Scientists of the Silesian University of Technology awarded by the minister
On the occasion of the Polish Science Day, a gala was held in the auditorium of the Warsaw University of Technology, during which the Minister of Science Dariusz Wieczorek presented awards to the most outstanding representatives of the scientific and academic community. The winners were honoured for merits in five categories: for significant achievements in the field of scientific, didactic, implementation, organizational and overall achievements.
The winner of the minister's award for significant achievements in the field of implementation activities was prof. Anna Chrobok from the Department of Chemical Organic Technology and Petrochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, and director of the College of Studies of the Silesian University of Technology.
– This is a huge distinction for me, a very important award that summarizes my implementation activities at Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe in Puławy, where we managed to implement the technology for obtaining ε-caprolactone, a monomer for the production of biodegradable polycaprolactone, which has biomedical applications – said prof. Chrobok. – The path from idea to industry is really very demanding and difficult and also involves a huge risk for the company, which is why I am even more happy that we managed to implement this technology in business.
In turn, prof. Janusz Kotowicz, Vice-Rector for Cooperation with Civic and Economic Environment and deputy head of the Department of Power Engineering and Turbomachinery at the Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, was honoured for his overall achievements. – This is an appreciation of my activities, both organizationally and scientifically. I was twice the dean of the Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, during this period the Faculty obtained the highest category A+, and the field of environmental engineering was recognized in the rankings as the best in Poland, which also means appreciation of my organizational activities at the rector level - emphasized prof. Kotowicz. – Of course, the scientific nature of this award is very important, I have managed many important scientific projects, including those related to advanced energy generation technologies, we are currently moving towards hydrogen technology, I am the vice-president of the Silesian-Małopolska Hydrogen Valley – he added.
The Minister's Award for significant achievements in the field of scientific activity was awarded to prof. Marcin Woźniak from the Department of Applied Mathematics and Methods for Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Applied Mathematics. – Each award is the result not only of hard work and skills, but also of the environment in which the path to achieving it took place. The Silesian University of Technology is an excellent place for work and scientific development, where over the years of my scientific career I have been able not only to develop, but also to meet many excellent people. I hope that our University has many successes ahead of us, which we will achieve as a team - said prof. Woźniak.
– On behalf of the management of the ministry, thank you for all your efforts, the development of Polish science, the development of the university – 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 out the need to tighten cooperation between the science and business sectors. – We have great staff, great scientists, great achievements. Let's not be ashamed of it, let's talk about it because we have reasons to be proud. Science is necessary for the Polish economy; it is essential in creating new jobs. Today, Polish companies should include obligations to provide funds for research and development.
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education received 101 applications for awards. Of these, 95 were referred for substantive evaluation. The applications were assessed by an Advisory Team consisting of representatives of the academic community from specific fields of science or art. The Minister of Science awarded 59 awards, including 50 individual and 9 team awards.
Significant achievements in the field of organizational activities
In this category, the awards went to:
- prof. dr hab. Eng Adriana Karolina Zaleska-Medynska from the University of Gdańsk,
- dr hab. Bartłomiej Nita from the University of Economics in Wrocław,
- prof. dr hab. Ewa Bulska from the University of Warsaw,
- prof. dr hab. Yuriy Zorenko from the Casimir the Great University in Bydgoszcz,
- dr Małgorzata Chojak from the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin,
- prof. dr hab. Eng Waldemar Kuczyński from the Koszalin University of Technology,
- prof. dr hab. Eng Jarosław Milewski from the Warsaw University of Technology.
Significant achievements in the field of implementation activities
In this category, the awards went to:
- prof. dr hab. Eng Henryk Rybiński with a team from the Warsaw University of Technology,
- prof. dr hab. Monika Brzychczy-Włoch from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow,
- dr hab. Jakub Rybka from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań,
- prof. dr hab. Eng Anna Chrobok from the Silesian University of Technology,
- dr hab. Eng. Jacek Białek from the University of Łódź,
- prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Sędek with the team from SWPS University,
- dr hab. Eng. arch. Agata Gawlak from the Poznań University of Technology,
- dr hab. Eng. Mirosława Teleszko and dr Adam Zając from the Wrocław University of Economics.
Significant achievements in the field of teaching activities
In this category, the awards went to:
- dr Katarzyna Beata Olejko from the University of Economics in Katowice,
- dr hab. Karol Bartkiewicz and dr Andrzej Wójtowicz from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań,
- dr Eng. Marzena Jasiewicz from the University of Zielona Góra.
Significant achievements in the field of scientific activity
In this category, the awards went to:
- dr hab. med. Waldemar Brola from the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce,
- prof. dr hab. Eng. Jerzy Józef Sobczak from the Stanisław Staszic AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow,
- dr hab. Eng. Marek Macko from the Casimir the Great University,
- prof. dr hab. Eng. Małgorzata Kujawińska with the team from the Warsaw University of Technology,
- prof. dr hab. Małgorzata Barańska with the team from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow,
- prof. dr hab. Beata Ziaja-Motyka from the Henryk Niewodziński Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN,
- dr hab. Wojciech Pokrzywa with his team from the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw,
- dr hab. Marta Julia Fiołka with the team from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin,
- prof. dr hab. Eng Marcin Woźniak from the Silesian University of Technology,
- prof. dr hab. Szymon Cyfert with his team from the University of Economics in Katowice,
- prof. dr hab. Hanna Jurata Mazur-Marzec from the University of Gdańsk,
- dr Eng. Julia Radwan-Pragłowska from the Tadeusz Kościuszko University of Technology in Krakow,
- prof. dr hab. Eng Adam Wysokowski from the University of Zielona Góra,
- dr hab. Eng. Sylwester Samborski with the team from the Lublin University of Technology,
- prof. dr hab. Agnieszka Ewa Waśkiewicz from the University of Life Sciences in Poznań,
- dr hab. Cina Foroutan-Nejad from the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences,
- dr hab. Eng. Katarzyna Matczyszyn from the Wrocław University of Science and Technology,
- prof. dr hab. Piotr J. Chmielewski from the University of Wrocław,
- prof. dr hab. Eng. Henryk Rybiński with a team from the Warsaw University of Technology,
- prof. dr hab. Eng. Grzegorz Dudek from the Częstochowa University of Technology,
- prof. dr hab. Magdalena Arasimowicz-Jelonek from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
- dr hab. Eng. Krystian Marszałek from the Prof.Wacław Dąbrowski Institute of Biotechnology of the Agricultural and Food Industry – National Research Institute,
- dr hab. Katarzyna Górak-Sosnowska from the Warsaw School of Economics,
- dr Eng. Mohammad Malikan from the Gdańsk University of Technology,
- dr hab. Eng. Krzysztof Kamil Żur from the Białystok University of Technology,
- prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Woźniak from the University of Warsaw.
For overall achievements
In this category, the awards went to:
- prof. dr hab. Janusz Czekaj from the University of Economics in Krakow,
- prof. dr hab. Eng. Andrzej Jan Kos from the Stanisław Staszic AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow,
- prof. dr hab. Eng. Ryszard Pałka from the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin,
- prof. dr hab. Eng. Adam Hamrol from the Poznań University of Technology,
- prof. dr hab. Eng. Janusz Kotowicz from the Silesian University of Technology,
- prof. dr hab. Eng. Zbigniew Jaroszewicz from the Institute of Telecommunications - National Research Institute,
- prof. dr hab. Bogdan Stefan Wojciszke from SWPS University,
- prof. dr hab. Józef Eugeniusz Sienkiewicz from the Gdańsk University of Technology,
- prof. dr hab. Maria Bryszewska from the University of Łódź,
- prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Sobczak from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań,
- prof. dr hab. Adam Maj from the Henryk Niewodziński Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN,
- prof. dr hab. med. Agnieszka Słowik from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow,
- prof. dr hab. Stanisław Kowalczyk from the Warsaw School of Economics,
- prof. dr hab. Eng Jerzy Wilde from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
- prof. dr hab. Eng Maria Włodarczyk-Makuła from the Częstochowa University of Technology.
The Polish Science Day established in 2020 is an opportunity to commemorate the achievements of the most outstanding Polish scientists who have permanently entered the history of science by making breakthrough discoveries in various fields. It is also an expression of appreciation for contemporary Polish researchers, as well as an inspiration to undertake scientific projects and strengthen interest in science and its popularization in society.
Polish Science Day is also an opportunity to honour people outstandingly involved in scientific and academic activities with the Awards of the Minister of Science.
Photos: The Ministry of Science and Higher Education; private archive
