Interdisciplinary International Silesian Summer School 2026
Interdisciplinary International Silesian Summer School!
Join students from around the world and take part in inspiring lectures, workshops and activites to expand your horizons, challenge your thinking, and help you grow both academically and personally. This unique program offers an opportunity to learn in an international environment, exchange ideas across cultures, and build valuable skills for your future studies and career.
The Vinci RELOAD Summer School is an intensive, three-week program designed for ambitious students in Computer Science, Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, and Microscopy. Our goal is not only to broaden participants’ scientific horizons but also to inspire them to pursue a future career in research.
Are you an undergraduate student (having completed at least one year) or a Master’s student specializing in Computer Science, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, or Materials Engineering? If you also have a keen interest in microscopy, you might be the perfect candidate we are looking for!
3weeks of intensive course
June26thtoJuly17th,2026
25participants from all over the world
74hours of immersive mandatoryclasses (5 ECTS)
Up to 12hours of interdisciplinary electives classes (1 ECTS)
1 scientific study visit
Ascholarship of €1,800 and reimbursement of travel expenses
Micro-credentials certifying the acquired competencies
Silesia–a 3-weekstayin one of the most important regions of Poland
The Summer School program includes:
15 hours of core lectures;
30 hours of specialized workshops;
3 hours of interdisciplinary lectures within the lead discipline;
5 hours of Polish language and culture classes;
2 hours of adaptation seminars;
5 hours of workshops and 2 hours of lectures at the SPIN-Lab Centre for Microscopic Research on Matter;
4 hours of online lectures delivered by international guest speakers;
Optional Module:
In addition to the core curriculum, participants can choose up to 4 interdisciplinary lectures (3 hours each).
More information: www.vinci.us.edu.pl
Discover,
Learn, and Grow at Vinci RELOAD Summer School!
As part of the Vinci RELOAD Summer School, you can choose a discipline that best matches your interests and passions. Whether you want to deepen your knowledge in your current field or explore a new area, each discipline is carefully designed to encourage creativity, critical thinking, and handson experience under the guidance of experienced academics. Your summer can be more than just a break it can be the start of something extraordinary. Choose your path and develop your interests in one of 5 fields:
Chemistry
What will you learn if you choose the discipline of Chemistry?
During the Vinci RELOAD Summer School you will get the chance to learn: about designed smart polymeric materials for biomedical applications, materials as infrared emitters operating within telecommunication windows; to explain phase changes occurring in nature, how mechanical energy can be harvested, stored and converted into electrical energy, about the importance of green technologies related to renewable resources and how nature-derived design principles can guide the development of innovative catalytic methodologies. You will become familiar with the most important issues of chemometrics and instrumental analytical methods in the final determination of the quality of food, pharmaceutical products and in physicochemical forensic examinations.
You will build vital skills essential in the chemical, food, pharmaceutical and materials industries, design and carry out individual research projects under the supervision of tutors, learn about the specifics of research work and the latest scientific research conducted in the Institute of Chemistry and work with the use of modern instrumental analytical methods such as: scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF, µ-XRF, TXRF), UV-VIS and Raman spectroscopy, chromatographic methods (HPTLC).
For more information on lectures and workshops you can participate in, please visit: INFO Chemistry
Computer Science
What will you learn if you choose the discipline of Computer Science?
In the field of Computer Science you will explore issues related to the broadly understood artificial intelligence (including artificial intelligence with biometrics) and machine learning as well as data visualisation and creation of artistic patterns. These issues will be addressed both in theory and in practice. Workshops for research teams will take the form of individual work under a supervision of a scientist working at the Institute of Computer Science at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Silesia, specialising in the area chosen by you. The research will allow you to you ’ re your theoretical knowledge in practice. Workshops will be of an experimental nature; you will have an opportunity to propose and implement new algorithms and verify your accuracy on real data sets from different domains. Such cooperation will allow you to implement scientific research with the use of specialised software, under the supervision of a scientist.
For more information on lectures and workshops you can participate in, please visit: INFO Computer Science
Materials Science and Engineering
What will you learn if you choose the discipline of Materials Science and Engineering?
During the Vinci RELOAD Summer School you will get the opportunity to dive into the world of materials. You find out where, why, and how materials work and will be provided with basic knowledge of materials (metals, polymers, ceramics), their structures, properties, and materials testing methods. You will also learn how the properties of materials can be tailored by selecting their phase and chemical composition or through heat and plastic treatment and learn how to obtain modern porous materials for implantology and make such material with one of the research groups. Some students, during their workshops, will even produce a high-entropy alloy (HEA) using arc melting methods. Most importantly, the basic and advanced techniques of testing materials will be demonstrated during Vinci Summer School, such as electron microscopy, X-ray, and spectroscopic methods. What is more, you will be able to conduct research yourself using the high-tech equipment available at the Institute of Materials Engineering of the University of Silesia.
For more information on lectures and workshops you can participate in, please visit: INFO Materials Science and Engineering
Physics
What will you learn if you choose the discipline of Physics?
During introductory lectures and workshops you will learn the fundamental issues of the structure of matter, condensed matter physics, magnetism and nanophysics, analogue and digital electronics, and the application of physics in medicine, pharmacology, and environmental research. You will also become acquainted with good practices in teaching physics, i.e. how to perform physics demonstrations effectively. During workshops conducted in the form of individual experimental projects in the Institute of Physics research teams, you will have the opportunity to learn about the specificity of research work and the latest scientific research conducted by the teams. You will get to know the laboratories of the Institute, and under the supervision of a research tutor, will learn how to use the theoretical knowledge acquired during the lectures in practice. As Vinci RELOAD Summer School you will actively participate in research conducted by institute research teams of the University of Silesia.
For more information on lectures and workshops you can participate in, please visit: INFO Physics
SPIN-Lab Microscopic Centre
What will you learn if you choose the Microscopic Research?
In the field of Microscopic Research at the SPIN-Lab Centre for Microscopic Research on Matter you will be offered the opportunity to explore modern microscopic techniques, including electron, atomic force, and confocal microscopy, as well as to investigate the structure, composition, and properties of materials at the micro- and nanoscale. You will gain hands-on experience in sample preparation, imaging, and data analysis, learning how these methods are applied in materials science, nanotechnology, biology, and environmental research. Under the guidance of experienced researchers, you will carry out an individual experimental project, deepen your understanding of the research process and the interpretation of scientific results. The programme will also provide for you a unique opportunity to become familiar with state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure and the latest scientific developments conducted by the SPIN-Lab research teams of the University of Silesia.
For more information on lectures and workshops you can participate in, please visit: INFO SPIN-Lab Microscopic Centre
Benefits
Individual Research Path: Each participant selects a specific research topic and works individually with a dedicated research team at our faculty. This provides a rare chance to gain the hands-on skills and competencies essential for a young scientist.
Fully Funded: There are no participation fees.
Scholarships: Participants receive a scholarship of €1,800 to cover living expenses in Poland and reimbursement of travel expenses.
Interdisciplinary Growth: in addition to individual workshops, students attend discipline-specific lectures with their peers and have access to a wide range of interdisciplinary sessions.
Opportunity of a new adventure: the summer school gives students a chance to build new relations, do inspiring work and develop in an international, intercultural environment with young people who have similar interests.
Attractive excursions promoting both Polish culture and Polish science and research opportunities.
Contact us: vinci@us.edu.pl
Visit our website: www.vinci.us.edu.pl
About Faculty of Science and Technology: www.wnst.us.edu.pl
Get to know the University of Silesia in Katowice: www.us.edu.pl
Where we are located:
Campus Chorzów
Campus Sosnowiec
Campus Katowice
VINCI RELOADED – Interdisciplinary International Silesian Summer School" is funded under SPINAKER – Intensive international education programmes by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA).
Project value: 661 100 PLN
Material co-financed by the European Union.
Source of financing: European funds from the European Fund for Social Development 2021-2027 (FERS), NAWA project "Support for the creation and implementation of international education programs " , no. FERS.01.05-IP.08-0436/23. #FunduszeUE
