Exactly a week ago, on 5 December 2018, during a gala event at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the Foundation for Polish Science Prize (The FNP Prize), regarded as the highest scientific honour in Poland, was awarded to four distinguished scholars: Prof. Andrzej Dziembowski, Prof. Andrzej Gałęski, Prof. Krzysztof Pachucki and Prof. Timothy Snyder. Two honored recipients are associated with the Polish Academy of Sciences.
The FNP Prize is awarded for significant advancements and scientific discoveries which shift cognitive boundaries and open new perspectives for research, provide an exceptional contribution towards the advancement of the nation’s progress and culture, and assure Poland a significant position for undertaking the most ambitious challenges of the modern world. The amount of the prize is PLN 200,000. Below we present the laureates and their scientific achievements, for which they were recognized with this year’s prizes:
Prof. Andrzej Dziembowski from the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw has won the 2018 Foundation for Polish Science Prize in the field of life and earth sciences for explaining the function of key enzymes involved in RNA degradation, the dysfunction of which leads to pathological states. His discoveries have led among other things to the proposal of a new therapeutic approach in the treatment of bone marrow cancer (myeloma).
Prof. Andrzej Gałęski from the Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Łódź has won the 2018 Foundation for Polish Science Prize in the field of chemical and material sciences for developing a new mechanism for plastic deformation of polymers. Prof. Gałęski’s works have led to the development of super-strength plastics long-awaited by the aviation and automotive industries.
Prof. Krzysztof Pachucki from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw has won the 2018 Foundation for Polish Science Prize in the field of mathematical, physical and engineering sciences for precise quantum electrodynamic calculation of spectroscopic parameters of lightweight atoms and molecules. These findings are the basis for precise determination of fundamental physical constants.
Prof. Timothy Snyder from Yale University has won the 2018 Foundation for Polish Science Prize in the field of the humanities and social sciences for analysis of the political and social mechanisms that led to national conflicts and genocide in Central Europe in the 20th century. Prof. Snyder’s research has provided a new dimension to the 20th-century history of Central & Eastern Europe.
Sources: Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, photo. Paweł Kula
Further reading:
- 2018 Foundation for Polish Science Prizes awarded
- The FNP Prize ceremony in Warsaw (polish only)
- Photo coverage of The FNP Prize ceremony
- YouTube movies about the winners of the FNP Award representing the Polish Academy of Sciences:
