Stanisław Lem was a Polish science-fiction writer, essayist, philosopher, and futurologist. He was born in a Polish-Jewish family in 1921 in Lviv and died in 2006 in Kraków. One of his most famous books, Solaris, tells a story of a scient ocean capable of reading people’s minds and making their dreams become a reality. It was made to a film by Andrei Tarkovsky, and then by Stephen Spielberg, which helped Lem become one of the most famous science-fiction writers in the world. In his other famous work, The Invincible, through a story of a space cruiser confronted with a form of life evolved from self-replicating machines, he explores the ideas of microrobots, swarms intelligence, and the limits of knowledge.

With QR codes installed on the wooden boards, the visitors of Cukurova Teknokent will be able to explore a series of podcasts, dedicated to the literary and philosophical legacy of Stanisław Lem, his futuristic vision of a hyper-intelligent city, and Polish technical innovations. The podcasts are available on the project’s Soundcloud account and on the Development Policy Foundation Facebook page.

Moreover, modern technologies make for better city management and significantly improve the quality of life of the inhabitants. For instance, a Polish start-up company Airly.org developed a system through which the inhabitants can access real-time data on air quality. Polish company Transition Technologies PSC designed a technology that helps drivers find a parking spot, monitors the daily habits of old people in order to spot anomalies and reduces traffic in the city.

‘Smart cities are a well-known concept in Poland. Through this project, we wanted to promote Polish technologies and urban management solutions in creating smart and sustainable public spaces. The project also contributes to building a positive image of Poland, as an innovative and modern country.’ Wojciech Szpociński from the Development Policy Foundation said.

In the podcasts, Polish experts discuss how smart cities adapt to climate change and neutralize their environmental impact. Well-thought green space architecture, solutions for urban water retention, and preserving biodiversity are key issues in establishing intelligent public spaces ready to face the challenges of tomorrow.

The cooperation between Cukurova Teknokent and Policy Development Foundation resulted in creating an innovative educational tool through which our students will discover some of the latest inventions of modern city planning. – Selçuk Çolak the director of Çukurova Teknokent said.

This exhibition reveals another dimension to our cooperation with Policy Development Foundation. It showcases sustainable, eco-conscious solutions and promotes data-based education, which is one of the objectives of the project we are currently implementing together with our partners from Poland. This project, financed by the EU, focuses on developing civil society capacities, raising awareness about environmental rights and climate change and enhancing the participation of children in decision-making processes.’ explains Cigdem Aksu, Turkish project coordinator.

The installation was inaugurated on November 19th, by Wojciech Szpociński and Sylwia Szparkowska from Development Policy Foundation, Minister-Counsellor Robert Rokicki from the Polish Embassy in Ankara, and the projects’ partners: ADANA Büyükşehir Belediyesi, Çukurova Kalkınma Ajansı, Çukurova Teknokent, Uçan Balon Çocuk ve Gençlik Derneği.

The project, implemented by Development Policy Foundation, was co-financed by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Public Diplomacy 2021 facility. It is also a part of Poland’s campaign commemorating the 100th anniversary of Stanisław Lem’s birthday.