On Saturday, the Ministry of Science and Higher
Education started its campaign “Profession: Scientist”, addressed to young
people and their parents, as well as researchers and universities. The
inauguration ceremony was held in the Warsaw University of Technology Aula. As
part of the ceremony, “Diamond Grants” and “Generation of the Future” prizes
were awarded. Among the laureates there were researchers and students of
Wrocław University of Technology.
“Each year
the prizes are awarded to even 200 people. Already now, there are hundreds of
laureates. In a few years, the number will reach thousands.” – said Prof. Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, Minister
of Science and Higher Education, during the award ceremony on Saturday – “In
this way, a critical mass for changes in Polish science is created. It is you
who can give it new energy, new ideas, new solutions. We want you to talk about
science, so that it becomes important in public discourse.”
“Diamond Grants” are prizes that aim at securing financial
independence for young researchers and opening a faster way to obtain the
doctor degree. This year, the grants were awarded to 86 research projects
conducted by outstanding students of Polish universities and research
institutes.
The
laureates include two researchers from Wrocław University of Technology. Joanna Bednarska obtained 190 000
PLN for her project “Absorption two-quantum spectra of molecules in solutions:
simulations from primary bases” and Maciej
Polak received 200 000 PLN for his “Calculation, from primary bases,
of the band structure, structural, and optical properties of mixed
semiconductor compounds, produced on the basis of materials with significant
misfit.”
“Generation of the Future” is a support programme for
outstanding students. It is addressed to young inventors, designers,
programmers, as well as innovators working on new, effective solutions in
medicine and natural sciences, who represent Poland at international
competitions and contests. In this year’s edition, three teams from Wrocław
University of Technology were distinguished: the PWR Racing Team (for an innovative solution in the design of a
modern Student Formula race car and participation in international
competitions), the designers from the Jet
Stream scientific circle (for the construction of Micro and Advance class
unmanned airplanes and
participation in the international contest SAE Aero Design East), and students from the Wrocław Space and Aviation
Group (for their FREDE project,
i.e. the manufacture of research and analyzing instruments as part of the
European Space Agency competition – REXUS/BEXU programme).
The aim of the “Profession:
Scientist” campaign is to convince that scientific career is a good choice for
young people. “Until 2020, the European Union will need 1 million researchers.
The financing of science grows both in Poland, and in the EU. In 2015, the
budget outlays for science will increase by 10%. Therefore, we are initiating a
campaign encouraging the most gifted to choose scientific career.” - says a communique of the Ministry of Science
and Higher Education.
lucy
Translation: Dariusz Więcławski