Konrad Knoch

Dr. Konrad Knoch serves as a Lecturer at the University of Gdańsk within the Faculty of Social Sciences, specifically in the Institute of Media, Journalism and Social Communication and the Department of Media Theory, History and Language. Holding a PhD in Historical Sciences, he concurrently contributes to the Research Department of the European Solidarity Centre where he led the creation of its permanent exhibition. His academic identity bridges rigorous historical scholarship with public-facing cultural curation, focusing on Poland's transformative late-communist and post-communist eras.

His research expertise centers on the history of media and journalism under communist rule, particularly the underground press (drugi obieg) in the Polish People's Republic. He examines visual protest narratives, clandestine publishing networks, and oppositional journalism through lenses of censorship resistance and Solidarity movement documentation. Complementary interests include contemporary Polish history (with emphasis on democratic opposition), exhibition design, museum studies, and local/regional media ecosystems. His methodological approach integrates archival research with visual culture analysis, often contextualizing media artifacts within broader socio-political struggles.

Analysis of his recent publications (2022-2024) reveals three dominant trajectories: 1) Visual and narrative dimensions of underground media during communism, 2) Digital transformation of contemporary media landscapes, and 3) Exhibition-based historical storytelling centered on Gdańsk's shipyard heritage. These threads converge in his work for the European Solidarity Centre, where academic research directly informs public history presentation. The interdisciplinary nature of his output spans media studies, political history, and museology.

His scholarly recognition includes:

• Second Prize in the Władysław Pobóg-Malinowski Competition for Best Historical Debut (2012), awarded for his doctoral thesis on liberal underground publications by the Institute of National Remembrance and Polish Academy of Sciences

While specific grant details remain unpublicized, his leadership in major exhibition projects demonstrates successful management of large-scale cultural initiatives. His academic advising manifests through student collaborations like the Antologia młodych mediów (2022), where he mentors emerging media researchers. Pedagogical innovation appears in his explorations of digital tools for remote teaching, particularly during the pandemic.

Dr. Knoch's institutional impact is most visible through the European Solidarity Centre, where he directed the permanent exhibition team. This project represents a landmark achievement in translating complex historical narratives into immersive public experiences. His ongoing work bridges academic research with cultural memory preservation, utilizing both physical exhibitions and digital platforms to engage diverse audiences with Poland's democratic transition history.