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Prof. Jakub Zakrzewski and Dr Dominique Delande, honoured for their research in the physics of quantum mechanical systems, began their scientific cooperation in 1991. Over 28 years they managed to build a model system for long-term cooperation between Polish and French research teams, contributing to the creation of a prolific Polish?French school in the theory of the quantum physics of chaotic and/or disordered systems. The achievements of the duo of Zakrzewski?Delande involve phenomena triggered by disorder in low-temperature ensembles of atoms at dimensions relevant for experiments and future quantum technologies. This research is theoretical and computational, focussing on realistic quantum systems combined with experimental groups. The understanding of fundamental microscopic processes occurring in quantum systems is hugely important for rapid development of quantum technologies. The research has resulted in 36 joint publications, including seven articles in the prestigious journal Physical Review Letters. Through their cooperation since 2007, Dr Marcin Szwed and Prof. Laurent Cohen have demonstrated that groups of neurons in the visual cortex appear to specialize in reading text, and that this phenomenon does not depend on the culture or the writing system. Experiments by the pair of scientists showed that in blind persons, reading using the Braille alphabet stimulates the same visual fields as reading by sighted persons. This was a breakthrough, as it turned out that the cortical specialization of the brain arises from the specific nature of the task: the visual portion of the brain?s cortex learned to read Braille even though it might be expected that this task would be assumed by the tactile portion. The experiment showed that the brain is more flexible than scientists had previously assumed, and the areas of the cortex responsible for sight or hearing can adapt to receive information from other senses. The results of the research have been described in seven scientific articles.***
The first edition of the Maria Skłodowska and Pierre Curie Polish?French Science Award serves as the culmination of the Polish?French Year of Science. The events of the year were launched in Paris in March 2019 with the first Polish?French Forum of Rectors. Over the entire year, French and Polish scientific institutions organized workshops, conferences and seminars devoted to joint research projects. In total over 50 events were held under the aegis of the Polish?French Year of Science. The main event of the Year of Science was the 5th Polish?French Forum of Science and Innovation. The forum was devoted to discussions on the role and format for international research centres in Europe. Topics of cooperation between research teams and innovative industries, as well as institutional tools for the growth of innovation, were addressed. There was also a discussion of the experiences from over a decade of implementation of the Polish?French programme Polonium. More information about: From left to right: prof. Olivier Pironneau, Vice-President, Foreign Secretary, Academie des Sciences, prof. Maciej Żylicz, President of the Foundation, prof. Laurent Cohen, dr hab. Marcin Szwed, dr hab. Dominique Delande, prof. Jakub Zakrzewski / fot. Paweł Kula