Study Night at the Collegium Polonicum: from genealogy to artificial intelligence

Tuesday evening (13 May this year) at the Collegium Polonicum Library was marked by science and discovery. As part of National Library Week, a unique event — Study Night — was organised, attracting both students and enthusiasts of history and new technologies.

The first item on the agenda was the workshop "Exploring Your Ancestry: A Digital Genealogy Workshop", led by Dr. Izabella Parowicz, Senior Researcher from the Department of Cultural Heritage at the European University Viadrina and a genealogist with over 35 years of experience. Participants learned the basics of genealogical research, how to deal with limited family information, and how to effectively plan the next steps in their investigations. A particularly engaging part of the session was the hands-on training in using the FamilySearch database, taking advantage of the extended on-site access available exclusively at the Collegium Polonicum Library. This allowed them to explore documents that are not accessible from home computers.

The second part of the evening featured a lecture by Adam Czerneńko, photographer and librarian, entitled "Images from Artificial Intelligence – Entertainment or Threat?" The speaker reflected on the growing popularity of AI-generated imagery, raising questions about its impact on art, authenticity, and the future of photography. Is artificial intelligence merely a creative pastime, or does it already pose serious challenges and risks?

The evening concluded with a lively discussion and informal conversations over coffee, reaffirming that the Collegium Polonicum Library is not only a place for learning but also a space for inspiring encounters and the exchange of ideas.