‘The rat: unwanted guest or master of survival’ – the first conference in Poland devoted to rat issues
On December 13, 2025, in Kraków, the first conference in Poland fully dedicated to the lives of rats and their place in urban space will take place.
The event “Rat: Unwanted Guest or Master of Survival” is organized on the initiative of the In the Name of Animals Foundation, with the Mushika Foundation as co-organizer.
Why do we focus on rats?
Rats live right next to us—in basements, garbage areas, sewers, and other urban nooks and crannies. They have accompanied humans for thousands of years, yet they remain among the most misunderstood animals. In popular culture, they usually symbolize “dirt” and “danger,” although in reality they are a species of remarkable intelligence, complex social structures, and strong learning abilities.
A separate group consists of laboratory rats, used in experiments worldwide. They are chosen for the very same reasons that make them exceptional in the wild: they are intelligent, social, and quick learners. This paradox highlights just how complex our relationship with this species truly is.
The gap between facts and stereotypes is one of the reasons behind the idea for this conference—there has been a lack of space for discussion about animals we see often but rarely understand.
Premiere of the Mushika report on rats
Among the speakers will be Katarzyna Wypychewicz, President of the Mushika Foundation, and Dr. Edyta Wincewicz, DVM, a veterinarian and academic lecturer at the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław. They will present our new publication, “Unknown Residents of the City: A Report on Rats,” which will be released soon.
This is the first publication of its kind in Poland to take such a comprehensive look at free-living rats—their biology, behavior, role in the ecosystem, legal status, and the ways culture and language shape our perception of them.
The report shows that rats are not a “problem to be exterminated,” but a part of the urban ecosystem. Conflicts arise not from the “nature of rats,” but from infrastructure, waste management, and human habits. If you would like to receive the report as soon as it is published, sign up for our newsletter.
An interdisciplinary conference – science, art, education
“Rat: Unwanted Guest or Master of Survival” brings together diverse perspectives:
- critical animal studies and environmental humanities,
- veterinary medicine and animal protection law,
- art and activism,
- the experience of people involved in rescuing laboratory rats.
The conference will also be accompanied by a mini art exhibition dedicated to rat-related themes.
What will we talk about?
The conference will focus on what is most important for real change in how rats are approached in Polish cities:
- Humane and effective methods of coexistence
Why don’t traditional extermination campaigns work? Which solutions truly reduce conflicts? - Language that shapes our perception of rats
Does the term “pest” obscure more than it explains? - The role of rats in the urban ecosystem
How do they actually affect the city and its residents? - How to resolve conflicts without violence
What can be done instead of poisoning, and is ethical population control possible? - Empathy in urban design
Why does sensitivity to animals also create a better environment for people?
Registration closed
We have already reached full capacity for the event. If places become available, we will announce it on the Facebook event page—so it’s worth checking there.
Why is this event important?
Because rats are already here. They have been, are, and will be part of our cities—regardless of what we think about them. The question is whether we choose violence and an ongoing, ineffective fight, or thoughtful management based on knowledge, cooperation, and empathy.
And that is exactly what this conference is about.