The second edition continues and develops the University of Lodz's outreach platform, the Science Hub, in dialogue with the partners of the UNIC European network of universities. UNIC is a network of European universities located in post-industrial cities, which the University of Lodz joined in 2022. Its aim is to support the transformation of cities, especially in the areas of sustainability, inclusion, superdiversity, social influence of research and mobility. In this year's Science Hub, we want to single out projects that respond to these challenges. 

Science Hub edition II UNIC invites teams consisting of:

• at least one person studying at the Univerisity of Lodz,
• one researcher from the University of Lodz, who will act as a scientific supervisor,
• an analogical duo from a different university of the European UNIC network,
• a partner organisation from Lodz or the region.  

Teams operating within the Science Hub of the University of Lodz jointly undertake to solve real scientific challenges submitted by partner organisations. Preference is given to research of an applied or implementation nature, regardless of scientific discipline. 

For those studying at the University of Lodz, it is an opportunity to gain unique experience in an international team, which can become the basis for a thesis, the beginning of an academic career, as well as strengthening professional competences. 

For those studying at universities from the UNIC network (other than the University of Lodz), it is an opportunity to establish contact with representatives of the University of Lodz, to conduct research (which may form part of the thesis), to get to know new places, ways of thinking and acting, and to participate in training sessions on diagnosing the needs of external organisations, team communication, conflict resolution, basics of project management, work scheduling and the Design Thinking methodology of project collaboration. The student will collaborate with the team remotely on a daily basis, but an on-site meeting in Lodz (three-day stay) is also foreseen, which will take place at an agreed date convenient for all team members. 

For those in a scientific supervisor role at the University of Lodz, it is an opportunity to work effectively with the community and to establish or deepen relationships with selected individuals from the European UNIC network.  

For those in a scientific supervisor role at another UNICnetwork university, it is an opportunity to develop contacts with the Lodz centre and continue cooperation, e.g. within the UNIC VIP Fund programme. It will also be an opportunity to learn ‘from the inside’ about the Science Hub, a platform for cooperation between students and the socio-economic environment. The mentor works with the team remotely on a daily basis, but there will also be an on-site meeting in Lodz (three-day stay), which will take place at a date and time convenient for the team members. 

For partner organisations, it is an opportunity to solve a specific problem or conduct research on a selected issue, using not only the know-how of the University of Lodz, but also the knowledge of people from industry representing a research unit from another European country. 

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UNIC network universities: Erasmus University Rotterdam, Koç University Istanbul, University of Deusto in Bilbao, University of Liège, Ruhr University Bochum, University of Oulu, University of Zagreb, Malmö University and University College Cork and the University of Lodz. 

Dr. Małgorzata Dzimińska - head of the Science Hub of the University of Lodz, UNIC edition. She is responsible for the day-to-day coordination of the team's work, monitoring of progress, evaluation of the results achieved and risk management. She works with UNIC alliance partners, integrating Science Hub UŁ activities with initiatives undertaken within the Centre for City Futures, which aims to create synergies between science, local governments, community organisations and other actors to jointly solve the challenges facing cities in post-industrial transformation. Its work combines research on innovations in higher education management with their practical implementation.

Training Team - the team plans and delivers online training in English for project teams. Training courses include methods for diagnosing needs, team communication, conflict resolution, project management basics, work scheduling and Design Thinking project collaboration methodology. 

• dr Agata Matuszewska-Kubicz 
• dr Karolina Rudnicka, prof. UŁ 

Communications Team

• dr Błażej Filanowski - is in charge of, planning communication activities, mapping and networking stakeholders around the project, and ongoing communication, online and during networking activities. 
• mgr Katarzyna Chojnacka - is in charge of updating the website, leading communications on LinkedIn and in university-wide media, and working with promotions within UNIC's network activities. 

Specialists Team: 

• dr Mateusz Balcerzak - deals with project support in formal and legal matters. He takes care of the correctness of documents, forms and their compliance with NAWA requirements. He liaises with the ambassadors and the broker on matters of regulations and recruitment, and with the training team on the formal organisation of training courses.   
• dr hab. Aneta Krzewińska, prof. UŁ - deals with mid-term and summative evaluation by means of a web-based CAWI survey, and carries out IDI interviews (a minimum of two per team). 
• mgr Marta Chruściel - specialist at the International Hub, supports the implementation of the project with regard to administrative matters. She is also responsible for financial issues and reporting. 
• mgr Anna Kolanowska - specialist from the Technology Transfer Centre, supports the team in attracting organisational partners.