Chemik

Story

Chemik is Wrocław's most intellectually serious dwarf — a tiny scientist who guards the entrance to building A-2 of the Chemistry Faculty at Wrocław University of Science and Technology (PWr), on ul. Łukasiewicza 2. Dressed in a lab coat and likely pondering something involving molecular bonds, Chemik was placed here to celebrate the 60th birthday of Professor Paweł Kafarski by the team of the Bioorganic Chemistry department. He was the first of several dwarfs to colonise the PWr campus, eventually joined by Lappek, BEAnka, Wykształciuch, the rowing eight, Poliglotek, and WIZek.

History & Significance

Chemik was funded by the team of the Bioorganic Chemistry department (Zakład Chemii Bioorganicznej) at PWr and placed in front of building A-2 of the Faculty of Chemistry. He was installed as a tribute to Professor Paweł Kafarski on the occasion of the professor's 60th birthday, making him one of the more personally dedicated dwarfs in the city.

Inspiration

Wrocław University of Science and Technology is one of Poland's leading technical universities, with a prestigious Chemistry Faculty dating back decades. Named after Ignacy Łukasiewicz — the Polish pharmacist who pioneered the kerosene lamp — the street where Chemik stands has an apt scientific pedigree. Chemik became the pioneer of the now-thriving campus dwarf community, encouraging other faculties to follow with their own mascots.

Fun Facts

• Chemik was the very first dwarf to take up residence on the PWr campus — a trailblazer for the university's growing dwarf community.
• He was created as a personal birthday tribute to Professor Paweł Kafarski of the Bioorganic Chemistry department.
• At least six more dwarfs followed Chemik onto the PWr campus over the years, including Poliglotek and WIZek.
• The street ul. Łukasiewicza is named after Ignacy Łukasiewicz, the Polish pharmacist who invented the kerosene lamp — fittingly scientific company for a chemistry dwarf.
• PWr's Chemistry Faculty building A-2 is home to the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, so Chemik is surrounded by some very serious science.

How to Find This Dwarf

Chemik is at ul. Łukasiewicza 2 on the main campus of Wrocław University of Science and Technology (PWr), about 2.2 km from the city centre. Take tram lines 4, 5, or 17 to the Plac Grunwaldzki stop and walk along ul. Łukasiewicza towards the Chemistry Faculty building A-2. The entrance is clearly marked.

Nearby Dwarfs

Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility

Wheelchair AccessibleGround LevelOutdoor

Located on a flat paved area at the entrance to the Chemistry Faculty building A-2. The campus paths are generally accessible; the area in front of A-2 is smooth and level.