The main subject of the first photo contest 'Science on Camera' was the region of Silesia, the hospital, magical land, which, against deeply-rooted stereotypes, is not only the land of coal and steel, coal mine towers and steelworks smoke stacks or post-industrial heaps and dumps, but a charming place full of beautiful landscapes and wonderful people who live here. The authors of the photographs showed us a different look at the beautiful region: wonderful nature, unique architecture of the workers' estates, and people, inhabitants of the industrial region which undergoes necessary and irrevocable changes.
What do the two contests have in common? The one organized two years ago and the present one, which was given the intriguing title: 'Silesian science for Poland, Polish science for Silesia'? Undoubtedly it is the same passion to catch an image, great sensitivity and emotions, which are always present during the act of creation. But it is also the will to share the beauty of places, observed phenomena or the natural processes, with someone. What differs the two contests? Placeł It is no longer only Silesia: the inquiring scientists took their cameras much farther, beyond the boundaries of the region or country. They recorded interesting objects and phenomena in such distant and exotic places as Tibet, India or Dubai. Thanks to the scientific curiosity we are able to look at the magnificent ice forms in the Czech mountain range of Jeseniki, the act of procreation of grasshoppers in laboratory conditions or admire the intriguing and mysterious Cumulonimbus mammatus clouds caught on camera in split second in the sky over Bielsko Biała.
What are achievements of the edition of the contest? Undoubtedly it is the fact that the idea of the contest is spreading. It has already left the walls of the University and Silesia as well. Scientists from the Universities in Katowice, Cracow and Warsaw took part in the present edition of the contest and their works describe places and phenomena from all around the world. Thanks to it the contest introduces the scientific research conducted in other academic centers. Together with the scientists we look inside their laboratories, we participate in their research and field studies in distant lands.
Just like the contest influences scientists from other universities, the University of Silesia, celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, radiates with its knowledge and wisdom on whole Silesia, which gave the University its name and is the place where it operates.
I have an honor to invite you for a walk in the world of pictures which illustrate the academic interests. I invite you to visit the walls of ever hospital and friendly Silesian Alma Mater.

prof. zw. dr hab. Wiesław Banyś
Rector of the University of Silesia in Katowice