Once again this year, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice once again took part in European Researchers’ Night, held on September 26, 2025, at OPTIMA shopping center in Košice. The university was represented by UPJŠ researchers with 17 stands and four expert lectures. The ceremonial opening of the event was attended by Prof. RNDr. Renáta Oriňaková, DrSc., Vice-Rector for Science, Research, and Projects at UPJŠ, who stated that scientists are well aware that progress does not come from perfectly organized systems, but quite the opposite.
“The greatest discoveries – whether in medicine, natural sciences, or humanities – often arose from breaking conventions and bold hypotheses. Albert Einstein would never have discovered the theory of relativity if he had not doubted the Newtonian physics. Today, we are witnessing how chaotic data from clinical studies are being transformed into knowledge that saves lives. We see how new algorithms that change our world are emerging from a seemingly disordered flow of information,” said Vice-Rector Prof. Oriňaková in her opening speech.
The main topic of European Researchers’ Night 2025 was chaos, its connection to knowledge and innovative processes, but also the perception of unpredictability around us. This year’s event aimed to show that the uncertainty and complexity associated with chaos are not obstacles to science, but rather tools for knowledge and drivers of technological progress.
Visitors could learn about the topics that scientists at our university are working on when visiting exhibition stands in OPTIMA shopping center,. Among the presenting researchers from UPJŠ was the Vice-Rector, who took a keen interest in all offered topics.
From the Faculty of Medicine at UPJŠ in Košicce, RNDr. Jana Štofilová, PhD. presented on the topic of The Intestinal Microbiome – Harmony in chaos.
From the Faculty of Science at UPJŠ in Košice, the following presented:
RNDr. Ján Elečko, PhD. on the topic of Experimental zone: Chaos.
RNDr. Rastislav Krivoš-Belluš, PhD. with the topic First Lego League at UPJŠ in Košice.
RNDr. Viktória Majláthová, PhD., university associate professor with the topic Chaos and fear – Parasites and their hosts.
Mgr. Eva Beňová, PhD. with the topic Chaos in the crystalline world: From random structures to targeted miracles.
RNDr. Viktória Dečmanová, PhD. with the topic In vitro: chaos under control.
RNDr. Mariana Kolesárová, PhD. with the topic Microchaos
Mgr. Richard Frenák with the topic Microcosm of Strategies: How (in)visible organisms deal with life.
doc. RNDr. Adela Kravčáková, PhD. with the topic From chaos to order in the world of particles.
doc. RNDr. Rudolf Gális, PhD. with the topic On the road with binoculars.
RNDr. Anna Alexovič Matiašová, PhD. with the topic Cells under the microscope – learn how the nervous system controls our body.
RNDr. Róbert Tarasenko, PhD., university associate professor with the topic The interesting world of experimental physics.
RNDr. Veronika Petrovová with the topic The apparent chaos of the underground world.
From the Faculty of Law at UPJŠ in Košice, doc. JUDr. Diana Treščáková, PhD. presented on the topic of Law vs. Chaos: AI in Play.
From the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ in Košice, Mgr. Roman Gajdoš presented on the topic Is there chaos in interpreter’s head?
From the Center for Information and Communication Technologies / CSIRT, Mgr. Katarína Regeciová presented on the topic of Cyber security in an age of unpredictability.
From the Center for Interdisciplinary Biosciences / Technology and Innovation Park, RNDr. Michal Nemergut presented on the topic of Hidden order in the chaos of molecules.
In addition to exhibition stands in the shopping center, there were also interesting lectures on the following topics:
1. Mysteries of the quantum world: entanglement and teleportation – doc. RNDr. Jozef Strečka, PhD.
2. Chaos from the perspective of physics – RNDr. Tomáš Lučivjanský, PhD.
3. Salt and brine worth more than gold – the hidden treasures of Solivar – doc. RNDr. Peter Pristaš, CSc.
4. A mocsári teknős és az elfeledett birodalma (European pond turtle and its disappearing paradise) – Mgr. Enikö Horváth, PhD.
