On 19 February 2022 the Polish Science Day was celebrated. During the Polish Science Gala 2022 organised on that day the names of the winners of the Awards of the Minister of Education and Science were announced. Five employees of the University of Silesia were awarded.
The list of laureates includes:
- Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski, vice-rector for international and national cooperation – 1st degree award for significant achievements in the field of organisational activity. The distinction was awarded for organisational work undertaken from the beginning of the pandemic and for crisis response at the University of Silesia. In July and August 2020, Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski led the university team that developed and implemented a comprehensive system of pandemic safety levels. The system was met with great interest by many other universities and in various versions it was adapted or inspired to introduce similar solutions in at least a few of them;
- Mikołaj Marcela, PhD, from the Faculty of Humanities – award for significant achievements in the field of teaching. The scientist was recognised for his activity and commitment in the field of educating students, doctoral students and staff with the use and promotion of new learning methods (project and team methods). Mikołaj Marcela, PhD, is also the author of a series of innovative books devoted to fundamental issues in the context of didactics (not only academic);
- Andrzej Swinarew, PhD, DSc, Associate Professor from z the Faculty of Science and Technology – an award for significant achievements in the field of implementation activities. The researcher was distinguished for the results of the research, which formed the basis for 81 patent applications, of which 37 inventions have already obtained decisions on granting patents – all of them were registered in the European Union. So far, the solutions developed by Prof. Andrzej Swinarew, in the years 2012–2021, saw five industrial implementations. The scientist has been awarded many times: in 2021 he received the state award of the Prime Minister “For Merits for Inventiveness”;
- Prof. Jerzy Łuczka PhD, DSc, Associate Professor from z the Faculty of Science and Technology – an award for lifetime achievement. The justification indicated the professor’s scientific and didactic achievements, including international awards from the British Physical Society Institute of Physics, the European Physical Society and the American Physical Society. Prof. Jerzy Łuczka is a member of the Polish Academy of Learning and the Council of the National Science Centre, as well as the editor of two recognised scientific journals published by the Springer publishing house.
- Prof. Aleksandra Niewiara from the Faculty of Humanities – award for significant achievements in the field of scientific activity. The researcher was awarded for numerous publications on the evolution of Polish perceptions of nations and Polish identity in the period from the 16th to the 20th century, recognised and quoted in Poland and abroad. In her works, Prof. Aleksandra Niewiara uses an innovative approach and original solutions with the development of her own methods. Her activities are not limited to the academic area and also include the social and didactic dimensions.
The 2022 Polish Science Gala was held online. The transmission from the ceremony is on the YouTube channel of the Ministry of Education and Science.
photo by Giorgio Trovato | Unsplash