On 19 February 2025, the Polish Science Gala took place once again. During the ceremony, Awards of the Minister of Science and Higher Education were presented for significant achievements in the field of scientific, educational, implementation and organisational activities as well as overall achievements. Among the distinguished were employees of the University of Silesia in Katowice.
Laureates:
- for achievements in education
Katarzyna Trynda, PhD, Assoc. Prof. (Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education of the University of Silesia) and Katarzyna Sujkowska-Sobisz, PhD, Assoc. Prof. (Director of the College of General University Education of the University of Silesia) – the key achievement of the team is the coordination of conceptual, organisational, content-related and implementation work on the new concept of education within 1st cycle studies and the initial years of long-cycle studies, which refers to the most development-oriented forms of academic education in the world. In 2023, the assumptions of the new study concept were implemented on a pilot basis in 50 degree programmes at the University of Silesia and the College of General University Education was established.
- for achievements in implementation activities
Tomasz Goryczka, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. and Jerzy Bogdan Dybich, MSc Eng. (Faculty of Science and Technology) – the researchers have maintained long-standing cooperation with the medical community, which includes the area of application of engineering materials for medical implants and the production of the implants themselves. They were responsible for developing a new type of implant steel, a method of plastic processing leading to obtaining a wire characterised by an increased range of plastic deformations, and the production of the final product, i.e. orthopaedic non-locking intramedullary nails used to connect bone fragments.
- for achievements in scientific activities
Prof. Barbara Mikołajczyk (Faculty of Law and Administration) – researcher examines global ageing processes and related challenges for states, societies and international institutions. In her monograph Social Inclusion for Older Persons and Human Rights Law The Potential for Universal and European Instruments, she analyses the mechanisms of international law that have or could protect the human rights of older persons, but are also a resource for gerontologists and social policy makers, including practitioners. Articles authored by Prof. Mikołajczyk are also published in prestigious foreign scientific journals.
The Polish Science Gala is held as part of the Polish Science Day celebrations established on the anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus’ birth. The celebration is intended to inspire people to follow in the footsteps of prominent Polish scientists and to strengthen interest in science.
Photo by the event organisers