10.10.2025 A unique children’s book, “Oczulęta,” premiered during the CRATER 2025 conference in Warsaw, dedicated to the latest advances in eye imaging and retinal disease therapy. It was authored by Tomasz Samojlik, a renowned biologist and creator of popular educational titles such as “Żubr Pompik” and “Ambaras.”
“Oczulęta” is a story that introduces young children to the fascinating world of vision science in an accessible, humorous, and sensitive way. The author, a scientist at the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences and one of the most recognizable nature communicators in Poland, has created a book that combines literary imagination with solid biological knowledge. The characters in Oczulęta – small, curious creatures – guide the reader through the mysteries of the human eye, explaining how images are created, what light is, and why it’s important to take care of our eyes.
The publication was created in collaboration with the International Centre for Eye Research (ICTER) and is part of a broader initiative to popularize vision science. Its launch symbolically coincides with the 25th anniversary of the development of SD-OCT (Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography) technology – a groundbreaking achievement in ophthalmology, which was also commemorated during CRATER 2025 with the launch of the dedicated SD-OCT website.
The joint presentation of both projects – the scientific and the outreach – has a special resonance. “Oczulęta” reminds us that learning begins with looking and asking questions, and that curiosity about the world is the first tool of every researcher – regardless of age.
Tomasz Samojlik’s new book not only introduces young children to the world of eye biology, but also invites them to explore together how we see the world-literally and metaphorically. Because every child who looks with wonder is a bit of a scientist.
