Prof. Maciej W. Grabski Distinction

The Foundation for Polish Science established the Prof. Maciej W. Grabski Distinction in 2016 to honor its co-founder and long-time president. 

The Foundation grants the distinction to individuals who actively promote scientific reasoning, show how science and scholars drive Poland’s civilizational progress, present research results in accessible ways, educate the public on how to distinguish between reliable and unreliable science and bring evidence-based arguments into public discourse.

Candidates for the Distinction may be nominated by:  the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Copernicus Science Centre, the National Children's Fund, the Foundation for Polish Science, the Scholarship Holders' Club of the Foundation for Polish Science,  previous winners of the Award, and other institutions and individuals designated by the Foundation's Management Board.

• Ryszard Rakowski – initiated and co-founded the Polish Children’s Fund. From 1990 to 2009, he served as secretary of the Board and director of its Office.
• Prof. Łukasz Turski – physicist, science communicator, and commentator on key scientific events. He co-initiated and actively participated in the Science Picnic. He created and now chairs the Programme Council of the Copernicus Science Centre.
• Rev. Prof. Michał Heller – distinguished scholar working in the philosophy of nature, especially in physics, cosmology, mathematics, and their philosophical implications.
• Prof. Jan Madey – computer scientist affiliated with the University of Warsaw. For over 30 years, he has combined his academic career with social engagement in supporting exceptionally gifted children and youth.
• Magdalena Bajer – science journalist and columnist. For decades, she has worked to explain the role of science in society and highlight the public responsibilities of scholars, including topics such as the condition of science, the nature of academic work, research achievements, challenges in academia, and the fate of the intellectual class in Poland.
• Prof. Andrzej Białas – physicist and professor of mathematical and physical sciences. Since 2008, he has led the weekly PAUza Akademicka, a forum for academic discussion on the role of science in society. Over the years, the publication has become a platform for scholarly exchange on topics such as research ethics, scientists' social responsibilities, and the need for better science communication.
• Prof. Szymon Malinowski – atmospheric physicist who has promoted scientific knowledge on climate change for many years. He co-founded the portal Nauka o klimacie (Science on Climate), where he and other leading Polish climate researchers present fundamental facts about climate and global warming to a broad audience.
• Prof. Magdalena Fikus – renowned science popularizer and co-initiator of the Warsaw Science Festival, first held in 1997 and still a key event in the city’s cultural life. She also founded the Science Café of the Festival, which hosts open meetings with scientists for non-specialist audiences.
• Robert Firmhofer – one of the most prominent creators of science communication initiatives in Poland in recent years. He co-developed the concept for Poland’s first science center, led its creation, and since 2006 has served as director of the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, one of the largest science centers in Europe. He also co-founded and organizes the Science Picnic, Europe’s largest outdoor science communication event.

The winners are selected by a jury consisting of:

• Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska (honorary member of the jury, daughter of Prof. Maciej W. Grabski)
• Edwin Bendyk
• prof. Krzysztof Diks,
• prof. Danuta Gutowska-Owsiak
• Rober Firmhofer
• Maria Mach
• prof. Szymon Malinowski
• dr Marta Łazarowicz-Kowalik (FNP's Board representative)