Organisers
Warsaw Society of Biotechnology ‘Symbioza’ (WSB ‘Symbioza’) was established in 2013, thanks to cooperation between students from three major Warsaw universities: University of Warsaw, Warsaw University of Life Sciences and Warsaw University of Technology. WSB ‘Symbioza’ brings together young life sciences enthusiasts with a particular interest in biotechnology who want to share knowledge and experience with students and scientists coming from around the world. The main purpose of the Society is popularisation and increase of consciousness in society about biotechnology by organizing a wide range of activities.
The Intercollegiate Biotechnology Symposium ‘Symbioza’ (IBS ‘Symbioza’), being the Society’s oldest and most important event, is a scientific conference addressed to international students and PhD candidates who want to broaden their knowledge on biosciences. For many, this is the first opportunity in their research careers to present their findings to wider audience. The symposium serves also as a forum to network with young scientists around the world, which leads to successful collaborations, internships, etc. The 8th edition of IBS ‘Symbioza’ was awarded in the StRuNa Competition as ‘Conference of the year 2019’.
Feel the Flow is a project which aims to popularize science among the public in an informal and friendly atmosphere, as well as discuss issues that people face pursuing scientific career. This is realized with a series of meetings (recently online) with renowned science communicators from different branches of life sciences – from physics and chemistry through biology to medicine.
BARWy (Biotechnological Aspects of Various Choices) is an event aimed to show high school graduates and freshmen biotechnology students a variety of professional perspectives and possibilities awaiting them in their future careers, be it in industry or academia. During the event, there is a remarkable opportunity to meet representatives of different biotechnology related professions and listen to their successful stories.
During OAKs (Attractive Conventicles Camps), several days long retreats, attendees take part in workshops that aim to improve the scientific presentation and communication techniques as well as show new ways of transferring knowledge and presenting research results.
WSB ‘Symbioza’ is also actively participating in the yearly Science Picnic of Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw. During a family friendly whole day event with thousands of visitors, we strive to uncover and explain the fascinating world of biotechnology to the youngest enthusiasts.
Symbioza Umysłów (Symbiosis of Minds) is the latest project of the Society that is addressed to secondary schools students. During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, when most education was held online and remotely, we organized an interdisciplinary competition aiming to popularise science and promote cooperation and synergic thinking across the borders among people and scientific disciplines.
Read more about our activities on our website: symbioza.edu.pl
Stay in touch with us by following us on Facebook: fb/wsbsymbioza, and Instagram: ig/wsbsymbioza
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WSB Symbioza has its roots in student scientific interest groups from the most important universities in Warsaw. To date, members of such interest groups help with various organisational tasks at IBS Symbioza, and act as ambassadors of the conference at their home universities.
Biotechnology Student Interest Group “Herbion” was established in 2003 at the Faculty of Chemistry of the Warsaw University of Technology. For all these years “Herbion” conveyed a number of scientific projects, form the construction of a bioreactor, through biotransformations using enzymes, creation of a Warsaw University of Technology perfume brand “Entropy”, to genetically engineered phage of lactic acid bacteria. The Herbions, as the members proudly call themselves, popularized biotechnology through science shows and promoted the Faculty and the University during many mass events such as the Science Picnic of Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre, the SIGs and Student Organizations’ Fair, open days at Warsaw University of Technology and Academic Village during yearly student carnival (Juwenalia). Other activities include organizing many educational trips, such as nine Biotechnology Students Science Camps, excursions to the brewery in Zywiec, Lublin and Tychy, to Avon, or Dr. Irena Eris factories and even to Central Forensic Laboratory of the Warsaw Metropolitan Police.
“KNBiotech” brings together students of biotechnology at Warsaw University of Life Sciences. The SIG was founded in 1997 at the initiative of students of the Interfaculty Biotechnology Studies, however, as a result of changes within the university, is now run by students of Interfaculty Biotechnology Division at the Faculty of Horticulture, Biotechnology and Landscape Architecture, and resides at the Department of Parasitology and Invasiology of the Preclinical Sciences Department at the Faculty of Veterinary. Its activity includes three sections: Molecular Biotechnology section, Plant Biotechnology section, Organic Chemistry section. Majority of the active members belong to ASSB – Academic Association of Biotechnology Students, which is a part of YEBN (Young European Biotech Network). KNBiotech’s members, were elected YEBN’s secretaries and board members. KNBiotech’s activity has been rewarded with prizes in biotechnology contests such as OASSB, or SIGs reviews. The SIG’s members actively participate in many events and workshops, promoting and popularizing the biotechnological knowledge, such as Science Festival, Science Picnic of Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre, Warsaw University of Life Sciences days, “DNA – the Encyclopaedia of Life” workshops. In 2003 it co-created the Science Festival School (now BioCEN – Centre for Innovative Bioscience Education). The collaboration in the organization of Intercollegiate Biotechnology Conference “Symbioza” is a great opportunity to exchange experiences between the organizer SIGs, and to learn valuable skills.
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During the earlier editions, the organisers were also supported by the members of other student organisations: Molecular Biology Student Club at the University of Warsaw, and the EVIONA Students Research Club at the Medical University of Warsaw.