From among hundreds of candidates, the jury of
the “Polityka” Science Prizes chose 15 finalists, including Grzgegorz Soboń,
DSc, from Wrocław University of Technology. Now he has a chance to become a
laureate and receive a scholarship of 30 000 PLN.
Since 2001,
the “Polityka” Weekly Foundation has been organizing a scholarship programme
“Zostańcie z nami!” (“Stay with us!”) for young researchers. Since 2011 it has
been known as “Polityka” Science Prizes.
“In this
way, we promote a valuable career model, against the pop-culture trends,
emphasizing the role of intellect and diligence, which have imperceptibly
become secondary values. We are looking for persons that in the last 1-2 years
have reached a milestone in their careers. The list of possible achievements is
not restricted: it may be a Doctor’s or Doctor Habilitatus dissertation, a
book, a significant scientific article, finalizing or starting a research
project, composing a research team or taking an important post in a scientific
institution.” – explains the “Polityka” weekly on its website.
In the first phase, the jury composed of professors, chooses 15
finalists from among hundreds of candidates, in 5 fields of study: humanities,
exact sciences, social sciences, life sciences, and technical sciences.
In the second phase, a community jury (composed of
people holding important public functions) chooses the winner in each category.
The victor receives a scholarship of 30 000 PLN and the remaining
finalists obtain a prize of 10 000 PLN.
Among this
year’s finalists, there is Grzegorz
Soboń, DSc, from the Wrocław University of Technology Faculty of
Electronics, who is concerned with the areas of lasers and fibre optic
amplifiers, femtosecond lasers utilizing graphene, and frequency combs.
It’s yet
another success of this researcher. He is also a laureate of the main award in
the ABB Research Centre Prize competition and has twice been a scholar of the
“START” programme of the Foundation for Polish Science. In the academic year
2012/2013, he received a scholarship from the Minister of Science and Higher
Education for outstanding achievements, and his Master’s thesis won a prize in
the national Prof. Adam Smoliński’s competition for best diploma theses in the
field of optoelectronics. At the beginning of August 2014 Grzegorz Soboń, DSc,
was also announced laureate of the Prime Minister’s Prize for his Doctor’s
dissertation “Generation of ultrashort pulses fiber lasers in the 3rd
telecommunication window”, written under the supervision of Prof. Krzysztof
Abramski.
Whether he
also wins the “Polityka” Science Prizes, we will know on 19th
October, when the final gala will be held.
lucy
Translation:
Dariusz Więcławski