NCU News
Events: November 2025
Absent Legacies: Lotte Jacobi and Janina Gardzielewska
On October 10th at 6:00 PM, the exhibition "Absent Heritage: Lotte Jacobi and Janina Gardzielewska Rediscovered", curated by Dr Katarzyna Gębarowska, will open at the Centre for Contemporary Art in Toruń.
The exhibition, organised as part of the Vintage Photo Festival, showcases the artistic heritage of two photographers associated with Toruń: Lotte Jacobi and Janina Gardzielewska. Although both came from families with a tradition of studio photography, they decided to pursue a dynamically developing artistic photography, aiming to transform photography into abstract art. Jacobi created photograms, Gardzielewska created large-format collages. Both pushed the boundaries of traditional photography and were avid travellers. Despite achieving international fame, they experienced exclusion. Jacobi was excluded because of her ties to the city's Prussian past, while Gardzielewska was forgotten.
The exhibition will juxtapose Lotte Jacobi's photographs of Toruń with 21 photographs by Janina Gardzielewska from the University Library in Toruń collection. Gardzielewska's works will include portraits of visual artists associated with the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Nicolaus Copernicus University, including Mirosław Piotrowski, Maria Pokorska, and Tymon Niesiołowski. Some works were created using photomontage techniques as part of the series "My Acquaintances of Toruń Visual Artists," presented in 1983 at the Mała Galeria Fotografiki in Toruń. The exhibition will be complemented by theatrical photographs documenting scenes from performances at the Wilam Horzyca Theatre from the 1960s and 1970s.
The exhibition will be on display until November 16th.
Copernicada - winter edition
The next edition of the winter Copernicada, an inter-faculty sports competition, is approaching. Representatives of the faculties of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń will be able to compete in five disciplines.
The main idea behind the Inter-Faculty Olympics is to promote physical culture and a healthy lifestyle, as well as to integrate the academic community. This time, representatives of the faculties can choose from five sports disciplines:
- 4x4 mixed volleyball - qualifiers are scheduled for 9 December (7:45 p.m.), and the finals will take place on 11 December;
- rowing ergometer - 11 December (7:00 p.m.);
- men's 3x3 basketball - 19 November (5:00 p.m.);
- futsal - qualifiers scheduled for 1 December (8:00 p.m.), with the finals to be held on 8 December;
- cross-country running - 2 December (7:00 p.m.)
In the case of team entries, one person should register all participants. The event is organised by the NCU Student Council and the University Sports Centre.
Registration form
What do we wish for?
‘What do we wish for?’ is the title of a Christmas exhibition prepared by the Department of Graphic Design at Nicolaus Copernicus University, which will be on display in front of the Collegium Maximum building. The official opening of the poster exhibition is scheduled for 19 November at 11:30 a.m. at the University Museum in Toruń.
Students and lecturers from the Department of Graphic Design have prepared a series of posters that refer to one of the most characteristic Christmas traditions - making wishes. The entire exhibition is a collection of different voices, and each work is like a mirror, reflecting what we really want for ourselves. It reminds us that sometimes the best wishes are those that begin with ourselves.
The new exhibition continues the idea of the previous exhibition entitled ‘Everyone has their own Toruń’, which was very well received by the residents of Toruń and tourists. The works will be on display at Rapacki Square until 2 February 2026.
In the photo: Poster by Amelia Wilms, a student at the Department of Graphic Design at Nicolaus Copernicus University – one of the works that will appear in the exhibition ‘What do we wish for?’.
Mystery Friend #2 - Mystery Room
The Amicus Foundation UNC invites you to a meeting in the "Mystery Friend" series, which will take place on November 20 at 5:00 p.m. at the Copernican Integration Centre. The theme of the event will be "Mystery Room".
"Mystery Friend" is a series of monthly integration meetings full of surprises. Each meeting is a new challenge and a chance to develop in an atmosphere of intercultural exchange and social education. It will provide you with great fun and unforgettable experiences, while teaching you how to cooperate and integrate in a multicultural environment. Their goal is to integrate the entire academic community - students from abroad are welcome.
During the meeting, participants will take part in an escape room game that requires logical thinking, perceptiveness, and teamwork. A themed room awaits you, full of puzzles and excitement. Will you make it out in time?
Admission to the event is free, and all necessary materials will be provided on site. Due to the limited number of places, registration is required. You can submit your application using the form available on the Amicus Foundation website.
The project is part of the YUFE 2030 initiative.
Spill the tea!
Take a break from studying and drop by to spill the tea about the Erasmus+ programme! Participants will be able to enjoy hot beverages from around the world, take part in Q&A sessions, and meet former Erasmus+ participants to hear about their experiences. The event will take place on 25 November, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Academic Relaxation Zone in the University Library.
A Polish podwieczorek, Swedish fika, or English five o’clock tea – there are many ways to describe taking a break from work or studying. And the best breaks are those spent with tea, biscuits, and good conversation. The Department of International Partnerships and Educational Mobility invites the entire academic community to join the celebration of Erasmus+ Day.
It’ll be a great opportunity to learn more about the programme, chat with the Erasmus+ team, and get valuable information from faculty coordinators about mobility opportunities.
Faculty coordinators’ schedule
Participants will also have the chance to create their own tea blend and learn about tea-drinking traditions from around the world. A sweet treat will be served as well, as no afternoon tea would be complete without it.
An art contest titled "Your Dream Erasmus+ Journey" awaits all participants. Attractive prizes will be awarded for the most beautifully and creatively decorated tea cups.
Follow the event on Instagram
Doping in sports – conference
On 28 November, the Nicolaus Copernicus University Sports Centre will host a nationwide scientific conference devoted to the issue of doping as a phenomenon extending beyond professional sport. The event is organised by the Nicolaus Copernicus University Sports Research Centre, the Polish Sports Law Association and the Academic Sports Association of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province.
Three main discussion panels are planned during the conference. The first one, during which problems and challenges will be presented, will focus on doping as a medical and public health issue. The next one will discuss the socio-cultural determinants of the use of performance-enhancing substances in mass society. The third discussion will focus on education and prevention in the fight against doping.
Applications to participate can be submitted using the application form until 15 October 2025. Detailed topics to be discussed at the conference can be found on the website of the University Centre for Sports Research. Information on the acceptance of papers will be sent out on 20 October. The conference fee is PLN 200 and includes lunch, coffee breaks and conference materials. Speakers will have the opportunity to publish in a post-conference monograph, in a volume of the monographic series ‘Sport: language, society, culture’ or in journals cooperating with the University Centre for Sports Research at Nicolaus Copernicus University (20/40 points from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education).