Experienced in swimming, running, skiing and hockey. Currently trains lacrosse and rowing. Teaches skating and rollerblading, but also... studies systems engineering at our Faculty and is active in the CyberTech student Research Club. Jakub Piotrowski was the hero of the #JestemzPWr (I am from WUST) series.
„My daily schedule is completely full", says Jakub, enumerating his activities. It includes studying at the Faculty, rowing in the WUST Eights, actively participating in the student research club CyberTech, playing lacrosse for the Kosynierzy Wrocław club, the 9-time Polish Champions, and earning his living by teaching children how to skate and rollerblade.
At the same time, Jakub claims that he still has some time for a social life, but it requires very good organization and planning skills. “It is not easy to juggle so many tasks. I had to find more time somewhere, so I decided to sleep less. Less sleep equals more time to act. I have a really busy sports timetable. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until 10 pm I train lacrosse, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have rowing trainings at six a.m.,” continues the athlete.
In addition to an ambitious sports plan, there is also a fascination with computer science. The choice of the field of System Engineering was related to the desire to deepen his knowledge and skills in the field of computer science. "My passion with computer science started already while studying at the 14th Polish Community in Belgium High School in Wroclaw in a mathematics, physics and information technology class. At that time, I was developing algorithmic programs in C++. Since then, these interests have expanded, especially in the field of artificial intelligence.”
– During high school, I noticed that I am fascinated by solving everyday optimization problems and striving to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of operations. At first, I was trying to apply these ideas in my own life, but over time I realized that it is systems engineering that gives me the opportunity to influence a wide range of fields and areas where these principles can be applied, says Jakub.
Another important argument in choosing the field of study was the fascination with machine learning. The development of artificial intelligence and technologies based on machine learning has opened new opportunities in the field of data analysis, process automation and the development of intelligent systems. In the future, our protagonist would like to build systems that use the potential of artificial intelligence to solve real problems and bring benefits to society.
Jakub is currently employing his fascination with computer science and machine learning in the CyberTech student research club, which specializes in AI and ML. One of the projects he participates in is called Real-time prediction of electricity consumption and is carried out in cooperation with WUST. It aims to develop an AI algorithm predicting energy consumption at the University. Such predictions will allow for more accurate planning of energy purchases for the future, better energy management and prediction of potential situations in which reactive energy consumption limits are exceeded.
For two years, Jakub has been a player of the Kosynierzy Wrocław lacrosse team, which is fighting this season for the tenth Polish Championship title. At that time, the player also represented Poland at the U21 Men's World Championships in Ireland in 2022. As he points out, when playing lacrosse, he uses the skills he acquired while practicing many other sports. This includes swimming, running, skiing and hockey. A friend from his high school hockey team invited him to join the Kosynierzy team.
– Lacrosse is called the fastest two-legged sport in the world. It is a contact team sport, practiced mainly in the USA, in which ten players from two teams try to put the ball in the opponent's goal with the help of special sticks with a net. The game is extremely intense, requiring both physical strength and technical skills. It includes running, sprints, changes of direction, precise throws and shots. Due to the contact nature of the game, players wear protective gear similar to that in ice hockey, including a helmet, elbow pads and gloves, describes Jakub.
In Poland, lacrosse is a niche sport – only four clubs are competing in the Polish men's league this year: from Wrocław, Kraków, Katowice and Oświęcim.
From the age of 16 to 18, Jakub also practiced rowing at the Pegaz Wrocław club. After a few years break, having missed this sport, he joined the WUST Eights. He has competed in the Academic Polish Championships in the ergometer discipline and a few days ago on the Brda River in Bydgoszcz. The team finished the competition in the 3rd place in the category of technical universities. They also won the 3rd place in the point classification for Wrocław University of Science and Technology. The official results are listed here.
Another opportunity to see Jakub Piotrowski in action is a lacrosse match. The Finals of the Polish Championships for both leagues: men's and women's will be played on 4 July in Wrocław. On the pitch, look for a player with number 97!