Marta Skorek, a doctoral student at the Institute of Scandinavian and Fennist Studies at the Faculty of Philology of the University of Gdansk, received the prestigious Baltic Sea Science Award 2021 for her research project Discourse shapes marine space: Representations of the macro-regional governance of the Baltic Sea and their social-ecological implications.
The award ceremony took place during the International Conference Towards a new ERA for Research and Innovation in the Baltic Sea Region organised by Baltic Science Network and CBSS Baltic Sea Science Day. Marta Skorek received the award for her research project Discourse shapes marine space: Representations of the macro-regional governance of the Baltic Sea and their social-ecological implications.
- My PhD dissertation focuses on the multidimensional notion of Baltic Sea space managed at the macro-regional level. Through the prism of the people-ecosystem relationship constructed in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the thesis takes a critical look at the concept of sustainable development and related concepts such as education, science, research and innovation. Drawing from a number of complementary disciplines, including ecological discourse analysis, cultural studies, sociology, marine ecology, oceanography or marine environmental management, it creates a supportive space to develop alternative development scenarios for this macro-region in light of available scientific publications," explains Marta Skorek, winner of the award.
The Baltic Sea Science Award 2021 is given for outstanding contribution to cross-border research cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) in the field of sustainable development.
- This is a great honour for me, which both makes me very happy and obliges me to continue my research and to translate the results obtained into educational projects and activities aimed at popularising scientific knowledge. The award additionally motivates me to create a supportive space for inspiring discussions, exchange of views, presentation of different perspectives, sharing of experiences and undertaking interdisciplinary activities. The newly established Centre for Sustainable Development of the University of Gdańsk, of which I am honoured to be a part, has such extraordinary potential - adds the winner.
- Ms Skorek's success is proof that the University of Gdańsk attracts young, talented and creative students. The University offers a solid foundation and excellent conditions for development, which, combined with the students' hard work, translates into research results at home and abroad. Mrs. Skorek's example also proves that the University of Gdańsk not only fulfils its didactic mission, but also, thanks to its employees and graduates, has a real impact on the social and economic environment of EU member states - says Krzysztof Szczepaniak, PhD, BSN_Powerhouse Project Manager, implemented by the University of Gdańsk in cooperation with the Polish Ministry of Education and Science as well as universities and science development organisations in seven countries around the Baltic Sea, i.e. Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Russia and Sweden. - I would like to emphasise, that Ms Skorek is a graduate of several universities in Poland and abroad, including the University of Massachusetts-Boston, Warsaw University and the Warsaw School of Economics, and a member of international research groups. This year she also joined the team of the newly established Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Gdańsk. I hope that the Centre, also with Marta's participation, will carry out numerous research and teaching projects related to the sustainable use of the resources and potential of the Baltic Sea and the implementation of strategic actions of the European Green Deal - she adds.
For a research project to be considered for the award it had to meet the following criteria:
- the project is cross-border and involves at least two countries in the Baltic Sea Region - either through the candidate's participation in an international team or through the development of a cross-border research issue/problem;
- the project has the potential to impact on the sustainable development of the Baltic Sea Region;
- the project contributes to research and innovation strategies at macro-regional or European level in the Baltic Sea Region (e.g. HORIZON, EUSBSR, CBSS Science Research Innovation Agenda (SRIA), Baltic 2030).
- Receiving this award is a nice culmination of my many years of scientific journey including conferences and research schools in Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland, as well as a scholarship granted by the Kosciuszko Foundation from New York to the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Moreover, the realisation of this project became possible thanks to the cordial support of my closest ones, meetings with Polish and foreign experts representing academic and non-academic circles and also thanks to excellent cooperation with my thesis supervisor, Professor Kazimierz Musiał, from the Institute of Scandinavian and Finnish Studies at the University of Gdańsk,' Marta Skorek concludes.
