Monika Gabryś-Sławińska is a Professor at the Department of Polish Literary History , part of the Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska (UMCS). Her research spans 19th- and 20th-century Polish literature , focusing on Stefan Żeromski , historical journalism , text editing , voice emission , and museology . MA in Polish Philology (1998, UMCS) PhD in Literary Studies (2007, UMCS) Habilitation in Literary Studies (2016, UMCS) Her research interests include political commentary in historical press , media's role in cultural identity , and sociolinguistic trends . She has edited over 29 academic volumes and authored 5 monographs. Scientific awards: Bronze Cross of Merit KEN Medals (Bronze, Silver) 8 Rector's Awards (UMCS) Lublin Mayor's Medal (2019) She has participated in 5 research grants , organized 35 academic conferences , and contributed extensively to Annales UMCS as a scientific editor.
Dr. Mirosława Podhajecka is an Associate Professor of Linguistics at the University of Opole's Institute of Linguistics. Her research focuses on lexicography (especially its historical dimensions), contact linguistics, corpus linguistics, translation studies, and biographical linguistic research. Current projects include a book on English language teaching in Lviv and a comparative study of post-war Polish-English/English-Polish lexicography. She has published extensively on historical dictionaries, bilingual lexicons, and lexical borrowing phenomena, with over 117 documented publications. Her work spans interdisciplinary approaches, utilizing digital corpora (e.g., Google Books) and archival materials to trace linguistic developments. Notable research areas include analysis of Russian loanwords in English, methodology of historical lexicography, and comparative studies of 19th-20th century bilingual dictionaries. She actively engages in lexicographic theory and practice, bridging historical and contemporary linguistic studies.
Kamil Glinka is an Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Institute of Political Science for Science and Development at the University of Wrocław, specializing in public governance, urban policy, and political marketing. His work focuses on municipal self-governments in Visegrad Group countries and their responses to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. His research interests span public governance , theory and practice of local development , urban policy , public communication , and political and territorial marketing . Glinka examines how cities navigate crises, implement strategic planning, and develop effective communication strategies with citizens. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on urban responses to the pandemic across Visegrad countries, with particular attention to municipal governance models, post-pandemic recovery strategies, and the impact of crises on urban democracy. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical policy applications in Central and Eastern Europe. Scientific Awards: Visegrad Fellowship Program (2024) laureate Multiple Rector's Awards from University of Wrocław (2020-2024) for scientific, teaching, and organizational achievements Bernard Steinacher Fellowship 2022-2023 from METREX Network IDUB program awards for academic excellence Glinka leads numerous international research projects including 'Urban Post-COVID Recovery in the V4 Countries' (2022-2025), 'Urban energy transition in Czechia' (2025), and 'Urban policy under ten pressure of the crisis' (2024). His work involves substantial collaboration with institutions across Visegrad countries and beyond. As a member of the Steering Committee of the European Consortium for Political Research's Standing Group on Central and East European Politics and active participant in METREX and IPSA, Glinka contributes significantly to international academic networks focused on urban governance and political science.
Dorota Jarecka is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Literary Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), specializing in the social history of art and visual culture. She is also the director of Warsaw’s Galeria Studio since 2016, and a renowned curator and author. Her work focuses on 20th-century art, surrealism, and gender studies in Eastern Europe. Key professional roles include: Adiunkt (Adjunct Professor) at PAN’s Institute of Literary Research Kurator of major exhibitions including the Erna Rosenstein series (2011–2014) Editor of monographs on artists like Krystiana Robb-Narbutt, Natalia LL, and Ewa Zarzycka Research highlights include her 2021 monograph analyzing surrealism, realism, and Marxism in post-war Polish art, and a 2013 interview with Anda Rottenberg. Her 2022 article on Helena Berlewi explores avant-garde movements and gendered artistic identity. Her exhibitions and publications emphasize underrepresented female artists and political contexts shaping art production in communist Poland.
Rev. Dr. hab. Waldemar Żurek, Professor at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, serves at the Center of Ecclesiastical Archives, Libraries and Museums (ABMK) within the Faculty of Theology. His academic career spans decades of dedicated research and publication in church history, particularly focusing on Eastern European Catholicism and the Salesian Order. As an active scholar, he continues to contribute significantly to ecclesiastical documentation and historical research. Professor Żurek's research interests center on ecclesiastical archives, parish documentation, and the history of religious orders, with particular emphasis on the Salesian Order's activities in Poland and Eastern Europe. His work explores the intersection of religious life with historical events, particularly during challenging periods like the communist era in Poland. He has developed expertise in analyzing parish inventories, visitation records, and chronicles to reconstruct religious life and administration across different historical periods. His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on documenting church history through meticulous examination of primary sources. The most recent works reveal trends toward comprehensive chronicles of religious institutions, detailed parish records analysis, and biographical studies of clergy members. His research spans multiple disciplines including religious studies, historical documentation, and Eastern European studies, with particular attention to regions like Pinsk, Lutsk, and Volhynia that have complex religious histories across changing political borders. Scientific Awards: Gold Medal for Long Service Professor Żurek has supervised numerous diploma theses including master's work on topics such as 'Social activities of Bishop Adolf Piotr Szelążek.' His editorial work includes significant publications like 'Kult Matki Bożej Ostrobramskiej w historii narodu polskiego' (The Cult of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn in the History of the Polish Nation) and 'Ojciec Profesor Henryk Damian Wojtyska 1933-2009. Pasjonista, historyk Kościoła i dydaktyk' (Father Professor Henryk Damian Wojtyska 1933-2009. Passionist, Church Historian and Educator). He serves on the Scientific Council of the biannual journal 'Archives, Libraries and Church Museums' and is a member of the Theological Society of Józef Bilczewski in Ukraine. His work with the Center of Ecclesiastical Archives, Libraries and Museums represents a significant contribution to preserving and analyzing religious heritage. Through his leadership and scholarship, Professor Żurek has helped establish important methodologies for working with ecclesiastical documentation and has fostered international collaboration in church historical studies, particularly between Polish and Ukrainian scholars.
Prof. Jerzy Bański is a retired Professor and former Head of the Department of Rural Geography and Local Development at the University of Warsaw's Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies. His academic career spans over three decades with a PhD (1996) and post-doctoral degree (2000) in Earth Sciences, specializing in economic and rural geography. He has led 48 research projects and supervised 5 PhD and 43 MSc students at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. His research focuses on land use dynamics, rural development, spatial planning, and socioeconomic processes in Central and Eastern Europe. Notable contributions include analyzing post-socialist agricultural transformations, village decline, and pandemic spatial impacts. He authored 421 publications, including 151 in English, and received the Jan Olaf Chmielewski Science Award (2001) and Honorary Membership in the Bulgarian Scientific Society. Key projects include classifying rural areas for territorial policy, assessing pandemic geography, and evaluating agricultural land ownership changes. His work frequently intersects with policy design, institutional analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration in academia. Awards: Jan Olaf Chmielewski Science Award (2001), Honorary Membership (Bulgarian Scientific Society) Grants: 48 projects led, including EU and national funding Education: MA (University of Warsaw), postgraduate studies in scientific photography
Dr. Sabina Owsianowska is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Tourism and Recreation , University School of Physical Education in Cracow , Poland. She has been actively involved in teaching Polish and international students since 2006, particularly through the LLP-Erasmus program. MA in Tourism Studies (University School of Physical Education in Cracow, 2001) PhD in Humanities (University School of Physical Education in Cracow, 2005) Her research focuses on tourism anthropology , examining tourism as a cultural and social phenomenon , with special interest in: Socio-cultural dimensions of leisure Gender issues in tourism Media influence on tourism Semiotics of tourist experiences Cultural and heritage tourism Her academic contributions include: Co-editor of Anthropology of Tourism in Central and Eastern Europe (Rowman & Littlefield, 2018) Editorial board member of Folia Turistica journal since 2014 Co-editor of multiple thematic issues in tourism anthropology Dr. Owsianowska has: Published 9 book chapters Contributed to refereed journals and conference proceedings Authored critical reviews of contemporary tourism research Key collaborative projects include work with: Dr. Marek Banaszkiewicz Prof. Nelson Graburn Prof. Maria Della Lucia Dr. Elena Giudici
Gabriela Jarzębowska-Lipińska is an Assistant Professor at the School of Liberal Arts, University of Warsaw, specializing in Critical Animal Studies and Environmental Humanities. Her work examines interspecies relations through historical, cultural, and sociological lenses. Education: PhD in Cultural and Religious Studies (2020, University of Warsaw) International Experience: Fulbright Junior Fellow (2018–2019), visiting scholar at Linköping University (2016) and UC Santa Cruz (2019) Research focuses on animal representation in culture, environmental conflict rhetoric, and modernity's impact on human-animal relations. She explores topics like rat extermination as cultural practice, interspecies ethics in state socialism, and posthumanist collectives. Her recent publications address factory farming as capitalist imagination failure, animal biographies, and urban rodent media narratives. Key scientific contributions include the concept of "species cleansing" and critical analysis of sanitary discourse in totalitarian regimes. She advocates for animal welfare frameworks that challenge anthropocentric policies.
Grzegorz Berendt is an Associate Professor at the University of Gdańsk, where he is affiliated with the Faculty of History and the Institute of History. His research focuses on Eastern European history, particularly the experiences of Jewish communities in Poland during the 20th century. Key aspects of his work include Polish-Jewish relations during the Holocaust, the extermination of Jews in Polesie, and the policies of the Polish People's Republic toward Jewish populations. Berendt's scholarly output examines themes such as Jewish cultural associations under communist rule, regional histories (e.g., Gdańsk Pomerania), and post-WWII societal transformations. His publications analyze political regimes, diaspora dynamics, and identity preservation, reflecting a consistent emphasis on: Socio-political impacts of totalitarian regimes Jewish organizational resilience State-minority relations in Eastern Europe
His Excellency Bishop Andrzej Borkowski (born 1974) is a Polish Orthodox hierarch, theologian, and historian. He serves as Bishop of Supraśl and Vicar of the Białystok-Gdańsk Diocese since 2017. Since 2012, he has been an Assistant Professor at the Department of Orthodox Theology, University of Białystok, where he teaches courses on Byzantine civilization, monasticism, and liturgical history. Education: Habilitacja (2017), University of Białystok PhD in Theological Sciences (2009), University of Athens Master of Theology (2005, University of Athens; 2001, Christian Theological Academy in Warsaw) Greek language studies (2001-2002), University of Athens Research Interests: Specializes in the history of Eastern patriarchates in post-Byzantine Poland-Lithuania, Orthodox autocephaly movements (1919-1927), Union of Brest controversies, monasticism, canon law, and Byzantine-Balkan cultural influences in Poland. His work examines liturgical reforms, interfaith dialogues, and diplomatic exchanges between Orthodox churches and European powers. Academic Contributions: Authored three monographs and over 40 articles on Orthodox Church-state relations, including Patriarchaty Wschodu w dziejach Rzeczypospolitej (2014) and Między Konstantynopolem a Moskwą (2015). His research spans 16th-20th century Orthodox history in Poland, Ukraine, and the Balkans. Scientific Awards: Rektor's Award (2013), University of Białystok Leadership Roles: Promotes Orthodox theological education through international conferences, expert teams for heritage restoration, and supervision of theological licentiate theses. Currently chairs expert commissions for monastery renovations and participates in Pan-Orthodox Council initiatives.
Prof. Tomasz Torbus is an Associate Professor at the University of Gdańsk's Faculty of History, Institute of Art History. His research focuses on medieval and early modern architecture in Central Eastern Europe, particularly Teutonic Order castles, Jagiellonian dynasty residences, and post-1945 monument reconstruction. He has directed the Institute of Art History since 2010. Fields of Interest: Medieval Architecture, Early Modern Architecture, Teutonic Order Studies, Nationalism in Art, Post-War Reconstruction Key Projects: Jagiellonian Residences Project (1990-1997), Saxon-Polish Union Architecture (2006-2011), Mannerist/Baroque Public Architecture Research His publications include monographs on Teutonic castles and collaborations on Polish-German cultural history. Current work includes synthesizing research on Golden Age public architecture through archival analysis. Contact: t.torbus@ug.edu.pl | Office: Room 52, Faculty of History
Dr. Tomasz Woźniakowski is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political and Administrative Systems at the Institute of Political Science, University of Wrocław. His academic profile combines expertise in political science and history, with research focusing on comparative federalism, EU fiscal policy, and historical institutional analysis of economic governance systems. Woźniakowski earned his doctoral degree in political and social sciences in 2018 from the European University Institute in Florence. His dissertation, "Towards Fiscalization of the European Union? The European and American Fiscal Unions in a Comparative Historical Perspective," was supervised by Professor Alexander H. Trechsel. He also holds undergraduate degrees in both political science and history from the University of Wrocław, which inform his interdisciplinary research approach. His research interests center on comparing the fiscal policies of the European Union and the United States from a historical perspective, with particular focus on developing comparative federalism studies. A second major research area examines the role of national parliaments in European economic governance. His work introduced the innovative concept of "fiscalization" to the academic literature, filling a gap in research on tax authority in multidimensional political systems. Woźniakowski's publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory examining fiscal integration processes, with recent work focusing on post-COVID EU fiscal mechanisms, Next Generation EU solidarity, and the historical development of fiscal capacity. His research combines historical institutional analysis with contemporary policy challenges, drawing valuable lessons from American federal development for European integration. College of Europe-Arenberg European Prize 'Exploring Federal Solutions' (for article) Supranational Political Economy Prize (for doctoral dissertation) Woźniakowski currently leads two significant research projects: one funded by the National Science Center (Sonata grant) and another by the National Agency for Academic Exchange (Bekker grant at LUISS in Rome). Previously, he has collaborated with the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad) and Stanford University teaching in Berlin, and worked under a European Research Council grant at the Hertie School as a research package manager. His international experience includes Fulbright-Schuman scholarship at UC Berkeley, Henri Rieben scholarship at the Jean Monnet Foundation, and Laufer scholarship at the University of Munich.
Dr. Grzegorz Gil is a Lecturer at the Department of International Security , Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin , Faculty of Political Science and Journalism. Holds a PhD in Political Science (2010) and MA in International Relations (2005) from UMCS. Research focuses on state failure , post-conflict recovery , and international security with regional expertise on Africa , Middle East , and Pacific states . Teaches courses on: International relations Humanitarian operations Australian foreign policy Economic diplomacy Publications (over 15 works) analyze state collapse (Somalia, Yemen, Colombia), military interventions , and regional integration (EU-ASEAN relations). Currently serves as expert for Team Europe Direct (2023–present) and juror in Academic Polish Oxford Debating Championships .
Jakub Zamorski is a researcher at the Department of Comparative Civilization Studies within Jagiellonian University , specializing in the history of Buddhist religion and philosophy in China and Japan. His work integrates Buddhist studies with broader East Asian 'history of thought' (思想史), examining how classical Chinese civilization influenced regional traditions. Focus on demythologization of Pure Land Buddhism Investigates Buddhist impact on modern European thought reception (19th-20th c.) Expert in East Asian Buddhist logic (hetu-vidyā/yinming) Zamorski's publications span comparative Buddhist studies, including collaborations on dharmadhatu analysis and translations of early Mahayana texts. He has received prestigious fellowships from Jōdo-shinshū Higashi Honganji and Sheng Yen Education Foundation, and participates in international conferences like International Association of Buddhist Studies and American Academy of Religion. 2020-2023: Collaborator on Japanese government-funded project analyzing Early Mahayana Sutras 2016: Foguang University research on early modern East Asian Buddhist texts 2011: Participant in study of 6th-7th century Chinese Buddhist thought
Dr. Ewa Wiatr serves as Assistant Professor at the Philip Friedman Centre for Jewish Studies within the Institute of History, Faculty of Philosophy and History at the University of Lodz. Her academic work centers on Holocaust historiography with specialized focus on the Łódź Ghetto and Jewish cultural heritage in Poland. Her research interests encompass Holocaust studies, Jewish history in Eastern Europe, and the socio-cultural dynamics of the Łódź Ghetto during World War II. She investigates primary sources including ghetto administration documents, survivor testimonies, and Yiddish literature to reconstruct Jewish life under Nazi occupation and post-war revival efforts. Her work particularly examines Jewish resistance mechanisms, cultural preservation, and the administrative structures within the Łódź Ghetto. Analysis of her 41 publications reveals consistent thematic concentration on Łódź Ghetto documentation, with recent works expanding into institutional histories of Jewish studies centers and post-war cultural anthologies. Her scholarship demonstrates methodological emphasis on archival excavation, oral history, and interdisciplinary approaches connecting history with literary studies. Dr. Wiatr maintains active academic engagement through the Philip Friedman Centre for Jewish Studies, where she contributes to research initiatives documenting Jewish life in Łódź. Her work supports institutional efforts in Holocaust education and preservation of Jewish cultural memory through primary source publication projects.
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