Tag: belfast

  • Arek Jaworski – Researcher, Software Engineer, and AI Innovator in Belfast

    Arek Jaworski and Titanic Belfast Museum

    If you’ve spent any time around the tech or research scene in Belfast, you’ve probably heard the name Arek Jaworski. He’s the kind of person who can jump from discussing Fourier transforms and diffraction patterns to joking about how his lemon tree refuses to fruit indoors. A rare blend of scientist, engineer, and philosopher, Arek embodies what happens when curiosity meets persistence.

    Born in Poland, Arek began his academic journey with a BSc in Physics from Nicolaus Copernicus University. Later, he moved to Northern Ireland, where he earned an MSc in Computing from Ulster University and went on to pursue a PhD at Queen’s University Belfast. His research lies at the intersection of computer vision, optics, and artificial intelligence — specifically the development of models for real-time water quality analysis using digital holographic microscopy. In simple terms, Arek is teaching computers how to “see” microscopic worlds through diffraction.

    What makes his work fascinating isn’t just the code — it’s the curiosity that drives it. While others see random specks of light, Arek Jaworski sees a story about structure, shape, and movement. He’s fascinated by how tiny patterns can reveal big truths about the environment, especially the growing issue of microplastic pollution in water. His work combines physics and deep learning to detect and analyze these patterns with unprecedented precision.

    Outside the lab, Arek Jaworski is equally at home in the world of software development. Having worked as a software architect and engineer, he’s fluent in the languages that power the modern digital world — Python, JavaScript, and beyond. He’s also an advocate of open-source collaboration, believing that sharing knowledge accelerates innovation. Many of his projects — from AI-driven image analysis tools to custom annotation apps — reflect his belief that research should be practical, accessible, and meaningful.

    Lemon Tree - Arek Jaworski

    But there’s more to Arek than algorithms and academic papers. Friends describe him as someone who finds beauty in precision, whether he’s tuning a machine-learning model or repotting his plants. His lemon tree — a recurring character in his stories — often appears in his posts as a quiet metaphor for resilience and growth. He jokes that if the tree ever bears fruit, it’ll probably deserve co-authorship on his next research paper.

    Those who’ve worked with Arek know his attention to detail and his ability to explain complex topics in a simple, engaging way. He’s that rare researcher who can make you care about diffraction rings, neural networks, and optical interference — sometimes all in one sentence. His writing, whether technical or personal, always reflects a balance between scientific rigor and human warmth.

    On his website, jaworski.pl, you’ll find reflections on research, coding adventures, and everyday observations about life in Belfast — a city that’s both his home and creative base. Belfast’s mix of history, culture, and weather (often all three at once) seems to match his personality: resilient, a little unpredictable, and quietly determined.

    Arek Jaworski represents a new kind of academic — one who doesn’t draw hard lines between science, technology, and art. His journey from Poland to Northern Ireland, from physics to artificial intelligence, mirrors the way modern research flows across disciplines. In every project, there’s a touch of craftsmanship and care — a sense that each dataset, like each leaf on his lemon tree, deserves attention.

    If you’re curious about innovation, AI, or just want a glimpse into the mind of someone who genuinely loves what he does, Arek is a name worth remembering. His story is still unfolding, with new experiments, ideas, and collaborations on the horizon. And if history is any guide, you’ll probably find him somewhere between a microscope, a Python script, and that ever-hopeful lemon tree — still chasing light, patterns, and meaning.

  • Park Run Cancelled

    Arek Jaworski at Derry City Park Run

    Today, Saturday the 4th of October, I was supposed to take part in Park Run. Unfortunately, due to Storm Amy the event was cancelled.

    I started regular running and participation since late June 2024 when I registered for my first Park Run.

    My results:

    29 June 2024 – my first recorded Park Run at Orangefield. My time was 00:25:56. I finished 65th out of 162 parkrunners and I was the 52nd male and came 7th in age category VM40-44.

    I achieved an age-graded score of 53.02%.

    26 July 2025 – marked my 23rd Park Run and 16th running at Victoria Park. My time was 00:23:06. I finished in 77th place out of a field of 326 parkrunners. I was the 68th male and came 9th in age category VM40-44.

    I achieved an age-graded score of 59.96%.

    02 August 2025 – I switched the venue to Ormeau Park and during my 24th Park Run and 1st in Ormeau Park I finally got age grading over 60%! My time was 00:23:01. I finished in 77th place out of a field of 645 parkrunners. You were the 66th male and came 3rd in your age category VM40-44.

    I achieved an age-graded score of 60.17%.

    This is my personal best score.

  • Belfast City Half Marathon

    Arek Jaworski - Belfast Half Marathon - Results

    On 22 September 20024 I took part in Belfast City Half Marathon.

    My official result:

    • Rank: 3560
    • Time: 02:10:28

    This was my first and so far the only long distance run. Usually, I run for 5 or 10km. The first 15km I was doing in a steady pace of around 30 minutes per 5km. After reaching 15km I started to slow down. When I passed 18km I started to get muscle spasm. At that stage my goal was to simply complete the half marathon.

    When I signed up for this challenge my not-so-realistic goal was to be able to finish in about 2 hours.

    I was really pleased to achieve the time of 2 hours 10 minutes. As for the start of running career, I say this is a promising result.

    Unfortunately, I did not compete in 2025 half marathon. At the moment I’m more focused on shorter distances – like 5km Park Runs.

  • Fight for Freedom – The Warsaw Uprising of 1944

    Opening of “Fight for Freedom – The Warsaw Uprising of 1944” exhibition. Polish Society Belfast together with Lord Mayor of Belfast.

    30 August 2014, Belfast

  • Blast From The Past

    WW2 Warsaw Uprising exhibition - Arek Jaworski Belfast

    Unique event where I, as a head of Polish Society in Belfast (pictured left), met Alasdair McDonnell (right) and Jerome Mullen, Honorary Consul of Republic of Poland in Northern Ireland (centre).

    This photograph was shared on Alasdair McDonnell’s Facebook page on 4 September 2014 with the following description:

    Met with Arek Jaworski, head of Polish Society in Belfast and Mr. Jerome Mullen, Honorary Consul of Republic of Poland in Northern Ireland, at the WW2 Warsaw uprising exhibition in the Ulster Hall. It runs until Sunday, 10am to 5pm.

  • Getting Around (And Staying Mostly Dry)

    Walking: City centre is compact — bring comfy shoes and faith in traffic lights.

    Buses: They’re pink. You can’t miss them. Contactless works, manners recommended.

    Trains: Handy for coastal runs to Bangor or beyond. Sit on the sea side for views and existential thoughts.

    Taxis: Black cabs and apps both fine; drivers double as historians and weather forecasters.

    Bikes: Great until you discover cobbles. Then… character building.

  • Local Lingo (Survival Glossary)

    • Wee: small, friendly, or simply a punctuation mark (e.g., “a wee chat” could last three hours)
    • Dead-on: sound, reliable, good craic
    • Craic: fun/chat/gossip/not illegal
    • Scundered: embarrassed beyond redemption
    • Bout ye?: how are you?
    • Melt: someone testing your patience (could be a printer)
    • Yous: plural you. Very efficient.
    • Aye/No bother/That’s us: yes/you’re welcome/we’re done here

    Use sparingly until you’ve unlocked Level 2 Belfast.

  • Eat & Drink (Fuel for Exploring)

    Breakfast: Ulster fry — a heroic plate featuring soda bread, potato bread, and moral dilemmas about second helpings.

    Coffee: Belfast takes coffee seriously. If your flat white arrives suspiciously fast, check if you accidentally ordered a cappuccino.

    Lunch: Soup + wheaten bread — because carbs deserve a friend.

    Dinner: Fresh seafood by the lough or something spicy in the Cathedral Quarter. If a menu says “wee,” it might still defeat you.

    Pubs: Expect live music, friendly chats, and at least one person who knows your cousin’s neighbour’s dog. Small world.

    Sweet things: Fifteens (biscuits + marshmallows + cherries = happiness). Don’t ask why they’re called fifteens unless you’re ready for three different answers.

  • Things To Do (When It’s Dry — Or Not)

    1. Titanic Belfast – A spectacular museum that explains how the world’s most famous ship was built here, launched here, and… sailed elsewhere. The gift shop floats.
    2. St George’s Market – Come for artisan everything; stay for the live music and the breakfast you didn’t know you needed.
    3. Black Cab Tour – History, murals, stories. You’ll learn more in an hour than you did in a semester, and with better jokes.
    4. Cathedral Quarter – Cobbled streets, street art, and pubs with live music. Instagram will forgive your last 10 food pics if you post a mural.
    5. Cave Hill Hike – A short climb for a big view. On a clear day you can see Scotland. On a normal day you can see your breath.
    6. Botanic Gardens & Ulster Museum – Free culture! Dinosaurs, art, Egyptian curiosities, and somewhere warm to defrost.
    7. CS Lewis Square – Find Aslan and company. Great for kids and for adults who still check wardrobes, just in case.
    8. Maritime Mile – Waterfront wander among public art, history panels, and seagulls plotting buttered scone heists.
    9. The MAC – Contemporary arts venue. You don’t have to “get” it to enjoy it. Bonus: excellent coffee nearby.
    10. Day Trips – Giant’s Causeway, Gobbins Cliff Path, Game of Thrones locations. Yes, the views are real. No, the dragons are not (budget cuts).
  • Key Facts

    Capital of: Northern Ireland

    River: The Lagan (it’s shyer than the Thames, but just as photogenic if you catch it on a good day)

    Mountains: Cave Hill staring judgmentally at your step count

    Iconic sights: Harland & Wolff cranes (Samson & Goliath), City Hall, Titanic Belfast, the Albert Clock (Belfast’s leaning cousin of Pisa)

    Currency: Pound sterling (for your wallet); kindness (for the rest)

    Weather: “Layers” is not advice, it’s law

    Sports: Rugby, ice-hockey, football, and the sprint for shelter when it starts to spit

    Tea: Strong enough to stand a spoon in. Sugar? “Aye go ‘head.”