Report on University Day 2023
The University of Wrocław Day, traditionally celebrated on November 15th, is behind us. We would like to thank the friends of our University for honouring us with their presence. We would like to thank the representatives of the state and local authorities, representatives of churches, diplomatic missions, institutions of the world of science, culture and business, the present and former Rectors who came. We would also like to thank the members of the board and council of the German-Polish Society of the University of Wrocław, members of the academic Senate, retired professors as well as employees, students, doctoral students of our University for coming.
The speech of the Rector, prof. Robert Olkiewicz is presented below.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Colleagues, Students, and Doctoral Students!
November 15th is a symbolic date. In 1702, the Leopoldina Academy was inaugurated. On November 15th, 1945, prof. Kazimierz Idaszewski’s lecture marked the beginning of the first academic year at the Polish university in Wrocław. Maintaining tradition is important and is part of the university order as well. Without passing on certain rules of conduct, traditions, and customs, we would not be here today.
The power of tradition is great, let’s nurture it, let’s pass on good role models. There is no need to explain to anyone here how important the master-student relationship is. Without these relationships, there can be no continuation of academic traditions. And it is tradition, but also hope, that I always think of on this special day. The November time of reflection is behind us, and the joyful time of hope is ahead of us. And today is the celebration of our academy, the celebration of all of us gathered here.
It is thanks to your work and commitment that the University of Wrocław is a research institution, one of the most popular universities among high school graduates, and one that enjoys reputation and prestige. My role, as Rector, is to create the best possible conditions for you to work and study, and I am proud of your successes. They give us all hope that, despite budgetary difficulties, there are ways to achieve great academic results.
It is impossible to list here all the prize-winning and distinguished scholarship recipients, young scientists or experienced researchers. Assuming a time caesura of the last several weeks, I will only mention a few successes:
- The so-called ‘Polish Nobel’ for prof. Marcin Stępień from the Faculty of Chemistry, i.e. the award from the Foundation for Polish Science
- The award of the National Science Centre for prof. Łukasz Opaliński from the Department of Biotechnology. The award, after 11 years of existing, finally went to Wrocław
- Heisig Award for prof. Lechosław Latos-Grażyński
- and the Wrocław Mayor’s Max Born Scholarship in Physical and Chemical Sciences for Oleksandr Vitiuk
- Hugo Steinhaus Scholarship in Mathematical Sciences for Michał Stypułkowski
- Ludwik Hirszfeld Scholarship in Biological and Medical Sciences for Justyna Wądzyńska
- Wincenty Styś Scholarship in Social Sciences and Humanities for Paulina Kaczmarczyk, Grzegorz Michalec and Aleksandra Zielińska
- Alfred Jahn Scholarship in Earth and Environmental Sciences for Michał Halicki and Iwo Wieczorek
I am very pleased and cheer on the activities of the student scientific associations, student and doctoral organisations and their supervisors. Thanks to the successes you are achieving, I know that our University will continue to grow. I would like to maintain the passion that exists in young scientists and I assure you that I will do my best to create the best possible conditions for you and your teams to develop. Let us use our research potential effectively – this will become a motivation for building an ever higher position of our University.
I would like to thank those who share their passion and knowledge in various fields, at the Science Festival, on walks in the Botanic Garden, in radio and TV programmes or within the framework of the Children’s University. This year, the Children’s University Award, which is given to the best of several hundred scientists and specialists for awakening children’s passion for knowledge and for imparting knowledge in an experimental way, went to two of our young scientists: dr Filip Duszyński from the Faculty of Geomorphology and dr Joanna Wątły from the Faculty of Biological and Medical Chemistry.
I would like the University to contribute to improving the environment and living conditions of people. That is why we have initiated a nationwide pilot model for the energy transition of university operations. I hope that the agreement between representatives of the rectoral authorities of public universities of Wrocław and Opole, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, Krajowa Agencja Poszanowania Energii (the National Energy Conservation Agency) and Bank Ochrony Środowiska (the Bank for Environmental Protection) will soon result in real savings in energy use.
On behalf of the community and the authorities of the University of Wrocław, I would like to thank you for your work, passion and commitment.
Today I will have the honour of presenting you with decorations and awards that are an expression of our gratitude and respect.
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Traditionally, during the University Day, Crosses for Meritorious Service to the Development of Science and Medals for Long Service were awarded. It is with great pleasure that we announce that the President of the Republic of Poland, at the request of the Minister of Education and Science, has awarded 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze Crosses for merits for the development of science and 11 Medals for Long Service (6 Gold, 4 Silver and 1 Bronze) to employees of the University of Wrocław in 2023 for exemplary and exceptionally conscientious performance of duties resulting from professional work.
A number of employees were also honoured with departmental decorations awarded by the Minister of Education and Science for their special merits for education and upbringing. This year 14 Medals of the Commission of National Education were awarded.
The Gold Cross of Merit was awarded to prof Eugeniusz Zych from the Faculty of Chemistry
The Silver Cross of Merit was awarded to:
dr Marek Kulczycki from the Faculty of Social Sciences
prof. Elżbieta Stadtmüller from the Faculty of Social Sciences
Prof. Maciej Kryza from the Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management
The Bronze Cross of Merit was awarded to:
prof. Katarzyna Dojwa-Turczyńska from the Faculty of Social Sciences
prof. Joanna Dyduch from the Faculty of Social Sciences
Karol Greinert from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
dr Sebastian Jakubowski from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
prof. Małgorzata Niklewicz-Pijaczyńska from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
prof. Edyta Rutkowska-Tomaszewska from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
prof. Katarzyna Szalonka from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
prof. Aldona Wiktorska-Święcka from the Faculty of Social Sciences
The Gold Medal for Long Service was awarded to:
prof. Henryk Cugier from the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy
mgr Zbigniew Gdowski from Foreign Languages Centre
mgr Izabela Indeka from the Faculty of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences
mgr Joanna Kokosza from the Faculty of Social Sciences
mgr Bogusława Kuczborska from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
dr Wojciech Ostrowski from the Faculty of Social Sciences
mgr Teresa Pomorska from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
dr Bolesław Rajman from the Faculty of Letters
mgr Hanna Skornowicz from the Faculty of Chemistry
dr Agata Szalewicz from the Faculty of Biotechnology
mgr Wioletta Zięba from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
The Silver Medal for Long Service was awarded to:
prof. Alina Bieńko from the Faculty of Chemistry
dr Katarzyna Guz-Regner from the Faculty of Biology
dr Magdalena Homa from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
dr Kamila Korzekwa from the Faculty of Biology
mgr Krzysztof Mruszczak from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
dr Donata Wawrzycka from the Faculty of Biology
mgr Dagmara Zielińska from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
The Bronze Medal for Long Service was awarded to:
dr Magdalena Modelska from the Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management
mgr Adam Morel from the Faculty of Chemistry
The Medal of the Commission of National Education was awarded to:
dr Jakub Bornio from the Faculty of Social Sciences
dr Wojciech Doliński from the Faculty of Social Sciences
prof. Zdzisław Jary from the Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management
prof. Marcin Kadej from the Faculty of Biology
prof. Maria Korabik from the Faculty of Chemistry
prof. Leszek Kwieciński from the Faculty of Social Sciences
prof. Marek Łagosz from the Faculty of Social Sciences
prof. Ewa Maciaszczyk-Dziubińska from the Faculty of Biology
prof. Bartosz Michalski from the Faculty of Social Sciences
The Medal of the Commission of National Education was also awarded to:
prof. Piotr Owczarek from the Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management
prof. Adrian Smolis from the Faculty of Biology
dr hab. Marcin Szydzisz from the Faculty of Social Sciences
dr Tomasz Szyszlak from the Faculty of Social Sciences
mgr Ludmiła Święcicka from the Faculty of Social Sciences
dr Anna Wdowikowska from the Faculty of Biology
prof. Irena Wolska-Zogata from the Faculty of Social Sciences
prof. Mirosław Żarowski from the Faculty of Social Sciences
The awards were presented by the Deputy Governor of Lower Silesia – Bogusław Szpytma, and the School Superintendent of Lower Silesia – Roman Kowalczyk.
Traditionally, on the occasion of the celebration of University of Wrocław, prizes are awarded to academic teachers for scientific, didactic and organisational achievements obtained in 2022. The prizes were received by persons selected by the deans of each faculty.
The awards were given to:
prof. Ilona Błocian from the Faculty of Social Sciences
prof. Teresa Bruś from the Faculty of Letters
prof. Wojciech Bury from the Faculty of Chemistry
dr Dominika Grzesik from the Faculty of Historical and Pedagogical Sciences
prof. Zbigniew Haba from the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy
prof. Ewa Maciaszczyk-Dziubińska from the Faculty of Biology
prof. Jakub Michaliszyn from the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
dr Katarzyna Pietraszek-Gremplewicz from the Faculty of Biotechnology
prof. Adam Sulikowski from the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
dr hab. Dagmara Tchorz-Trzeciakiewicz from the Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management
A competition for the publication of a book in the Golden Series of the University of Wrocław was established 17 years ago. The Golden Book of 2023 was awarded to two winners: dr Michał Rydlewski for his work entitled “Magia i pismo. O dwóch odmianach komunikowania: obrazowym i pojęciowym” and dr Tomasz Szymański for his work entitled “W poszukiwaniu religii uniwersalnej. Zarys historii pewnej idei i jej wybrane postacie w XIX-wiecznej literaturze francuskiej”. We congratulate them all and wish them further successes and job satisfaction.
Translated by Martyna Mielczarek (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
