Voting has begun in the Pro Juvenes competition, which focuses on activities within the student community. This year, initiatives from the University of Gdańsk are up for votes in six categories. SciClub is in the running for the title of best research society, whilst MORS Radio has the chance to defend its title as the country’s best student media outlet. Voting will continue until 8 November.
What is Pro Juvenes?
The ‘Pro Juvenes’ Student Community Awards Gala is an initiative organised since 2013 by the Student Parliament of the Republic of Poland. The event focuses on promoting active students and their initiatives. Furthermore, the aim of ‘Pro Juvenes’ is to recognise institutions that support the development of academic science and culture, as well as to bring together students from across Poland.
Nominees from the University of Gdańsk
We strongly encourage you to support all representatives of our university:
- Julia Kwoczek, a student of psychology and law at the University of Gdańsk, manager of the SciClub research society - category ‘Student Researcher’
- ‘Recharge yourself, not your phone!’, a SciClub wellness programme - category ‘Healthy at University!’
- “The gut-brain axis interaction with factors of digital overstimulation: a pilot study on the effect of supplementation with the postbiotic Akkermansia muciniphila (strain Akk11) in young women” - category “Student Research Project”
- “Evolutionary mismatch: the smartphone-era human in a Stone Age body - 1st edition of the conference” - category “Student Debut of the Year”
- SciClub - category “Research Society”
- MORS Radio - category “Student Media”
You can vote for all representatives of the University of Gdańsk via the website until 8 November (by the end of the day): https://projuvenes.psrp.org.pl/
We encourage you to cast your votes and spread the word!
About the nominees
(description by the competition organiser)
Julia Kwoczek
Category: “Student Researcher”
A student of psychology and law at the University of Gdańsk and manager of the UKU research society, she specialises in social and personality psychology, combining research into social beliefs, well-being and health with reliable, objective measurements. She is the principal investigator on NSC, UGrants-START and SEA-EU projects, has completed a research placement at the University of Split and has presented at eight conferences,
including receiving an honourable mention at the International Sopot Youth Conference 2026. She is a recipient of the University of Gdańsk Rector’s Award and the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship Scholarship.
“Recharge yourself, not your phone!” - SciClub’s regeneration programme
Category: “Healthy at university!”
Leave your phone at the entrance and recharge yourself: a massage chair, breathing exercises, analogue games, biofeedback and body composition analysis - this is how the SciClub regeneration zone at the University of Gdańsk works. Our vision of a healthier university has already won five competitions - from the Stress Relief Initiative organised by the international SEA-EU alliance and the ‘University of Gdańsk for Wellness’ to first place in the Young Innovators Hackathon and an additional prize from the Up Foundation. In 2026, the zone was featured at events including the SEA-EU anniversary, the University of Gdańsk Open Days and the BEING SEA-EU conference; the session was included in the GOCC charity auction, and we discussed prevention at the Ministry of Science and during a TVP Info debate.
Interaction of the gut-brain axis with factors of digital overstimulation: a pilot study on the effect of supplementation with the postbiotic Akkermansia muciniphila (strain Akk11) in young women
Category: ‘Student research project’
We investigated whether supplementation with the postbiotic Akkermansia muciniphila Akk11 might affect the health of young women on three levels: declarative (questionnaires on well-being, stress and social media use), neurophysiological (concentration and relaxation tasks using an EEG/fNIRS headband) and somatic (body composition analysis). The participants, 67 women aged 18-31, underwent measurements at our centre on three occasions, ranging from body composition analysis to biofeedback sessions using an EEG/ fNIRS headband, and received a recovery session at each visit. This interdisciplinary study was carried out by 14 female students from the club and a , the results were presented at conferences, and the data from the project form the basis for four Master’s theses and further projects.
‘Evolutionary Mismatch: The Smartphone-Age Human in a Stone Age Body’ - 1st edition of the conference
Category: ‘Student Debut of the Year’
‘Evolutionary Mismatch’ was the debut conference organised by SciClub at the University of Gdańsk, from which one leaves feeling refreshed: 11 female students explained, in 11 combined presentations, how our Stone Age biology doesn’t fit into the world of smartphones. After a quiz with prizes, participants left their phones in storage and moved to the offline zone with analogue games, biofeedback and body composition analysis, and the day ended with a breathing exercise session on the terrace of the University of Gdańsk Library. This new, accessible format was commended by the Up Foundation at the ‘Innaczej’ Social Innovation Incubator.
SciClub
Category: ‘Research society’
SciClub is an English-speaking, interdisciplinary research society at the University of Gdańsk, which combines science, innovation, social initiatives and international cooperation. Last year, its members co-conducted a longitudinal experimental study involving 67 female participants, presented over 30 conference papers, won the Young Innovators Hackathon and, together with the University of Gdańsk Library, organised the ‘Evolutionary Mismatch’ event. From Gdańsk to Cádiz, we are showing that a student society can conduct rigorous research and make a real contribution to the wellbeing of its community.
MORS Radio (Mega Open Student Radio)
Category: ‘Student media’
MORS Radio is an online radio station created by radio enthusiasts at the University of Gdańsk. The abbreviation in our name reflects our philosophy - we are a Mega Open Student Radio station and we produce a comprehensive range of programmes covering a variety of topics. MORS broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing the latest news from the university and the region, covering cultural and academic events, and providing entertainment and music to suit every student’s tastes.
Compiled from a text by Paulina Miłosek, edited by Eden Król/MORS Radio