104 votes for, 26 against, none abstained. University of Gdańsk electors chose Professor Piotr Stepnowski to serve as Rector of the University of Gdańsk for the 2020/2024 term. No easy task lays before the new Rector, namely rebuilding public image of the university .

Professor Piotr Stepnowski:

Th academic community of the University of Gdańsk, electing University of Gdańsk Rector, placed their trust in me. This mandate, received with substantial majority vote, enables me to carry out the university’s vision, being the community of diversity.

You, ladies and gentlemen, were (and still are) able to familiarize yourself with this vision, as it was stated in the election program available on my website, created in consultation with multiple communities within our university. It expresses the need for changes that must to take place.

We are all aware that this vision cannot be carried out in a chaotic manner. Having the implementation plan, together with the engagement of us all, is extremely important in order to build a new image of our university.

My program, supported by your voting today, is not only a recovery program but also the emphatic change of university’s public image, recent event tarnished 50 years of UG great history and ground work of outstanding researchers and teachers. I realize that the task at hand is difficult, for me and for all of us. I would like to ask for your support and kindness – mostly for the university, which made its mark in the history of our region, educated vast numbers of wonderful graduates and deserves to be perceived as breeding ground for talented staff, outstanding researchers and academic teachers.

Prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski received his professorship at the age of 39. From the beginning, he has linked his academic career with the University of Gdańsk. He has been, amongst others, Dean of the UG’s Faculty of Chemistry and Vice-Rector for Research and International Cooperation. He currently holds positions of the Director of Daniel Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk and the Head of the Department of Environmental Analysis at the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk. Professor Stepnowski is a world-class pioneer of research into the detection and assessment of environmental risk posed by atypical chemical pollutants such as residues of medication or so-called ionic liquids – the modern industrial solvents. Professor Stepnowski cooperates with a wide group of scientists, also from foreign research centers including Germany, France or Portugal. He is an author and co-author of over 200 scientific articles, published in renowned international journals, author of academic textbooks and editor of academic monographs. His works have been cited over 7,000 times and his current h-index stands at 49, which places him at the forefront of Polish science. He was featured in the World’s Top 2% Scientists List in terms of the citability of his works among his peers. The World’s Top 2% Scientists List has been published by Stanford University, together with Elsevier and SciTech Strategies. He has also supervised over 50 MA theses and been promotor of 14 doctoral students. He has served many important functions in social and local government organizations dealing with environmental protection.

Professor Krzysztof Bielawski, Vice Rector for Development and International Cooperation, also competed for the UG Rector’s position. The Rector’s selection was made by the University Electoral College (UKE), comprising 132 members (Professor Bielawski is member of the UKE but was excluded from voting on 23 November). University of Gdańsk Senate Members selected for the 2020-2024 term constitute one half of the University Electoral College, second half includes faculties, units, students, doctoral students and UG administrative staff delegates.

The election was streamed on the UG YouTube channel https://youtu.be/cczWhA8Mn_o (the recording is still available)

Professional bio of Professor Potr Stepnowski, Rector of the University of Gdańsk is available in the separate attachment

Election program on: https://piotrstepnowski.pl/

dr Beata Czechowska-Derkacz

Spokesperson of the University of Gdańsk