معرفی
Piotr Czekanowski is an Associate Professor at the University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Sociology, currently employed in the Department of Sociology of Sport and Health. Previously, he served as Head of the Department of Applied Sociology and remains an active member of the Discipline Council for Sociological Sciences and the Institute of Sociology Program Council.
Born in 1956 in Gdańsk, he earned his Doctor of Humanities in Sociology (2013) from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń with a dissertation on population aging, a Doctor of Humanities (1993) from the University of Silesia in Katowice focusing on elderly loneliness, and a Master of Science in Economics (1982) from the University of Gdańsk. Additional training includes fundraising at Indiana University (1996) and English language certification (1986).
His research centers on sociology of old age and social gerontology, examining socio-psychological, health, family, and material conditions of the elderly. He pioneered studies on family caregiving and local community organization for aging populations, with strong emphasis on Polish and Gdańsk-specific contexts. International collaborations include Oxford's EAST network and EU-funded projects like EUROFAMCARE.
Recent publications (2015-2020) reveal consistent focus on methodological challenges in elderly research, socio-demographic determinants of urban aging, and policy frameworks for social isolation. Key trends include cross-national comparisons, municipal-level interventions, and the intersection of family dynamics with healthcare systems.
His scientific awards include:
- University of Gdańsk 50th Anniversary Medal (2021)
- Rector's Individual First Degree Award for monograph (2013)
- Medical University of Białystok Team Scientific Award (2008)
- University of Gdańsk Team Award for 'Polish Old Age' (2003)
- Polish Gerontological Society Dissertation Award (1993)
Czekanowski secured grants from Polish and EU bodies including the Polish Committee for Scientific Research (1999-2001) and EU Fifth Framework Programme (EUROFAMCARE). He developed the nationally approved 'Local Community Organization' specialization for social workers and maintains active supervision of academic clubs like the Interfaculty Scientific Sociological Club. His expert roles span municipal councils including the Pomeranian Council for Senior Policy (since 2017).
He remains central to the Eastern-European Ageing Societies in Transition (EAST) research network at Oxford's Institute of Population Ageing since 2007, with recent workshop participation in Canada (2019) and ongoing EU policy engagement.
