The prof. Karol Taylor Awards for Outstanding Academic Achievements and the Krzysztof Celestin Mrongowiusz Teacher of the Year Awards for the best academic teachers at the University of Gdańsk, for the years 2020 and 2021, were presented. We would like to congratulate the winners.

The statues were received by this year's and last year's winners, as the 2020 award ceremony did not take place due to the pandemic.

Until now, the award ceremony was traditionally held on March 20th each year during a ceremonial meeting of the UG Senate on the occasion of the University of Gdańsk Feast Day. This time, however, due to restrictions related to the pandemic, the form of the presentation had to be changed. The event had an intimate character, took place with the participation of the laureates, without the public.

Professor Karol Taylor Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievements

The Rector's prof. Karol Taylor Award for Academic Teachers of the University of Gdańsk is awarded for outstanding scientific and research and development achievements (individual and team) in the fields of natural sciences, humanities and social sciences.

The Prof. Karol Taylor Science Awards for 2020

The individual prize was awarded to:

• dr Barbara Wolnik from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science
• prof. dr. hab. Michał Horodecki from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Information Technology
• dr. hab. Michał Kuciapski, prof. UG from the Faculty of Management
• dr. Patryk Dziurosz -Serafinowiczowi from the Faculty of Social Sciences
• prof. dr. hab. Piotr Stepnowski from the Faculty of Chemistry
• prof. dr. hab. Jerzy Zajadla from the Faculty of Law and Administration
• prof. dr hab. Grażyna Tomaszewska from the Faculty of Philology
• prof. dr. hab. Artur Hugo Świergiel from the Faculty of Biology

The team prize went to the researchers of the Faculty of Law and Administration: dr Anna Klimaszewska, dr Beata Kowalczyk, dr Maja Maciejewska-Szałas, dr hab. Michał Gałędek, prof. UG; prof. dr Tadeusz Maciejewski, dr Marcin Michalak.

The prof. Karol Taylor Scientific Awards for 2021 went to:

prof. Janina Ciechanowicz - McLean from the Faculty of Law and Administration

prof. dr hab. Hanna Mazur-Marzec from the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography

prof. dr hab. Elżbieta Wojnicka-Sycz from the Faculty of Management

prof. dr hab. Stanisław Judycki from the Faculty of Social Sciences

prof. dr. hab. Piotr Skurski from the Faculty of Chemistry

As dr hab. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, prof. UG, vice-rector for international co-operation reminded during the award presentation, the patron, prof. Karol Taylor was one of the most outstanding scholars of the University of Gdańsk, as well as one of the founding fathers of our University. With the establishment of the University of Gdańsk, he was appointed Director of the Institute of Biology. He was the founder and organiser of the Faculty of Biology. In 1984 he was elected rector of the University of Gdańsk.

- 'Prof. Karol Taylor was also the founder of the Gdańsk school of molecular biology and the first scientist to demonstrate the phenomenon of transcription of both DNA strands,' - said dr hab. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler. - 'When, in a conversation with the editor Ryszard Socha, conducted after prof. took up the post of Rector, he was asked what made him decide that a chemical engineer became involved in microbiology and molecular genetics, he replied: "Scientists form themselves from interests.' And further, 'If it were not for the general situation, I would be most happy not to break away from pure science. It is a real intellectual delight if you get a treat, a flash of insight, an unexpected association and something that was a thicket, an incomprehensible mat, suddenly starts to crystallize and some complicated phenomenon becomes clear, understandable. I wish you that such scientific enlightenment and the pleasure and possibility of dealing with pure science, of which the patron of this award spoke, always accompanied you in your university work.'

Krzysztof Celestyn Mrongowiusz 'Teacher of the Year' Awards

The awards are granted for outstanding teaching achievements to UG academic teachers who are particularly appreciated by students. The awards are applied for by the faculties' student councils, and the applications are considered by a specially appointed Competition Commission composed of students and academic teachers.

The patron of the award is Krzysztof Celestyn Mrongowiusz (1764-1855), an outstanding Gdańsk pedagogue and scholar, meritorious for the preservation of the Polish identity of Pomerania.

- 'We would like to congratulate all the laureates and wish them further success in their teaching careers, pleasure from their university work and the widest possible development of their passions, as well as their academic and teaching careers,' - said dr hab. Arnold Kłonczyński, Prof. UG, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Education, during the ceremony.

The winners of the Krzysztof Celestyn Mrongowiusz Teacher of the Year Award for 2020:

• dr hab. Sylwia Jafra, prof. UG from the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and GUMed
• dr Aleksandra Wierucka from the Faculty of Philology
• mgr Tomasz Aftański from the Centre for Physical Education and Sport

Distinctions were awarded to:

• dr Magdalena Markiewicz from the Faculty of Economics
• dr hab. Artur Sikorski, prof. UG from the Faculty of Chemistry
• dr Anna Toruńska-Sitarz from the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography

The winners of the Krzysztof Celestyn Mrongowiusz Teacher of the Year Award for 2021:

• dr hab. Joanna Makowska, prof. UG from the Faculty of Chemistry
• dr Anna Sobecka from the Faculty of History
• dr Jacek Wojsław from the Faculty of Social Sciences

Distinctions were awarded to:

• dr hab. Antoni Augustynowicz, prof. UG from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
• dr hab. Patrycja Koszałka from the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and GUMed