Scientists and students from the University of Gdańsk co-organised Polish Sea Day in the Polish pavilion during Expo 2025 in Osaka. Guests and visitors had the opportunity to take part in workshops, listen to lectures, view amber from the University of Gdańsk's collection and take a virtual tour of the University's research vessel r/v Oceanograf.
Japanese Maritime Day is a national holiday in Japan, expressing the people's gratitude for the gifts of the ocean and the kindness of the elements. It is celebrated on the third Monday of July and is a public holiday. In reference to this holiday, Sea Day was also commemorated at the Expo 2025 World Exhibition in Osaka, including in the Polish Pavilion.
The University of Gdańsk, the Gdynia Maritime University, the Szczecin Maritime University and the MARE Foundation were responsible for the substantive part of the Polish Sea Day during the World Expo 2025. Our university was represented by the Vice-Rector for Cooperation and International Relations, dr hab. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, prof. UG and Vice-Rector for Education dr Ewa Szymczak, prof. UG, as well as a delegation from the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography of the University of Gdańsk with dr Justyna Świeżak and a delegation from the Institute of Russian and Eastern Studies with dr Jacek Splitsgard, Head of the Division of East Asian Culture and Languages. The event was also supported by four students from the University of Gdańsk (two from Japanese Studies and two from the Japanese specialisation in Eastern Studies), who have been doing student internships at the Polish Pavilion since April this year.
‘I am very happy that I could participate in this extraordinary event promoting Polish marine research on the world stage,’ said prof. Ewa Szymczak. ‘This is all the more important to me as I am an oceanologist myself and my research focuses on marine geology. The University of Gdańsk has a long tradition in oceanographic research, which it has been conducting since its inception. It was also the first and for a long time the only university in Poland to offer a degree programme in Oceanography. We have excellent scientists, modern research infrastructure, including the r/v Oceanograf, one of the most modern and best-equipped research vessels in Europe, and wonderful students. We are one of the leading centres conducting marine research in the South Baltic region. Participation in Expo 2025 is an opportunity not only to present our research achievements, but also to have a say in the global discussion on the condition and future of the seas and oceans. And the future of the seas and oceans is the future of our planet.’
Polish Sea Day was officially opened by Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Arkadiusz Marchewka, who presented our country's achievements in the field of maritime economy. He emphasised the importance of developing transport infrastructure and the need to invest in maritime education, the development of green technologies and digitalisation in maritime transport (more on this topic: Promotion of the Polish maritime economy at EXPO Osaka 2025 - Ministry of Infrastructure - Gov.pl portal). In the field of maritime education and the development of green technologies (such as offshore wind farms and the blue economy), the University of Gdańsk has been one of the leading Polish universities for many years.
During Polish Sea Day (21 July 2025), an international conference entitled ‘One Voice for the Sea’ was also held, attended by experts from Poland, Japan, Portugal and Saudi Arabia. The topics discussed included the international perspective on sea and ocean protection, offshore wind farms in Poland and the future of the Baltic Sea.
UG students also led a discussion panel entitled ‘The sea in science - the past that is the future’. The discussion was moderated by dr Justyna Świeżak from the Department of Marine Ecosystem Functioning, Faculty of Oceanography and Ocean Engineering, UG. Issues such as the role of oceans in climate regulation and in creating a socio-economic environment, the importance of marine sediments in studying past climate records and predicting future trends, and the role of young scientists educated at the Faculty of Oceanography were discussed., the importance of marine sediments in researching climate records and predicting future trends, and the role of young scientists educated at the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography in raising awareness among future generations about the need to protect the seas and the challenges involved (e.g. through educating young people at science picnics).
Virtual tours of the r/v Oceanograf ship, made possible by VR goggles, were very popular among visitors to the Polish Pavilion.
‘The University of Gdańsk has been maritime since its inception, which is reflected in its motto: in mari via tua - your way is in the sea,’ said prof. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler. ‘As Minister Arkadiusz Marchewka emphasised, “the sea knows no borders. It is our common heritage and our common responsibility”. This is exactly how we see it at the University of Gdańsk, conducting research in cooperation with many partners from Poland and abroad, including partner universities from the SEA-EU alliance of coastal universities. Last year's research cruise r/v Oceanograf BaltArctic had just such a cross-border character, during which we investigated, among other things, how pollution from the Baltic Sea affects Arctic waters [more about the BaltArctic cruise can be read here - ed. note]. I am very pleased that Expo 2025 has found time for a broad international debate on the protection of seas and oceans, in which our voice was also heard. I am also consistently proud of our students, who, as part of their internships, praiseworthily represent both the University of Gdańsk and Poland.’
The World Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai will take place in Japan from 13 April to 13 October 2025 on Yumeshima Island, built on the waters of Osaka Bay. It will feature 188 exhibitors, including 152 pavilions representing the countries participating in the Exhibition (the remaining pavilions are international organisations, private sector pavilions and so-called Signature Pavilions).
By the end of June this year, the exhibition had been visited by 9,895,306 people, and over 28 million visitors are expected. Poland is to be presented as a country whose main resource is its people - creative, open-minded and educated (Poland at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai - Official website). The Polish Pavilion has already been visited by over 500,000 people, including 4,090 during Polish Sea Day!
The Polish Investment and Trade Agency is the strategic partner of the University of Gdańsk in the implementation of the project.
