Academic Club for Underwater Research of Nicolaus Copernicus University – Who We Are?

The Academic Club for Underwater Research (AKBP) is, above all, a community that brings together young, ambitious people who share common interests and a passion for discovery. Members of the Club gain knowledge and experience together, while also building friendships that often last for years. The time spent on underwater exploration creates bonds based on cooperation, mutual support, and trust – and offers many unforgettable experiences.

AKBP is an organization that unites students of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. All its members are connected by a passion for underwater exploration and uncovering traces of the past. Under the supervision of specialists, students train to become future researchers – underwater archaeologists. Membership in AKBP offers opportunities for both scientific and personal development.

Academic Club for Underwater Research - What We Do?

First and foremost: underwater archaeology! Under the guidance of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology at NCU, we take part in underwater excavations and surveys in Poland and abroad. Our main research and training site is Lake Lednica, but in recent years we have also conducted work in the Masurian Lakes, the Baltic Sea, Turkey, and Croatia.

Every year, AKBP organizes diving courses for students interested in getting involved in underwater archaeology. Young divers can further improve their skills during training camps and field schools.

However, diving is not our only activity. Our non-diving members are also active – they participate in conferences, workshops, and popular science events as an alternative to fieldwork.

When we are not diving, we focus on academic growth. In the past year, our members presented papers at international conferences, including in Zadar, Croatia. We also organize open meetings at our Faculty, where students share their experiences, passions, and inspire one another.

An important part of AKBP’s mission is the popularization of underwater archaeology. As part of our cooperation with schools, our members are regularly invited to high schools to conduct classes and workshops. We also take part in the Toruń Festival of Science and Art every year.

At AKBP, teamwork is key. Expeditions, diving projects, and event organization teach us cooperation, responsibility, and problem-solving. In a friendly and supportive atmosphere, members discover their strengths, gain confidence, and form friendships that go far beyond the university walls.

Join the Academic Club for Underwater Research!

If you would like to join us, the easiest way is to get in touch through our Facebook or Instagram page.

Academic Club for Underwater Research - Our History

The Academic Underwater Research Club is one of the oldest student organizations at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. It originated in the late 1970s. Twenty years later, another group of students founded the Student Underwater Research Club. In 2018, both organizations were merged, forming today’s Academic Club for Underwater Research, which proudly continues the traditions of its predecessors.

Our Activities

Academic Year 2025/2026:

• Between October 13–17, 2025, Mikołaj Tański, Marta Piotrowska, and Szymon Mosakowski represented the Club at the 8th International Congress on Underwater Archaeology (IKUWA8) held in Oostende, Belgium.

Academic Year 2024/2025:

• In September, members Marta Piotrowska and Mikołaj Tański took part in an international internship in Croatia within the SMART³ IDUB program.
• Also in September, Daniel Szczepański and Dominika Parda represented AKBP during the Toruń Night of Scientists.
• In July, AKBP members participated in underwater research at Lake Lednica.
• In May, the 6th Open Meeting of the Academic Club for Underwater Research took place.
• That same month, Daniel represented AKBP at the “Barbarian of the Year 2025” conference.
• Also in May, we held a training camp at the “Orłowskie” lake, where members practiced their diving skills.
• In May, during the Faculty of History conference “Between the Sword and the Pen: An Interdisciplinary View on War”, active participation came from Iza, Mikołaj, Seweryn, Patryk, and Daniel.
• In April, AKBP organized a workshop titled “Underwater Adventure with Archaeology” during the 25th Festival of Science and Art in Toruń.
• Also in April, our representatives attended the “The Past Has a Future” conference organized by the University of Warsaw. In April, Dominika, Daniel, Mikołaj, and Marta took part in the National Student Conference on Underwater Research “Hydrocon.”
• In March, we held the 5th Open Meeting of AKBP.
• That same month, we organized archaeological workshops for schools in Sztum.
• Also in March, Marta Piotrowska and Mikołaj Tański represented AKBP at the “Poznań Young Researchers’ Archaeology Conference.”
• In March, we also took part in the Open Days of Nicolaus Copernicus University, held at Collegium Humanisticum.
• In February, Patryk Małecki participated in the conference “Sustainable Development: Environmental, Social, and Economic Aspects” with a presentation titled “Underwater Archaeology in Lake Studies.”
• In December, we summarized our activities during the 2024 Star Seminar, where we presented ongoing projects.
• That same month, we organized a fundraiser for the “Cztery Łapy” Animal Shelter in Aleksandrów Kujawski, conducted at the Institute of Archaeology and the Faculty of History.
• In December, the 4th Open Meeting of AKBP was held, during which students shared their experiences in underwater archaeology.
• In November, we conducted archaeological workshops at Primary School No. 23 in Toruń, and also presented a paper at the 9th Balkan Symposium on Archaeometry (Zadar, Croatia).

Academic Year 2023/2024

• In November, we organized a study tour for archaeology students to museums in Puck and Gdańsk.
• In December, we held our annual fundraiser for the Toruń Animal Shelter.
• From December to June, AKBP ran the P1 KDP CMAS basic diving course.
• In February, the 1st Open Meeting of AKBP took place at the Faculty, followed by the 2nd Open Meeting in March.
• In April, we participated in the Open Days of the Faculty of History, and also in the 25th Symposium on Mediterranean Archaeology (SOMA) in Zadar, Croatia.
• In May, we organized a First Aid (PPP1 CMAS) training course for our members and hosted the 3rd Open Meeting of AKBP.
• Also in May, we held a diving and training camp for members at Lake Orłowskie.
• In June, we conducted educational workshops at the historical event “Operation Deszczyk” in Aleksandrów Kujawski.
• In July, most of our members participated in underwater research at Lake Lednica.
• In August, our member Szymon took part in the “Student Mobility” program (IDUB), participating in the search for submerged shipwrecks in Turkey, within a project led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Harun Özdaş from the Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, Dokuz Eylül University.