STEAM in Action: the Polish National Science on Stage Festival

Under the honorary patronage of the Minister of Science and Higher Education, the Wielkopolska Superintendent of Education, and the President of the Polish Physical Society, the 14th National Festival Science on Stage Poland became a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and competence in STEM education.

Hosted at the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, the event welcomed educators and students from across Poland to present their most engaging and forward-thinking science education projects. With participants from all school levels, the event showcased student-driven projects that blend science, sustainability, and social responsibility while promoting skills essential for the future.

The 14th edition of Science on Stage Poland was much more than a science festival. It was a celebration of STEAM learning experiences that are meaningful, creative, and future-oriented. The festival demonstrated how STEAM principles can activate students at every stage of education, from early childhood to high school, including vocational and technical education. The diversity of projects and participating teams showed that every student can find their voice and place in science, whether through coding, ecology, sensory exploration, engineering design, or social innovation.

Technical and vocational schools particularly stood out for their practical expertise, precision, and engineering creativity. By applying scientific knowledge to real-world challenges such as sustainable mobility, assistive technology, or electronics, their projects demonstrated that applied STEM learning plays a key role in raising the quality of national education. 

None of this would be possible without the dedicated educators who mentor their students through project-based learning. These teachers act as facilitators, not just transmitters of knowledge. By engaging in interdisciplinary projects that cross the boundaries of traditional school subjects, teachers involved in Science on Stage not only raise the bar for educational innovation, but also model lifelong learning and professional collaboration.

The festival also offered interactive workshops, both for students and for teachers. These sessions provided opportunities to explore cutting-edge teaching methods, experiment with new technologies, and discuss challenges in STEM education with peers from across Poland. Workshops ranged from AI in education to biophysics experiments, environmental monitoring, engineering design, and more.

Aligned with the international vision of Science on Stage Europe, the Polish edition also highlighted the importance of joint projects, intercultural exchange, and global collaboration in education. Many of the participating teams are already planning to share and scale their projects within the Science on Stage Europe network.

To all students, teachers, jury members, workshop leaders, and organizers – thank you for making this year’s Science on Stage Poland an inspiring success! We look forward to seeing many of these innovative projects presented again – this time on the European stage, as part of Science on Stage Europe 2026.

Report: Tomasz Ordza