Abstract:

The article presents a description of the results of interdisciplinary cooperation between employees and students of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Silesian University of Technology and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum.

The works concerned the objects indicated by the Museum as priorities, because of their technical condition or the repairs planned in the near future. Inventories were made by students of a non-resident branch of the Faculty of Civil Engineering – Engineering Education Centre in Rybnik from the construction and architectural degree courses, as part of annual internships after the third year, starting from 2005. Documentation for the Birkenau area was made within several years: brick barracks, kitchen, latrines, storage building, watch tower and barracks in Auschwitz. For most building, excavations were made regarding the method and depth of the foundation, sometimes associated with the identification of a typical construction of building elements. The documentation was supplemented by defining damage, irregularities or subsequent rebuilds of the original condition. The conducted research also concerned the measurement of selected parameters describing the microclimate in selected rooms of camp objects. Students carried out the documentation themselves under the supervision of Museum staff or archeological supervision as well as the internships’ tutor of the Faculty.

A measureable benefit of organizing internships is that the students gain experience related to work on existing facilities and the possibility of interdisciplinary contacts showing students their abilities as part of shaping the future professional independence of graduates by the University. The students had the opportunity to get acquainted with the archival German documentation collected in the Museum’s archives, the objects’ books and other studies related to the development of the former camp. Every year, the internships ended with a meeting with the Museum staff (construction and conservation section), discussion of the work done and a multimedia presentation as well as the transfer of the prepared documentation. However, as part of the internship defense, students presented their achievements to employees of the Faculty of Civil Engineering.

Conclusions resulting from the scientific and research work of employees of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Silesian University of Technology and diploma theses can be an important supplement to the statutory activity of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum. In addition, the internship allowed the Museum to obtain up-to-date documentation of objects in the digital record, which formed the basis for, for example, describing the subject of the contract or planning repair works or complementing existing ones. The results of the work can be used to develop a comprehensive project and program of conservation and construction activities in the former camp.

Keywords:

Education through experience, diploma theses, indoor climate research, technical documentation.