Meetings in New York and Washington DC, a conference at the Polish Consulate General in New York, Polish female scientists – NAWA beneficiaries at the UN observance of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science! We are back from an intense and extremely inspiring delegation to the US.
The United States – a world leader in innovation, implementation of new technologies that change the way we live and work, a leading country in terms of R&D cooperation between the academia and industry. It is also the most popular choice among Polish scientists as the place to carry out their projects under the Bekker NAWA programme, and a country with the largest Polish diaspora, which can profit from programmes such as Polish Returns (scientists) or Anders NAWA (students). Moreover, American citizens likewise have a wide programme offer at their disposal, thanks to which they can carry out research in Poland or take up scientific cooperation with Polish institutions. NAWA promoted the Polish offer and science in New York and Washington as part of the “Research in Poland” campaign.
“Polish Science & International Mobility – meetup NYC”, 9 February
Organized by NAWA in cooperation with Poland’s Consulate General in New York and held at the Consulate’s seat, the event was attended by nearly 60 participants. There were Polish scientists currently completing fellowships in the US, scientists of Polish origin, as well as foreign researchers interested in collaborating with Polish institutions. It is worth noting that the meetup was attended by representatives of universities such as New York University, Columbia University, the University of Michigan, or Princeton University. Yet scientists were not the only meeting participants. Presidents of various institutions, including: Polish Supplementary School Council of America, Józef Piłsudski Institute of America, and the Polish Youth Association, were likewise present.
The meetup was opened by Stanisław Starnawski, Polish vice-consul in New York, who emphasized that scientists act as ambassadors of Poland and Polish science. The floor was taken also by Joanna Skoczek, deputy permanent representative of the Republic of Poland to the UN in New York, who drew attention to the role that science should play in political decision-making.
Stanisław Starnawski Vice-consul in New York
The aim of the meeting was to introduce NAWA and Polish institutions that offer research grants. A presentation on this topic was held by NAWA Deputy Director Dr Zofia Sawicka. The session on the possibilities of support and promotion of scientists featured speeches by the event’s partners: Kosciuszko Foundation, represented by its President Marek Skulimowski, the Polish Institute
in New York, represented by Director Maja Steczkowska, the Polonium Foundation, represented by Dr Joanna Kwiatek, and Fulbright Poland, which sent a video message prepared by Director Justyna Janiszewska. The presentations alternated with a panel discussion: “What effects does international mobility have on scientists’ careers?”. The panellists were scientists involved in mobility from and to Poland: Prof. Maja Kiba-Janiak from Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, Prof. Aneta A. Ptaszyńska from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Prof. Andrzej Wierzbicki from the University of Michigan, and Prof. Justyna Wierzchowska from the University of Warsaw.
Furthermore, the meeting was attended by: Ewelina Tunia, advisor for scientific cooperation, Polish Embassy in Washington, DC; Piotr Semeniuk, director of the Department of International Cooperation, Polish Ministry of Education and Science; Justyna Kralisz, director of the Center for the Development of Polish Education Abroad; and Krzysztof Przemieniecki, counselor, Section of Non-European Higher Education and Science, Department of International Cooperation, Polish Ministry of Education and Science.
The event included networking sessions, which gave the participants an opportunity to make new contacts as well as ask additional questions. For NAWA, this was also an occasion to listen to the needs of the Polish scientific diaspora and of institutions that work towards Polish-American scientific cooperation.
Dr. Zofia Sawicka, NAWA Deputy Director
From the left: Prof. Maja Kiba-Janiak form Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, Prof. Aneta A. Ptaszyńska from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Prof. Andrzej Wierzbicki from the University of Michigan, and Prof. Justyna Wierzchowska from the University of Warsaw, Katarzyna Pietruszyńska, NAWA
Marek Skulimowski, President and Executive Director of the Kosciuszko Foundation
Maja Steczkowska, Director of the Polish Institute in New York
Dr. Joanna Kwiatek, Polonium Foundation
Joanna Skoczek, deputy permanent representative of the Republic of Poland to the UN in New York
From the left: Piotr Semeniuk, director of the Department of International Cooperation, Polish Ministry of Education and Science; Alicja Winnicki, New York Statewide Language Regional Bilingual Resource Network at New York University; Ron Woo, New York Statewide Language RBERN at New York University
International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the UN, 10 February
“Innovate. Demonstrate. Elevate. Advance. Sustain. I.D.E.A.S. Bringing Everyone Forward to Sustainable and Equitable Development” – this was the motto of this year’s eighth observance of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which has been held by the UN in New York since 2016. Similarly as in previous years, Poland was one of the event co-organizers.
At the request of the Permanent Representation in New York, NAWA proposed two of its beneficiaries as panellists. Prof. Maja Kiba-Janiak from Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, a Bekker NAWA fellowship holder, took part in a panel discussion titled “The Road to Sustainable Transport”, which was organized by Lebanon. Prof. Aneta A. Ptaszyńska, NAWA expert, beneficiary of the Foreign Promotion Programme, but also one of the persons featured in the publication titled “Poland in 34 snapshots”, spoke in the panel discussion on food security – “Food Business & Industry Communities; Securing Sustainability”. This panel was chaired by Ambassador Krzysztof Szczerski, permanent representative of the Republic of Poland to the United Nations in New York.
Moreover, Justyna Orłowska, representative of the Prime Minister for GovTech and representative of the minister of education and science for digital transformation, spoke to the attendants in the form of a video message.
Poland’s involvement in this year’s edition was evident and considerable. It covered two panel discussions (including chairing one of them) and a video message. The opportunity to present in an international environment, during an event bringing together more than 700 participants from various parts of the world, eminent specialists and experts, including representatives of UN specialized agencies, is a major achievement for Poland and Polish science.
Prof. Maja Kiba-Janiak took part in a panel discussion titled “The Road to Sustainable Transport”
Prof. Aneta A. Ptaszyńska, spoke in the panel discussion on food security – “Food Business & Industry Communities; Securing Sustainability”. This panel was chaired by Ambassador Krzysztof Szczerski, permanent representative of the Republic of Poland to the United Nations in New York
Stronger cooperation between: NAWA, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Centre for the Development of Polish Education Abroad, and Kolbe Institute
It should be noted that the events of 9 and 10 February were preceded by a delegation from the Ministry of Education and Science, the Centre for the Development of Polish Education Abroad, and Kolbe Institute to New York and Washington, DC, to which NAWA Deputy Director Dr Zofia Sawicka was invited. The joint mission was to hold meetings with American institutions, but also with Polish schools, in order to reflect together on what we can do for Polish-American relations and the Polish community in the areas of education and science.
During meetings with the Polish community, NAWA Deputy Director Dr Zofia Sawicka presented the possibilities of studying in Poland and the Agency’s scholarship and fellowship offer. Most questions concerned the recognition of diplomas, tuition fees, and recruitment rules.
It should be noted that the delegation met also with representatives of the National Science Foundation, whose aim is to fund basic research in life sciences and science and technology. Its annual budget is approximately $7.5 billion, which represents 24% of the federal funding for basic research carried out by US colleges and universities.
In addition, NAWA representatives attended a meeting at the Institute of International Education (IIE) in New York. Discussions focused on the experience of Poland’s participation in the US Study Abroad programme and other academic and scientific exchange programmes, as well as on the possibility of increasing the participation of young Americans among foreign students at Polish universities and of providing support to students from Ukraine.
Photo Gallery:
We would like to thank the participants of all meetings organized and attended by NAWA.