At the dawn of our civilization science was perceived as something mystical or even magical. Always and everywhere people of science inspired either admiration or fear. Their knowledge could bring help, but it could bring doom as well. The knowledge was often hidden, obscured. Yet much more often researchers eagerly shared it with others. It was not always easy. The language they use is often hermetic and unclear. Surely many of us while passing the university in our city asked a question what is being 'discovered' in the laboratories. The more discerning ones would find equations, formulas, axioms, hypotheses, laws and theories tightly packed with specialist terms, far from colloquial language. It is much easier for scientists themselves. Specialist magazines, conferences, symposiums or workshops facilitate quick flow of information and exchange of experience. That is why the scientists standing on the very peak of their knowledge usually are well aware of what is happening on similar peaks, even if they are hundreds miles away. It is so because they share the same foundation of their knowledge.
Let us assume that somebody is standing at the foot of the pyramid of knowledge. Then we can be certain that without popularizing the knowledge the person will be overwhelmed with the sheer size of the pyramids and their distant tops. 'Silesian science for Poland, Polish science for Silesia' that is the slogan of the 2nd Photography Competition realized within the frames of 'Science on Camera' project which is to popularize science. It is an excuse to make the peaks closer and show that they are accessible. It is to show different research projects conducted by Silesian scientists in various parts of Poland, often in cooperation with the local research centers. Results of the projects have universal value, they cross borders of regions and sometimes they are even significant on a global scale. Another group of submitted projects show that Silesia can become an inspiration for researchers from other regions of Poland.
After an over 5-hour-long discussion the Jury have chosen for the exhibition 80 out of 200 submitted photographs. Not all of the research projects, or more precisely the photographs presenting them, received recognition. Those which were able to defend themselves in a stormy discussion between photographers and scientists, show that science may be simply beautiful. Admiring the photos let us remember that they were not taken by professionals. Let us remember that the reason to release the shutter of the camera was to freeze the moment, document the research or just retain the beauty of the world surrounding us. The result, often surprising even for the authors, you can see at the exhibition. We would like to encourage you to read the texts accompanying the photographs. Their form and simplicity should help you familiarize with aims and results of the presented research projects. For those more curious ones we prepared scientific abstracts, which are exactly the same as the papers presented during specialist conferences. Reading them you will realize that science is a law unto itself and its peaks without popularizers would remain really distant.

Mirosław Nakonieczny
Centre for Studies on Human and Natural Environment
of the University of Silesia