We are creating a generation of specialists who will not necessarily be cosmonauts but will know perfectly well how the use of space technologies can bring maximum benefits on Earth, in our cities, autonomous vehicles, navigation and hundreds of thousands of other applications - says dr hab. Maciej Nyka, prof. UG, from the Department of Public Economic Law and Environmental Protection of the Faculty of Law and Administration, elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Space Science Committee.

During the general reporting and election meeting of the Members of the Space Science Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdańsk Branch, held on March 25, 2021, two employees of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk were elected to the Presidium of the Committee in the term 2021-2025.

By unanimous resolution of the members, dr hab. Adam Wiśniewski, prof. UG, Head of the Department of International Law, was elected Chairman of the Legal Section, and dr hab. Maciej Nyka, prof. UG, from the Department of Public Economic Law and Environmental Protection, was elected Deputy Chairman of the Space Science Committee. The professors of our University will support Professor Edmund Wittbrodt of the Gdańsk University of Technology, re-elected to the position of the Chair of the Space Science Committee.

- 'I am grateful to the members of the Committee for placing their trust in me and entrusting me with the function of chairman of the Legal Affairs Section for another term of office. As I said during our founding meeting, I will want to bring about, to a greater extent than before, the internationalisation of the Committee's activities. This is all the more so because, as far as I am aware, the Committee's activities arouse great interest not only in Poland, but also abroad. In particular, our interdisciplinary research approach, the combination of maritime and space issues, and theory and practice meet with interest and recognition. That is why I hope that in the new term of office of the Committee, we will be able to develop our activity even further, both domestically and abroad,' - says dr hab. Adam Wiśniewski, prof. UG.

- 'The Space Research Committee is a unique scientific body with an interdisciplinary character dealing with space research from the perspective of many different scientific disciplines. The aim of our committee is, on the one hand, to research space-related issues, but the emphasis is also placed on the possibilities of applying solutions or technologies on Earth. For this reason, the Space Research Commission works in close partnership with the Baltic Sea and Space Cluster, which brings together the most innovative companies involved in applying space and satellite technologies to applications on Earth,' - explains dr. hab. Maciej Nyka, prof. UG, elected Deputy Chairman of the Space Research Committee. - 'The functioning of the Committee in Gdańsk, i.e. in the city where the Polish Space Agency has its seat, as well as close cooperation with that institution, is an element distinguishing the Space Research Committee from other scientific bodies dealing with the issues of space research and space technologies in Poland. The Committee's development plans are currently connected with establishing institutional cooperation with universities and research institutes in Poland and abroad. It should be mentioned that the members of the Committee also include persons representing scientific centres located in other Polish cities, e.g. in Warsaw or Słupsk. The result of the actions taken so far is the creation of a unique degree programme "Space and Satellite Technologies", which is being implemented jointly by the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Shipbuilding (former Faculty of Mechanical Engineering) of the Gdańsk University of Technology together with the University of Gdańsk, Gdynia Maritime University and Naval Academy in Gdynia. Thus, we are creating a generation of specialists who will not necessarily be cosmonauts, but will know perfectly well how the use of space technologies can bring maximum benefits on Earth, in our cities, autonomous vehicles, navigation and hundreds of thousands of other applications,' - he adds.

During the 2017-2021 term, the Space Sciences Committee, in cooperation with the Polish Space Agency, the Maritime and Space Cluster and the universities and research entities represented in it, organised 19 international conferences and published two monographs. The Commission has over 60 members within 5 sections (Space and Satellite Technology, Legal, Management, Maritime and Medical). In 2021, 4 conferences are planned, one of which - on September 23, 2021 - will be held at the University of Gdańsk.