Our students on television – scientific success recognised
Students from the Veterinary Biology Student Research Club have once again demonstrated that scientific research conducted at our university is truly significant and capable of attracting the interest of a wide audience. Their innovative research project was not only recognised in a nationwide competition, but also featured in the evening edition of Panorama Lubelska.
The television material was devoted to research on the mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor) and ways to improve the efficiency of its breeding. The students talked about the potential of insects as an alternative source of protein, emphasising that mealworm protein is easily digestible and comparable in nutritional value to salmon protein. It is also rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. As the authors of the project pointed out, the aim of the research is not to replace meat, but to highlight insects as an ecological supplement and a future alternative on the food market.
The television presentation was the result of the students’ earlier success in the 15th edition of the StRuNa National Student Scientific Movement Competition, the final of which took place on 22 November 2025 in Warsaw. The Veterinary Biology Student Research Club project was awarded in the ‘Project of the Year 2025’ category (out of over 300 entries from all over Poland) and selected for presentation in the auditorium of the Academy of Fine Arts. It is particularly worth noting that the group was the only representative of the academic community from Lublin.
The award-winning project entitled ‘Cellulolytic bacteria associated with the gut of the mealworm beetle – isolation and molecular identification’ was prepared by Michał Torbicz, Michał Oszust and Karolina Szarek under the scientific supervision of Leszek Guz, PhD, Associate Professor and Anna Pastuszka, MSc. The students presented the results of three years of research, which may have real commercial applications and contribute to the development of an innovative, sustainable insect-based food market.
The material can be viewed at the following direct link: TVP3 Lublin
