The City of Gdańsk awarded the Duke Mestwin II Medal to the Rector UG, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski. It is one of the highest distinctions awarded to persons of merit to the city.

The presentation of the distinctions - St Adalbert's and Duke Mestwin II Medals - took place on Monday, December 2, 2024, in Artus Court during a ceremonial session of the Gdańsk City Council, which, together with the Chapter, awards the distinctions.

The Rector of the University of Gdańsk was awarded the Duke Mestwin II Medal ‘for raising the profile of the University of Gdańsk among European universities, scientific achievements in environmental pollution research and involvement in the establishment and activities of The Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk’.

The laudation was delivered by the Chairwoman of the City Council, Agnieszka Owczarczak, who presented prof. Stepnowski's professional path, noting his special merits in building relations and cooperation in the city, the country and abroad. ‘Piotr Stepnowski is immensely involved in the work of raising the University of Gdańsk's position among Polish and European universities,' said Chairwoman Agnieszka Owczarczak. ‘He is a tireless animator of inter-university cooperation to create one of the strongest academic centres in Pomerania. He is a co-founder of The Fahrenheit Union of Universities - a federation of the largest universities in Gdańsk: Medical University of Gdańsk, Technical University of Gdańsk and University of Gdańsk.’

The laudator also alluded to the Rector's extra-professional interests - architecture and Italian Renaissance painting - and to the passion he indulges in in his spare time: sculpting.

The Rector received the medal from the Chairwoman of the City Council, Mayor of Gdańsk Aleksandra Dulkiewicz and the President of the Chapter, Prof. Edmund Wittbrodt, after which he made a short speech: ‘I am breathing in every moment of today's ceremony and thinking to myself - what a beautiful richness there is in our city! How multifaceted, multicultural and ambiguous - when it comes to Danzig - we are. After all, we draw on the historical richness of our city, the one whose greatest emanation is the Gdansk Salon of Artus Court, where we are today. Respect for multiculturalism, the language of dialogue and cooperation is also what gives me and fuels my unflagging energy - to work for the consolidation of the academic community here in Gdańsk. I think we are all convinced that we are a strong, important, European academic centre and, yes, Maciej, we are a window on the world,’ said the Rector, referring to the statement of Maciej Grabski, also awarded that evening.

The Rector also stressed the importance of cooperation between all residents, social groups, and business: ‘It is only in this consolidated dimension that we will further develop our wonderful city, to which I dedicate this award.’

That evening, the recipients of the medals that have been awarded for almost 30 years were also:

St. Adalbert Medal:

• prof. dr hab. inż. Kazimierz Darowicki/Gdańsk University of Technology - for outstanding scientific and implementation achievements, recognisable and recognised worldwide, for establishing in Gdańsk one of the largest European corrosion teaching and research centres and for building a strong scientific school of impedance spectroscopy in Gdańsk (the laudation was given by prof. Edmund Wittbrodt);
• Maciej Grabski - for the construction and establishment of the Olivia Centre business and office centre, attracting numerous domestic and foreign investors, constituting a modern and innovative showcase of Gdańsk (laudation delivered by prof. Cezary Obracht-Prondzyński);
• prof. dr hab. Dorota Kolak-Michalska - for her extraordinary artistic achievements with which, as an outstanding actress of Teatr Wybrzeże, she has made Gdańsk famous beyond its borders (the laudation was given by Anna Czekanowicz-Drążewska).

Duke Mestwin II Medal:

• Natalia Partyka - for outstanding sporting achievements that make Gdańsk famous nationally and internationally, as well as determination in pursuit of her goal and a life-long attitude that is a role model (the laudation was delivered by Bogusław Kaczmarek);
• The Committee for the Defence of Democracy - Pomerania Region - for unrelenting and consistent action to build a civil society and for defending the Polish Constitution. On behalf of the Association, the medal was received by Sława Rafalak, President of the Regional Board (the laudation was delivered by Barbara Szczepuła-Ponikowska).

More information about the ceremony at www.gdansk.pl.