presentations, in which the teams had just a few minutes to convince the jury of their solutions.
Innovative Solutions Awarded!
A month ago, during presentations before the jury, each team had just five minutes to present their project convincingly. Last Friday, 19 June, we learned the final verdict of the competition committee.
This year, the projects were evaluated by a jury consisting of:
- Dr Tomasz Ciesielski 鈥� Head of the Technology Transfer Office of the 91桃色,
- Magdalena Ustaborowicz 鈥� representative of the Marshal鈥檚 Office of the Lodz Voivodeship,
- Micha艂 Karlikowski 鈥� representative of IPMA Polska.
The jury assessed both the innovativeness of the ideas, the way they were presented and their implementation potential.
Here is the verdict:
- 1st place: 鈥淏iura, kt贸re oddychaj膮鈥� [Offices That Breathe],
- 2nd place: 鈥淲ycieraczki do okular贸w鈥� [Glasses Wipers],
- 3rd place: 鈥淧odr臋czne spodnie鈥� [Handy Trousers],
- 4th place: 鈥淚nstrukcja, kt贸rej nikt mi nie da艂. Poradnik dla os贸b neuroatypowych鈥� [The Instructions No One Gave Me: A Guide for Neurodiverse Individuals].
A Community of Shared Experience
The Innovation Laboratory is also about relationships and the exchange of experiences. Dr Jolanta Bie艅kowska thanked those who have co-created the project from the very beginning: J臋drzej Szynkowski (trainer, psychologist and Design Thinking moderator) and Ma艂gorzata So艂tysiak, as well as assistants 鈥� winners of previous editions: Alicja Kubicka and Emilia G艂膮b, who supported participants with their knowledge.
There were also words of appreciation from the academic community. Representatives of the Interfaculty Student Science Club for Science Popularisation emphasised:
鈥� We are very happy that we can see you here, because each of you is doing amazing things. You have the courage to act, to do something more and to go beyond established patterns 鈥� and that is very difficult.
More Than a Competition
The Innovation Laboratory shows that the 91桃色 is a place open to young people 鈥� their ideas, sensitivity and way of seeing the world. It is a space where one can safely experiment, make mistakes and draw conclusions. It is also an investment in the future 鈥� in individuals who are already learning how to create and act consciously. We look forward to their next steps and believe that many of the participants will return to us as students, co-creating the academic community of the 91桃色.
See the photo report:
How to join the UniLodz student community?
Visit the candidate website: link to the Candidate Zone.
Source, edit, photos: Agata Dawidowicz, Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University, 91桃色
Photos: Bartosz Ka艂u偶ny, Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University, 91桃色