Mgr Mateusz Adam Baluk, a third-year doctoral student in the School of Exact and Natural Sciences, received an award in the Product Innovation category at the Eco-Innovator 2022 competition for his academic achievements and popularization of science.

The award was primarily given for scientific accomplishments: for his participation in co-creating a photocatalytic tower, his involvement in the 4.0 Innovation Incubator, his work on the OPUS 21 grant 'The Role of Ionic Liquids in Photoconversion of CO2', for leading two BMN projects, coordinating the student project 'NKChUG: KLIMATYCZNI' and developing new air filters, which were awarded at the Young Fahrenheit competition.

As Mateusz A. Baluk admits, in addition to popularizing science, his work on devices that can be used for environmental protection was also recognized.

- 'The materials and devices I create are mainly focused on separating pollutants from the air and/or their photodegradation. They are used for photocatalytic hydrogen generation as a clean energy carrier and photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide into usable fuels,' - says Mateusz Adam Baluk, a PhD student at UG. 'The award is the culmination of my efforts over the last few years as part of my doctoral studies. It is a green brick in the climatic revolution that our generation must undertake in order to live in a clean and safe world.'

The Eco-Innovator 2022 competition is the 4th edition of the nationwide competition aimed at the academic community, whose aim is to identify scientific and organizational circles, students, and doctoral candidates distinguished by their pro-ecological research and activities.