Transferring knowledge in Germany via Polish language – a project that is typical for the Europastadt/Europa Miasto Görlitz/Zgorzelec! The largest festival popularizing science in the Polish region Lower Silesian Voivodeship (Województwo dolnośląskie) accepted the invitation of CASUS to come to the German part of the city. Hence, the CASUS lecture room was packed with over 90 students from primary schools in Zgorzelec, the Polish part of the city. They wanted to learn more about artificial intelligence (AI), its role in medical diagnostics and what a life of a scientist is like.

The Lower Silesian Science Festival (Dolnośląski Festiwal Nauki) started in 1998. Mostly organized by CASUS partner University of Wrocław, it has grown and evolved since then. Every year from September to October several hundred attractions are organized not only in Wrocław, the capital of Lower Silesia, but also several smaller towns in the region – like Zgorzelec. On the list of organizers are also several Wrocław higher education institutions, institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, non-university circles and, this year for the very first time, the Center for Advanced Systems Understanding CASUS.

The program of the festival includes, among others, lectures and talks, workshops, demonstrations and classes in laboratories, exhibitions, excursions or discussions, all prepared by scientists and experts who strive to present scientific phenomena, the latest achievements and directions of development in all fields of science in a way understandable to everyone. The CASUS lecture was especially prepared for this year’s XXVII Lower Silesian Science Festival section happening in Zgorzelec on 22 and 23 October. The title: “Can a Computer Replace a Doctor? An Introduction to AI and Medical Diagnostics”. PhD student Adrian Urbański presented his research topic, the diagnosis of urinary tract infections, referring to vivid examples from everyday life. He in detail also explained how AI and deep learning are currently transforming healthcare. The talk was followed by several questions. The main interests besides AI were how does it look like: life as a student at the University of Wrocław and as a scientist at CASUS.