Two University of Wrocław projects nominated for the Dolnośląski Gryf Award

In the Dolnośląski Gryf – Economic Award competition organised by the Western Chamber of Commerce, two projects from the University of Wrocław have received nominations in the category Best Business–Science Collaboration: the Plain Polish Certificate and Luminescently Active Layers for Photonics — a collaboration between Łukasiewicz – PORT and the University of Wrocław within the Implementation Doctorate programme.

The Centre for Simple Polish is a research unit of the University of Wrocław that has been developing the Polish version of the plain language standard since 2012 (currently ISO: ISO/DIS 24495-1). The text-simplification method developed in Wrocław is known as Plain Polish. It has already been adopted by numerous public institutions (e.g. the Social Insurance Institution — ZUS, the National Revenue Administration) and companies (e.g. Bank Pekao). The Laboratory has also created a special certificate awarded to organisations that independently simplify their communication. It is this Plain Polish Certificate that has been nominated. The team consists of experienced linguists from the University’s Polish studies department: Dr hab. Tomasz Piekot (team leader), Dr Grzegorz Zarzeczny, Dr Marcin Poprawa, and Dr Marta Śleziak. All are linguists, academic teachers, plain language trainers, and researchers in written communication.

Luminescently Active Layers for Photonics: This project aims to develop a materials platform based on hybrid (inorganic–organic) materials. The core of these materials will be silicon dioxide doped with organic dyes or rare-earth metal compounds that provide luminescent activity. Such modification makes it possible to obtain systems such as light sources or detectors. Importantly, producing high-quality silica layers requires thermal treatment at temperatures of at least 300°C. However, such high temperatures often lead to degradation of organic dyes, so the project focuses on compounds with high thermal stability. The nominated project team comprises two researchers from the University of Wrocław — Dr hab. Joanna Cybińska and doctoral candidate Maria Zdończyk — as well as Dr Eng. Bartłomiej Potaniec, all affiliated with the Łukasiewicz Research Network – PORT.