Today (February 19, 2024) we celebrate Polish Science Day. On this occasion, a celebratory gala was held in the auditorium of the Warsaw University of Technology, during which the Minister of Science and Higher Education, Dariusz Wieczorek, presented awards to the most distinguished representatives of the scientific and academic community. Two scientists from the University of Gdańsk were awarded: prof. dr hab. inż. Adriana Zaleska-Medynska and prof. dr hab. Hanna Mazur-Marzec.
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education received 101 applications for the awards. Of these, 95 were referred for substantive evaluation. The applications were assessed by an advisory panel consisting of representatives of the academic community from individual fields of science or art. The Minister of Science awarded 59 prizes, including 50 individual and nine team prizes. The laureates were honoured for their merits in five categories: for significant achievements in scientific, teaching, implementation, and organisational activities, and for lifetime achievement.
The award for 'Significant Achievements in Organisational Activity' went to the Director of the Daniel Fahrenheit Universities Union in Gdańsk, prof. dr hab. inż. Adriana Zaleska-Medynska (Faculty of Chemistry), and the award for 'Significant Achievements in Scientific Activity' to prof. dr hab. inż. Hanna Mazur-Marzec (Faculty of Oceanography and Geography), recently awarded the Jan Hevelius Science Prize of the City of Gdańsk.
‘On behalf of the Ministry's management, I would like to thank you for all your efforts, the development of Polish science, the development of universities,’ said the head of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, opening the Polish Science Gala.
During the ceremony, Minister Dariusz Wieczorek drew attention to the role of science in economic development and pointed to the need for closer cooperation between science and business. ‘We have great staff, great scientists, great achievements. Let us not be ashamed of it, let us talk about it, because we have reasons to be proud of. Science is needed by the Polish economy; it is essential in creating new jobs. Today, Polish companies should feel obliged to provide funds for research and development.’
‘We will continue the dialogue and develop common positions with the scientific community to best meet its expectations. Today, a new era is beginning for Polish science. I would like this government's term to be remembered as the best one for the development of Polish science,’ concluded the Minister of Science in his speech.
The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Ministers Maria Mrówczyńska, Maciej Gdula, and Andrzej Szeptycki, and Director General Diana Matusik.
More information: Gala Nauki Polskiej - Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego - Portal Gov.pl (www.gov.pl).