Maciej Mańko from the University of Gdańsk has won the seventh edition of the Student Nobel Prize, organised by the Independent Students' Union. The award will be presented during a ceremony at Warsaw University of Technology.
Maciej Mańko studies oceanography and is in the first year of MAstudies. His work involves maritime research, and he is particularly interested in siphonophorae – marine, invertebrate, gelantinous zooplankton. "He quickly got interested in them and decided to study the subject. Now he’s doing a lot of work in this field”, his sister Oliwia Mańko told PAP. On Friday she collected the 7,000 zloty prize on his behalf, explaining that Maciej is now at a conference in Italy. He comes from Świdnik, and received a grant from the Marshall of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. Even in his BA studies he was the best student in the university. He is leading a project run by the University of Gdańsk in conjunction with the Natural History Museum in London.
The 3,000 zloty second prize in the Student Nobel went to Mateusz Sobolewski, who studies Law at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. He has received numerous awards for his academic achievements and come first in many competitions, both national and international.
Third place (1,000 zloty) was won by Olga Ziopaja, a student of Theatre Studies and Cultural Studies at the Jagiellonian University. Amongst others, she is a two-time medalist in the world Show Dance Championships in Berlin and a multiple winner of Polish dance competitions.
In additional, non-monetary prizes and vouchers were given to the most capable students in five academic categories: humanistic, agrarian-environmental, economic, technical and medical.
Prof. Władysław Wieczorek from Warsaw University of Technology, head of the awards committee, praised the students with these words - "These are people who have not only achieved great things but who have a clear vision of their future." He stressed that they had managed to combine their studies and practical experience at the university with other activities, such as charity work or starting up their own companies.
Mieszko Rożej from the Independent Student Union,the competition co-ordinator, told PAP that several hundred students had entered the event. The criteria for choosing the winners includeacademic grades, scientific and social engagement, attendance at conferences and symposia, academic publications and papers, knowledge of foreign languages and completed practice, internship and work. The competition is open to students from both public and private institutions. Their average grade should be at least 4.0.
Source: www.naukawpolsce.pap.pl
Translation: Magda Moran and Sean Moran
