Monika Wesołowska

Dr. Monika Wesołowska is a Professor at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, where she works in the Department of Socio-Economic Geography within the Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management. With over two decades of academic experience, she has established herself as a leading expert in rural geography, settlement patterns, and demographic changes in rural areas of Poland, particularly in Eastern regions.

Dr. Wesołowska's research primarily focuses on:

• Rural geography and settlement patterns in Poland
• Demographic changes and depopulation processes in rural areas
• Socio-economic development of rural regions, particularly in Eastern Poland
• Transformation of rural spaces following Poland's political and economic transition
• Border area development and cross-border cooperation

Her extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on understanding the complex interplay between demographic trends, economic transformation, and spatial organization of rural areas. Dr. Wesołowska has made significant contributions to understanding the phenomenon of disappearing villages in Poland, analyzing both the causes and potential solutions for sustainable rural development.

Dr. Wesołowska has participated in numerous research projects funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and international frameworks:

• TERESA project (Framework Programme 6) on environment, rural economy, and society interactions in European regions (2007-2009)
• Studies on the impact of state borders on socio-economic development in Eastern Poland (2007-2010)
• Research on contemporary socio-economic transformations and population potential in Eastern Poland (2011-2014)
• Development of educational materials for sustainable development education (2014)

She holds significant leadership roles in academic organizations:

• Member of the Polish Geographical Society since 2003
• Deputy Chair of the Rural Areas Commission of the Polish Geographical Society since 2020
• Member of the Committee for Spatial Development of the Country, Polish Academy of Sciences since 2011
• Editor-in-chief of Annales UMCS, sec.B since 2022
• Organizer and jury member of the Geography Olympiad since 2003