Author: Róża Chojnacka

Karolina Sołtys, 20 years old, took the second place in 49. Polish Astronomy Olympiad. She says about herself, that she's more informatic-mathematician than astronomer, but the astronomy, especially cosmology is very interesting for her.

Róża Chojnacka: Karolina, tell us, why are you interested in astronomy?

Karolina Sołtys: Every year in September in monthly mathematical-physical-astronomical magazine "Delta", there are printed some problems from the first stages of Olympiads: Mathematic, Physic and Astronomy. When I was in the second class of high school, I became interested in Polish Mathematic Olympiad and I was spending much time with "Delta". One day, I opened the magazine on the page with the problems from PAO by mistake. I've started doing them and they seemed very intereting for me.

Why do you prefer mathematic and physic to astronomy?

In high school, the mathematic was the most fascinating for me. The theoretical problems of astronomy, which are closer to mathematic, were for me more an attention-grabbing than observational, which I treated like a kind of recreation.

Do you set your future with astronomy?

No, at the moment I'm studying in MISMaP (Multifaculty Mathematic-Nature Studies) IT and mathematic. I want to take up those branches of knowledge in the future.

It's hard to believe that you will abandon astronomical observations. I suppose that looking in the sky in the evening is a kind of habit...

Sure, but there is plenty of light in Warsaw and it is hard to see the stars. I'm dreaming about holiday journey far away from cities, where in the evenings, I could lie on the grass, look in the sky and search the constellations. What I can tell you about theoretical astronomy, maybe in year or two I'll enroll for a few astronomical subjects in FUW (Physic Faculty of University of Warsaw). But now it's only a far-away plan.

What did you gain participating in Polish Astronomy Olympiad?

The title of Prize-winner has given me the free enter to the MISMaP in the University of Warsaw. I want to recommend the study to every fan of the science. What's more, during my preparation to POA, I had a possibility to get to know about new issues and meet many interesting people.

What is a stereotype of a person who takes up astronomy?

It’s hard to say. It comes to my mind absent-minded, unreal, mysterious man with pale face like a vampire reacts for sunlight. What's worse, many people connect the word "astronomy" with "astrology"! Of course, the reality and stereotypes don't match to each other and in the group of astronomers we can find people with different characters, personalities and interests.

Do your friends have similar interests?

Yes, majority of them are fans of mathematic, IT and physics.

Who is an authority for you?

It isn't one accurate person, but more a group of people, who are respected by me and who I want to follow in their footsteps. I think about teachers with passion, who make knowledge more popular among the young and scientists struggled with the most actual and inextricable problems.

Had you been looking at choice of study for a long time? Who or what helped you to decide?

I had known that I want to study mathematic and IT in the beginning of high school. I was hesitate uncertain only about MISMaP and JSIM (Contemporary Informatics-Mathematic Studies). I've chosen MISMaP, because of bigger diversity of subjects to select.

What do you think about the space tourism? Which place do you want visit the most? And more pragmatic one: how and where are you going to spend your summer holiday?

I'm very happy about it, but I suppose that in the next years only multimillionaires will be able to afford it. Of course, I want to take part in the mission to Mars or carry on inquiry in space station. But now it's inky unreal dream.

What branch of astronomy are you the most interested in? Do you read sometimes astronomy literature?

Definitely on first place there is cosmology, next physic of stars. Unfortunately, I hadn’t got time for developing my astronomy knowledge for last months, but I’m going to read some astronomy books during the holidays.

Astronomy isn't very popular in Poland. How do you think, why?

The efforts to promote the astronomy among the young are not strong enough. Too few schools have an equipment to do the observations, and unfortunately, even fewer use it. However, there are some organizations, like Almukantarat or Krajowy Fundusz na Rzecz Dzieci (National Fund For Children). Their activity concerns astronomy, too.

What should we do to popularize this branch of science among teenagers?

First of all, somebody should establish some observation events available for everybody. Such event was set up by the "Polaris" Astronomical Club in Lublin. Of course, it also promoted Astronomical Olympiad. Maybe not only in high schools-Committee Olympiads: Mathematical and Informatics introduced editions the competitions for gymnasiums. They have a big popularity.

Thank you for the conversation and I wish you further successes.

Translated by Monika Rap.