Merentibus for Ruhr University Bochum

2 Merentibus for Ruhr University Bochum 3 Fifth Symposium on Central European Implant Academy 4 Research Centre for History and Culture of Kraków Jews 4 International students at JU in 2009/10 5 Opening of the Life Science Park and BioIncubator 6 Researchers’ Night at JU International relations 17 Visit of the delegation from Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas 18 EU Studies Fair in Brussels 19 Conference in Sankt Petersburg 20 Agreement of co-operation with Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi University

Features

7 ‘Chopin in Kraków and his memorabilia – Chopin Bicentenary at JU 9 Common Challenge: The Bologna Process in Anglophone Literature and Culture Departments of Visegrad Universities 10 Polish studies concerning Mediaeval Cyprus Student life 20 Biophysics Student Club NOBEL 22 IRUN student ambassadors at JU 23 Fifth Academic Carol Concert 24 Guinness longest lecture of Errol Tapiwa Muzawazi 25 JU Choir performing in China

12 30 years of scientific co-operation between Ruhr University Bochum and Jagiellonian University 14 German-Polish Tax Law Seminar Series 14 Internationalisation at the Faculty of Chemistry 15 That’s a life story! – Prof. Stanisław Łukiewicz No. 40 Merentibus for Ruhr University Bochum A. Wojnar

n the occasion of the 30th anniversary of co-operation collaboration on these principles, the co-operation, which the between the Jagiellonian University and the Ruhr agreement signed 30 years ago started.’ OUniversity Bochum, Germany, during a ceremonial After Prof. Marcela Świątkowska, the Dean of the Faculty session on 14 December 2009, the Jagiellonian University of Philology, had read the Latin text of the diploma, the Senate conferred its highest distinction for institutions ‘Medal medal and the Latin text in a special tube was handed to the Merentibus’ to the University of Bochum. Furthermore, the JU RUB Rector Prof. Weiler. Then Prof. Świątkowska pinned authorities awarded the medal ‘Plus ratio quam vis’ to seven an epitogium to Prof. Weiler’s gown. In his address Prof. professors of the RUB, acknowledging their contributions in Weiler thanked for the distinction, given to ‘the youngest the collaboration between our universities. These were the university in Germany’. He stressed that the development awarded professors: Gerhard Binder (Classical Philology) of scientifi c collaboration between the JU and the RUB was Ralf-Jürgen Dettmar (Astronomy), Hans-Jürgen Diller (English accompanied by a growth of partnership and friendship. He Philology), Walter Glőckle (Physics), Klaus Goeke (Physics), presented the image of Europe 30 years ago: the division Roman Seer (Law) and Albert Würfl inger (Physics). between the West and the East, the Warsaw Pact and NATO, The celebration was held in the aula of Collegium Novum. the division of Germany. In that background the agreement After the University Choir had sung the hymn ‘Gaude Mater between the Jagiellonian University and the Ruhr University Polonia’ JU Rector Prof. Karol Musioł opened the solemn Bochum was ‘a friendly light in the politically diffi cult session, welcoming all guests, especially the RUB Rector times.’ The RUB was aware of its historical responsibility Prof. Elmar Weiler, the awarded professors, the Consul of the for the development of good Polish-German relationships. Federal Republic of Germany in Kraków Dr. Heinz Peters, Currently, the RUB sees itself as ‘a member of the global the former JU rectors, deans, academics and students. The community of universities, going beyond state, ethical, laudatory speech was delivered by Prof. Zofi a Berdychowska, cultural or religious borders and building a better future the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Philology. She stressed the for all people through knowledge, science and research. long and fruitful collaboration, abounding with many initiatives The development of internationalisation as well as support and projects, as well as friendly relationships. Mentioning the for research conducted by junior research staff within the merits of the awarded professors she said, ‘They are a circle of framework of international programmes belong to one of the professors who thanks to their personal involvements, created, important tasks of the RUB’. Rector Weiler ended his speech supported and continue the structures of collaboration in such by referring to the concept of universitas, understood as different fi elds as astronomy, foreign languages or law, as well ‘togetherness of researchers, teachers and students without as make and cherish friendly relationships. Many a time their prejudices, barriers or limits between disciplines. In this fruit was important inspirations and joint projects. But they spirit we are connected with our partners. We grow together also allow us to overcome the burden of the diffi cult history and develop the European educational area. I wholeheartedly between Poles and Germans and to build co-operation on new want to continue this dimension in which the partnership partner principles. We want to strengthen and develop the between our Universities will develop.’

2 NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 Fifth Symposium on Central European Implant Academy

On 23-25 October 2009 the Fifth Symposium on Central European Implant Academy was held at the Jagiellonian University, organised by its Institute of Dentistry. The symposium gathered almost 400 specialists in implant dentistry. The main subject was ‘Patient Driven Decisions in Implant Dentistry: Improvements in the Treatment Options for Implant Patients.’ The inaugural lecture was delivered by Dr. Piotr Majewski, the Director of the Central European A. Wojnar Implant Academy and the Director of the JU Implant Dentistry Department. He stressed the JU international collaboration Prof. Weiler receiving the epitogium with the big implant dentistry centres in Goeteborg, Munchen and New York University College of Dentistry. Afterwards the medals Plus ratio quam vis were conferred The honorary guest was Prof. Dr. Richard Lazzara, co- on the RUB professors. Prof. Dettmar said a word of founder of BIOMET 3 and co-author of many innovative thanksgiving on behalf of the awarded professors. Finally, solutions in implant dentistry. The main speakers Dr. Alan JU Rector Musioł again congratulated Prof. Weiler and the Meltzer and Dr. Harold Baumgarten discussed the paradigm distinguished professors, wishing them many years of fruitful ship of implant dentistry to improve clinical outcomes, patient collaboration and personal successes. satisfaction and acceptance of implant therapy within a team- The medal Merentibus was awarded to the Ruhr University based format of interaction, live taped cases and lecture. The Bochum on the basis of the motion of the JU Senate of 25 important drivers of decisionmaking in today’s competitive November 2009, which reads, landscape of implant dentistry must include the ability of clinicians to provide accelerated treatment plans including The Senate of the Jagiellonian University decided to less patient chair time, higher levels of aesthetic outcomes and confer the Medal Merentibus to Ruhr University Bochum, the highest possible success rates in terms of implant survival the fi rst university in the Federal Republic of Germany that and maintained hard and soft tissue levels. The participants of signed an agreement of scientifi c co-operation with the the symposium became familiar with the changes in demands Jagiellonian University in 1979, for common endeavours with placed on dental implant therapy and how that effected the the Jagiellonian University, which embraced social sciences, evolution of dental implant designs and placement protocols; law, humanities, philology, earth sciences, physics, astronomy, the CT guided surgery and planning; the clinical methodology computer sciences, chemistry and collaboration between of high insertion torque placement protocols and the impact university libraries. The activities that are worth special of initial and maintained stability in implant survival; the attention were: restorative solutions as well as the indicators for rapid or - donation of a rich library to the Institute of English traditional treatment planning options. Philology; An additional point of the symposium was an advanced - organisations of numerous scholarships for JU academics, course at the JU Dental Clinic during which its participants which contributed to their completing doctoral and habilitation could make various implant treatment supervised by the dissertations; experienced clinicians. Thus they could learn the most - didactic exchange in English and American literary advanced and pioneering techniques of implant dentistry. studies and linguistics as well as the participation of the RUB The choice of the Jagiellonian University as the venue professors of English and American studies in the conferences of the symposium was an expression of appreciation of the organised by the JU, which led to the publication of several scientifi c achievements of its dental units. dozen monographic volumes; A. Wojnar - co-operation in teaching foreign languages, realised in the Institute of Germanic Philology; - exchange of language teachers and students within the joint project conducted by the JU Language Centre and the Linguistic Research Department in Bochum, which included the examination of the German language certifi cate at the JU; - organisation of the Polish-German seminars in international public law; - organisation of several transports of gifts, medicines, chemical reagents, elements of scientifi c apparatus, audio- visual equipment, offi ce materials, books and the donation of 100,000 German marks for the Jagiellonian Library as well as J. Sawicz a car for JU during the especially hard years of 1982-83. The symposium speakers and organisers M. Kantor NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 3 Research Centre for History International and Culture of Kraków Jews students at UJ n 1 October 2009 the Jagiellonian University founded the Research Centre for History and Culture The Jagiellonian University is O drawing an increasing number of the of Kraków Jews as an academic unit within the Faculty of History. The new world’s students to her ancient halls. Centre’s staff is made up of several In 2009/10 there were 2,420 scholars from the Department of Judaic international students at JU: Studies. The heritage of the Kraków Jews, created over several centuries, is 3 year Bachelor’s huge and unique, worth studying and 254 promoting. The research concerning the studies Kraków Jews is diversifi ed. Apart from 2 year Master’s 141 well-known and deeply analyzed topics studies J. Sawicz there are numerous issues that have not 5 year Master’s 211 been investigated. Consequently, there studies is the need to set research priorities and 4 year Doctoral to create teams to conduct systematic 50 Dr. Edyta Gawron studies studies. Erasmus The fundamental tasks will embrace Tadeusz Jakubowicz, the President of 489 research projects concerning individual the Jewish Congregation in Kraków. Programme Kraków Jews and Jewish institutions, The letter from Lili Haber, President School of organisation of conferences and of the Association of Cracovians in Medicine in 550 symposia on the history of Kraków Israel, was read by Dr. A. Jakimyszyn. English Jews, courses and seminars for students, The inaugural lecture entitled ‘Jewish Internships 152 promotion of the research on Kraków Studies at the Jagiellonian University Centre of Polish Language and Jews, collaboration with Jewish and the Development of Research on the Culture in the World organisations on widely understood History of Kraków Jews’ was delivered one semester historical studies, especially genealogies by Ass. Prof. Michał Galas from the 150 of Kraków Jews and activities aiming at Department of Jewish Studies. course creating a museum presenting the history The Research Centre for History shorter courses 423 and culture of the Kraków Jews. and Culture of Kraków Jews wants TOTAL 2,420 The opening of the Research Centre to collaborate with individuals and for History and Culture of Kraków Jews institutions interested in the heritage in the aula of Collegium Novum on of the Kraków Jews. The centre is 17 November 2009 gathered many JU located at the centre of the former List according to scholarships scientists and guests, including the Dean Jewish district of Kazimierz (Collegium Short of the Faculty of History Prof. Andrzej Kazimierzowskie, 19 Józefa Street; Scholarship Doctoral term Banach, the Director of the Department www.judaistyka.uj.edu.pl) holders of student of Judaic Studies Prof. Edward Dąbrowa, stay The Polish Rabbi Boaz Pash of Kraków and Mr M. Kantor 18 65 Government J. Sawicz CEEPUS - 18 DAAD - 17 Bilateral agreement - 9 GFPS (Scientifi c- Cultural Central- -2 Eastern Europe Association) Visehrad -8 Foundation SYLFF/FMP - 1 Can Pack - 2 Lane Kirkland -11 Programme J. Mianowski Fund - 1 Fullbright -4 Foundation Prof. Banach, Prof. Dąbrowa, Prof. Rabbi Pash and Ass. Prof. Galas Individual - 14

4 NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 Doctoral students and short term stays according to JU faculties Opening of the Life Science Short Doctoral Faculty term students Park and BioIncubator stays Biochemistry, Biophysics & -1 Biotechnology Biology & Earth 27 Sciences Chemistry 1 4 Pharmacy - - Philology 5 10 Philosophy 2 3 Physics, Astronomy & Applied 43 R. Szkaradek Computer Science History 7 13 Medicine 1 - Mathematics he fi rst building of the Life Academic ventures and seed capital and Computer 11 Science Science Park and BioIncubator foundations proved to be a successful Health Sciences - - Tin Kraków was offi cially opened way of science commercialization. Polish Studies 6 71 in the vicinity of the JU new campus The fi rst building (Technology Law and on 22 December 2009. The opening Park I) offers laboratory space for 13 21 Administration ceremony included conference talks, biotechnological fi rms. The project, International & given by such eminent speakers as realised by the fi lial JU company, is the 813 Political Studies Rev. Prof. Michał Heller, winner of a fi rst endeavour of that kind in Poland Management prestigious Templeton Prize and Mr and Central-Eastern Europe. The second & Social -5Andrzej Ryś, the Director-Public Health building will be a BioIncubator for start- Communication of the European Commission Health and up fi rms. It will have fully equipped TOTAL 50 152 Customer Protection. laboratories that could be used by The Life Science Park and doctoral students and start-up businesses. Erasmus programme BioIncubator is managed by the The third building (Technology Park II), in 2009/2010 Jagiellonian Centre of Innovation Ltd. which will have its project ready by the • Agreements – 997 It offers complex laboratory, analytical end of 2011, will also have laboratories • Outgoing students – 802 and contract research services, for physico-chemical research. • Incoming students – 489 property investments and laboratory After its completion the Life Science (from 23 EU countries) including: infrastructure ranging across all life Park and BioIncubator will provide 99 Germans science areas, including biotechnology, space for 500 scientists and researchers. 82 Spaniards biotecnics, biomedicine, cosmetology, It is located in the Kraków Economy 61 Turks bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, Zone, next to the JU campus. The Park 56 French telemedicine, drug design, chemistry, is to show a dynamic synergy between 41 Italians biochemistry, pharmacology, biophysics science and business. and physics. www.jci.pl It is worth adding that in the years The JCI administers also the Life Katarzyna Pętlak-Długosz 1998-2008 Poland sent ca. 66,000 and Science Cluster Kraków & Polish received ca.18,000 students within the Biotechnology Platform. They are an Erasmus Programme. association of member companies and M. Kantor organisations, which represents the biggest commercial potential for the biosciences in Poland. Additionally, JCI manages a capital investment company – JCI Venture Ltd – part of the Jagiellonian Center of Innovation Group, being on one hand, commercialization accelerator of scientifi c projects, and on the other,

J. Sawicz a seed capital fund. The JCI Venture is the ﬁ rst venture accelerator of scientiﬁ c ideas, projects, and prototypes in Poland. R. Szkaradek

Graduation ceremony NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 5 Researchers’ Night at JU

Late evening on 25 September 2009 several institutions of A. Rafalska-Łasocha higher education and the research institutes in Kraków hosted crowds during the so-called Researchers’ Night, organised in Kraków for the third time. At the beginning of the special event the Faculty of Chemistry of the Jagiellonian University in collaboration with the Ludwig Solski State Drama School in Kraków and the literary cabaret ‘Piwnica pod Baranami’ [Cellar under the Rams] staged a spectacle ‘The Alchemy of the Four Elements’. The main character of the spectacle was the famous Polish alchemist Michael Sendivogius (1566-1636), who was an extremely intriguing fi gure, very well inscribed in the Researchers’ Night, which was organised in 30 European countries at the initiative of the European Commission. Sendivogius studied in Vienna, Leipzig and Cambridge. He stayed at the imperial court of Rudolf II in Prague, the capital of alchemists, and then he lived in Marburg where he produced medical drugs in his laboratory of jatrochemistry. He was also a secretary and counsellor of Emperor Ferdinand II and he supervised the construction of the lead and copper mine in Silesia. Sendivogius founded secret societies, used esoteric language and was also a pioneer of empiricism, claiming that experience was the only teacher of truth. As a theoretician and practitioner he could present the phenomena he examined in a way that was even understandable to contemporary chemists. His great achievement was the examination of the air and its role in the processes of life. He was very close to discover oxygen, which was done over 100 years later by Joseph Priestley and Antonie de Lavoisier, who also studied the treatises of Sendivogius. It is worth adding that Isaac Newton, who was very much interested in alchemy, read the works of Spectacle ‘The Alchemy of the Four Elements’ Sendivogius. In the spectacle Sendivogius and his two disciples read the cup became red like red wine, then it resembled milk and fragments of his alchemical treatises, including the works on fi nally, it was changed into a colourless solution. The pharaoh’s the elements: fi re, air, earth and water. Several young chemists snakes crawled on the table, colourful fi res danced, the ice was from the Circle of Chemists of the Jagiellonian University, burning and a colourful chemical clock measured time. Nails directed by their master Dr. Wojciech Przybylski, illustrated were fi xed using bananas and roses, frozen in liquid nitrogen, the texts with chemical experiments. The colourless liquid in crushed like Christmas glass balls. As befi ts a chemical show there were explosions and multi-coloured fl ames, which always evoke the biggest emotions among the young audience. The whole spectacle was enhanced with multimedia effects showing the four elements with the accompaniment of carefully selected sounds. The participants of the Researchers’ Night could also see various interesting chemical workshops and make experiments themselves. Prof. Artur Michalak delivered a lecture entitled ‘Chemistry and the development of contemporary civilisation.’ Dr. Agnieszka Węgrzyn spoke about the automobile of the future and the students from the Circle of Chemists made a show of attention- grabbing chemical experiments. Furthermore, the large audience could see scientifi c equipments and watch chemists work. The whole project is to popularize science among Europeans. Every year the event draws more and more people. A. Rafalska-Łasocha

Students conducting chemical experiments Alicja Rafalska-Łasocha

6 NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 CHOPIN IN KRAKÓW AND HIS MEMORABILIA Exhibition launching Chopin Bicentenary at JU The life, immortal works and Potocka in 1847 and brought to Poland achievements of Fryderyk Chopin in the 19th c. ‘We know that Chopin belong to the Polish cultural heritage, chose the instrument for Countess testifying about the spiritual dimension, M. Kantor Potocka himself as he wrote in his letter mentality and joys of the Polish nation to his mother’, said Prof. St. Waltoś, the and his homeland. During the year 2010, director of the JU Museum. The other dedicated to Chopin, the whole world instrument belonged to Chopin’s pupil pays tribute to the outstanding composer, Jane Stirling who had bought it so that organising concerts and festivals to Chopin could play the piano during his him, launching exhibitions and opening stay at her Scottish residence. museums. We spent the fi rst week in Kraków on In Kraków the offi cial inauguration walks and visiting the Kraków area… of the Chopin Year, commemorating wrote Chopin to Tytus Woyciechowski. the 200th anniversary of his birth, was The short visit was an occasion to held on 28 February 2010. The most become acquainted with the city and important events took place at the its monuments. Chopin visited the JU Wawel Cathedral and the Jagiellonian Library, then located in Collegium University Museum. The Wawel Maius. On page 86 of the Guestbook Cathedral is the most important place Photograph of a potrait of the young he put his autograph. His short and in honouring Polish political, religious Chopin sketched by F. Schek (?). unfortunately only stay in Kraków and literary leaders. Fryderyk Chopin Photo by Bruckmann’s Verlag and its area found summary, small yet was a great patriot and he dreamt about emotional, musically: in the sumptuous independent Poland, writing, ‘it will not and personal souvenirs of him.’ The output of Poland’s greatest composer we come without terrible things, but at the opening of the exhibition was graced fi nd a krakowiak: Rondo à la Krakowiak end of all this is a wonderful Poland, by the Chopin concert performed by in F major, for piano and orchestra, op. great, in one word: Poland.’ Therefore, Kevin Kenner, an American concert 14 from 1829, dedicated to Princess the unveiling of the Chopin Medallion, pianist and winner in the International Anna Czartoryska. which is a copy of his Parisian Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in The collection of Chopin’s souvenirs tombstone, in the royal necropolis, next 1990, on a historical Pleyel instrument, is not big but very interesting. It contains to the sarcophagi of Adam Mickiewicz accompanied by Ensemble XIX in the musical manuscripts (Mazurka A fl at and Juliusz Słowacki and the symbolic aula of Collegium Maius. It is worth major, op. 7 and Mazurka E minor, op. tomb of Cyprian Kamil Norwid – the adding that the JU Museum has two 17, 1830-33, Scherzo E major, op. 54 national Polish bards – was not only Pleyel instruments Chopin played. One and Rondo a la Krakowiak F major, op. a symbolic act but also tribute to his instrument was bought by Countess 14), handwritten letters (to his friend timeless musical genius, expressing the spirit of unity and freedom, endurance and continuity of the Polish nation in the time of the partitions. Consequently, the Crypt of the National Bards in Wawel has the ‘fourth national bard’ representing the Romantic musical spirit. On 23-30 July 1829 the young nineteen-year-old Fryderyk Chopin visited Kraków and its surroundings. He came here with a group of students and graduates of the Main School of Music, University of Warsaw. Tangible traces of their stay are entries of the participants in the Jagiellonian Library Guest Book and the Wieliczka Salt Mine Visitors’ M. Kantor Book. Therefore, the building of Collegium Maius seems to be the most appropriate place to show memorabilia associated with Fryderyk Chopin. The R. H. Schuster according to H. Siemiradzki from 1887 – Chopin’s concert exhibition is entitled ‘Chopin in Kraków at A. Radziwiłł’s salon in 1829

NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 7 soil from his native land, Chopin set out ‘into the wide world, with no very clearly deﬁ ned aim, forever.’ In November 1830 the Uprising broke out in Warsaw and Chopin was in Vienna. Chopin, writes Jachimecki, ‘afﬂ icted by nostalgia, disappointed in his hopes of giving concerts and publishing, matured and acquired spiritual depth. From a romantic... poet... he grew into an inspired national bard who intuited the past, present and future of his country. Only now, at this distance, did he see all of Poland from the proper perspective, and understand what was great and truly

M. Kantor beautiful in her, the tragedy and heroism of her vicissitudes.’ In 1831 on his way from Vienna to Paris Chopin learned that the uprising had been crushed. His frustration and outcries of a tormented Cast of Chopin’s right hand and death mask heart found musical expression in his Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20, and his Wilhelm Kolberg, dated 19.08.1824) the exhibition is the embroidery, which Revolutionary Étude. and entries to guest books, printed George Sand made for Chopin. The Chopin arrived in Paris in 1831. music, various prints, including the exhibition will be opened till the middle There he found opportunities to exercise poster of Chopin’s ﬁ rst public concert of April 2010. his talents and achieve celebrity. He in the National Theatre in Warsaw on Finally, let us add some biographical earned a good income teaching piano to 17 March 1830, the announcement of data of Fryderyk Chopin. He was born afﬂ uent students from all over Europe. Chopin’s death – invitation to his funeral in the village of Żelazowa Wola, not In 1836 Chopin met the French author in St Magdalene’s Church in Paris on 30 far from Warsaw, on 1 March 1810 to and feminist Amandine Aurore Lucille October 1849, personal souvenirs: box a French-expatriate father and Polish Dupin, the Baroness Dudevant, better for candles, petit-point embroidery, wool mother. In the same year the family known by her pseudonym, George on linen canvas, made by George Sand moved to Warsaw where Fryderyk Sand. They became lovers and as the for Fryderyk (chair cover), photographs received education in the Polish spirit, composer’s illness progressed, Sand framed with inscriptions, cast of culture and language. Actually Chopin gradually became his nurse. In February Chopin’s hands; sculptures: medallions never learnt good French. His teachers 1848, he gave his last Paris concert. with the image of Fryderyk Chopin, his noted his ‘remarkable talent’ and In April he left for London where he death mask according to a sculpture by ‘musical genius.’ He completed the performed at several concerts and at J.B. Clésinger, porcelain, 19th century; Warsaw Conservatory. In November numerous receptions in great houses. several paintings of Kraków, circa 1840; 1830, seen off by friends and admirers, He also visited Scotland. In 1848 in graphics: portraits of Chopin according carrying with him a silver cup containing Edinburgh, at the home of a Polish to E. Delacroix from 1836, photograph by I. Krieger showing a lost sketch

by Georg Sand. One exhibition hall A. Wojnar has been dedicated to the Salt Mine in Wieliczka, which young Fryderyk also visited. The exhibits include some 19th century sketches of the salt chambers, maps of the mine workings, models and mining objects. ‘The exhibition is to remind the visitors of the composer’s visit to Kraków and its environment. Visitors can enter the atmosphere of the 19th century and the guide will be Chopin himself through his letters and one of his best pupils Countess Marcelina Czartoryska, who settled in her residence in Kraków after having returned from Paris. And she taught how to play Chopin’s works’, said L. Bełtowska, the curator Guest book of the Jagiellonian Library from 1812-1869, Chopin’s signature on page 86 of the exhibition. The decoration of from 23rd July 1829

8 NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 M. Klag

physician, Dr. Adam Łyszczyński, Chopin wrote out his last will. At the end of November, Chopin returned to Paris. He was seriously ill but he continued seeing friends and visited the ailing Adam Mickiewicz, soothing the Polish poet’s nerves with his playing. He no longer had the strength to give lessons, but he was still keen on composing. Feeling ever more poorly, Chopin wanted to have one of his family with him. In 1849 his sister Ludwika Jędrzejewicz, who had given him his ﬁ rst piano lessons, came to Paris. Chopin had lately taken up residence in a very beautiful, sunny Participants of the CCV4 workshop in February 2010 apartment at Place Vendôme 12. It was there, a few minutes before two o’clock on the morning of 17 October 1849, that Chopin died. Later that morning, Common Challenge: Auguste Clésinger made Chopin’s death mask and casts of his hands. Before the Advancing English Studies funeral, pursuant to Chopin’s dying wish, his heart was removed and preserved in V4 Countries in alcohol. His sister later took it in an urn to Warsaw, where it was sealed in a The English Department of the in Anglophone literature and culture pillar of the Holy Cross Church, beneath Philological Faculty at the Jagiellonian studies. The common website at www. an inscription from Matthew 6:21, University in Kraków, in collaboration ccv4.eu will serve as an online platform with the English departments of four disseminating information on educational For where your treasure is, partner universities – University of options offered by the ﬁ ve Visegrad there also will your heart be. Pardubice, University of Prešov, Károli English departments. Candidates for the M. Kantor Gáspár University of the Reformed BA and MA programmes who wish to Based on the exhibition catalogue ‘Chopin Church in Budapest, and Charles study, or continue their studies, at one in Kraków i osobiste po nim pamiątki’, University in Prague – has launched of the partner universities are welcome edited by Lucyna Bełtowska, exhibition a project called “Common Challenge: to browse the offer and select courses curator. The Bologna Process in Anglophone and programmes which best suit their Literature and Culture Departments of expectations and needs.

A. Wojnar Visegrad Universities.” The project is Currently, the efforts of the project supported by the International Visegrad partners focus on an integrated Fund (www.visegradfund.org). The information campaign, consisting of main purpose behind this initiative a series of meetings with current BA has been to present the syllabuses, students and prospective candidates for educational materials and approaches to the MA programmes. The events are British, American and Commonwealth planned for April at all partner universities literature and culture teaching used in (for details, check www.ccv4.eu and the each institution, and to launch a closer websites of respective departments). co-operation among departments that Anyone who would like to learn have had only sporadic contacts so far. In about the possibilities of studying the course of the project, staff members Anglophone literatures and cultures in from the partner institutions attended two one of the partner universities is welcome workshops devoted to the presentation of to visit the project website www.ccv4. each department’s educational offer and eu. Moreover, the International Visegrad to sharing didactic expertise. Fund offers special scholarships for those Alongside these activities, the wishing to study at the universities from partners have decided to launch a website the Visegrad region. Information for dedicated to BA and MA candidates prospective applicants can be obtained at: searching for interesting programmes www.visegradfund.org/instructions.html. I. Curyłło-Klag Contact with project co-ordinators: Dr. Izabela Curyłło-Klag; [email protected] Medallion with Chopin’s head and fine copies Dr. Katarzyna Bazarnik; of his compositions [email protected]

NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 9 Duchy of Sabaudia, England and the African Sultanate of the Mamelukes. Polish studies concerning After the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1291 the role of the island increased considerably. Cyprus became the furthest Mediaeval Cyprus bastion of Christianity in the East. The rulers of the island were aware of the location of their kingdom, surrounded by the Turkish emirates from the north and by the Mamelukes in Syria and Egypt and consequently, they wanted to renew the idea of the crusades. In the 1360s the King of Cyprus Peter I together with Lusignan decided to organise a crusade against the Muslims. His efforts brought about an expedition during which they destroyed Alexandria in Egypt in 1365, which was the key harbour of the Mamelukes. Soon afterwards the ambitious ruler was murdered and in the years 1373-74 the island was invaded Ł. Burkiewicz by the Genoese who seized Famagusta, Castles in Corycus (Gorigos) seized by King Peter of Cyprus in 1361 known as ‘the Levantine pearl’ and forced the island to pay tribute. In the espite the meaningful role signiﬁ cant role of Poland during the 15th century Cyprus became dependent the Latin Kingdom of Cyprus Middle Ages made the Cypriot kings try on the Mamelukes and King Janus was D played in the Middle Ages, the to get interested in the Mediterranean enslaved in Egypt. Moreover, the island history of this Mediterranean island is matters of Polish rulers at least twice. served the Muslims as a base to attack relatively unknown in Poland. It was The division of the Roman world Rhodes, the headquarters of the Knights the Polish archaeology that has had caused the division into the West and of St John. Cyprus remained under the more success in the realm of Cyprus, the East. Cyprus became a province of rule of the Lusignan dynasty until 1489 especially in Nea Pafos where the the Byzantine Empire. The attractive when the Venetians became formal rulers, Polish Archaeological Mission has been location of the island as the crossroad taking power from Catherine Cornaro, conducting research since 1965. The of trade routes, both from Europe to the widow of King James II from the Mission also embraces the scholars of the Holy Land and from Anatolia to Lusignan dynasty. They controlled the Jagiellonian University, including Egypt, and on the other hand, as the the island until the Turkish invasion in Prof. Ewdoksia Papuci-Władyka, island controlling the Levantine sea 1571. from the JU Institute of Archaeology. navigation became the desirable target Some Polish crusaders and pilgrims The outstanding specialist in Oriental of the Crusaders going to the East. At going to Jerusalem must have reached studies Prof. J. Hauziński, who used to the beginning of May 1191 the ﬂ eet of Cyprus. However, until the 14th century work at the Jagiellonian University, has the English King Richard the Lionheart we have no information about concrete contributed much to making the history heading for the Holy Land during the relationships between Poles and Cyprus. of Medieval Cyprus known to Polish crusade, which later historians called The oldest testimony comes from readers. His textbooks concerning the the Third Crusade, arrived at the Cypriot 1347. Then Philip of Mézières, the Near East contain numerous details coast, at that time being in the hands chancellor of the King of Cyprus Peter about the island1. of the Byzantine usurper Isaac Doukas I Lusignan, met Wojciech of Pakość Polish contacts with Medieval Cyprus Kommenos. King Richard defeated the (Albert de Pachost), the governor of have never been as big as the contacts relatively weak Greek units within three Brześć and Kujawy in the years 1325- with the remaining parts of the Greek weeks and seized the island. world. But the location of the island on For the next 380 years, Castle in Pafos the pilgrims’ tour caused that it became from the conquest of the an obligatory stop for the Poles going to island by Richard the the Holy Land. On the other hand, the Lionheart in May 1191 Ł. Burkiewicz until the fall of Famagusta 1 Polish authors relatively thoroughly defeated by the Turks in described the visit of one of the Cypriot August 1671, Cyprus was rulers in Poland Peter of Lusignan in 1364 in in the centre of international Kraków during the meeting of the monarchs. interests: of Sicily governed These are the works by K. Szajnoch, by the Hohenstauf family, A. Semkowicz, S. Kutrzeba, H. Pachoński, S. Angevinians and the Zajączkowski, R. Grodecki, J. Wyrozumski, Aragonese, the Italian states or quite new publications by S. Szczur, J. Śliwiński and M. Dąbrowski. of Genoa, Venice and the

10 NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 who forced their supremacy over the Cathedral of St Sophia in Nicosia – currently a mosque Selimiye island, offering the King two of their three voices in the matters concerning the island and two thirds of the income of the Kingdom of Cyprus. In order to cement the agreement King Janus proposed a marriage between his only son and Jagiełło’s daughter Jadwiga. Unfortunately, the alliance with Cyprus was not completed as Jadwiga had died several months before the envoys came to Poland (on 8 December 1431), Jagiełło’s treasury was almost empty and the king himself, facing the threat of the Tatars, the Teutonic Knights, Świdrygiełło and Zygmunt of Luxemburg, was not able to organise an expedition to seize the island for the duration of the loan. But the remembrance of the visit to Poland and the King’s kind welcome of the Cypriot envoys was strong, which was Ł. Burkiewicz testifi ed in the letter of 3 August 1434, sent to King Władysław III Warneńczyk 1350, regarded as a hero of the defence was played by King Peter of Lusignan by the Cardinal of Cyprus, in which the of Kujawy against the Teutonic Knights, who visited Kraków in 1364 and the latter sent his condolences upon hearing in the Holy Sepulchre Basilica in Cypriot mission at the court of King of the death of Jagiełło’s death2. Jerusalem in 1332. Philip was deeply Władysław Jagiełło in 1432. The fi rst Łukasz Burkiewicz impressed by his ascetical practices visit is relatively well-known and connected to his pilgrim’s vows. But was related to the participation of the in the 15th and 16th centuries Cyprus Cypriot ruler in the famous congress Ł. Burkiewicz, a doctoral student was often visited by Polish pilgrims in Kraków. He was invited by Emperor at the JU Faculty of History, has heading for Jerusalem, including Jan Charles IV. The other event, although is studied the history of Medieval Łaski, the voivode of Sieradz, Prince not widely known and less discussed in Cyprus under the supervision of Prof. Bogusław X the Great of Western the Polish historiography, is extremely Danuta Quirini-Popławska, the head Pomerania, Bishop Jan Dantyszek, a interesting and testifi es about Poland’s of the Mediterranean studies. He has poet, Stanisław Odrowąż-Pieniążek, signifi cance in the Middle Ages. In already published several articles castellan’s son and Jan Tarnowski, Chief March 1432, over 200 people of King concerning Medieval Cyprus. He Hetman, Jan Goryński, a nobleman from Janus of Cyprus, headed by Piotr of has collaborated with the academic Great Poland, Prince Mikołaj Krzysztof Bnino, a knight of Polish background centres at the University of Nicosia Radziwiłł and a courtier Maurycy Paweł living in Cyprus, arrived in Wiślica (Prof. Christopher Schabel, Evie Henik. where King Władysław Jagiełło stayed. Antoniou), the Cyprus Research However, the most important role The envoys asked the Polish king for a Center (Dr. Nicholas Coureas), the for the Polish-Cypriot relationships loan for the fi ght against the Mamelukes Cyprus Library (Antonis Maratheftis), the University of Cardiff (Prof. Peter W. Edbury), the University of Utah Fortress Krac des Chevaliers in Salt Lake City (Dr. Leonard C. Chiarelli) and the Lomonosov State University in Moscow (Prof. Svetlana Bliznyuk). The contacts brought about an invitation to participate in the international conference entitled Chypre entre l’Orient et l’Occident within the framework of the 22nd Byzantine Studies Congress to be held in Sofi a in August 2011. He has also conducted research in Syria and Cyprus.

2 The theme was popularized in the article by Ł. Burkiewicz, Zamorska kolonia, ‘Focus

Ł. Burkiewicz Historia 2010’, no 2, pp. 73-74.

NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 11 30 years of scientific co-operation between Ruhr University Bochum and Jagiellonian University

The agreement of scientifi c co- A. Wojnar operation between the Jagiellonian University and the Ruhr University Bochum was signed in Collegium Maius, Kraków, on 30 November 1979. The RUB was the fi rst university in the Federal Republic of Germany that signed an agreement with the JU. The agreement was prolonged on 30 August 1982. Later the protocol signed on 12 July 1983 defi ned the main fi elds of collaboration and ensured access of the JU scientists to the Calculation Centre of RUB so that they could conduct their own research there. The man who signed all the documents on behalf of the RUB and who greatly contributed to establishing the co-operation was the Rector of the Ruhr University Bochum Prof. Knut Ipsen. His personality exerted a decisive infl uence on the development Prof. Würflinger, Prof. Binder and Prof. Diller and form of co-operation between our or Heinrich Hertz Foundation for longer Bochum-Studentenwerk started in 1997. universities. stays at the University of Bochum. The student exchange began in 1995, The fi rst contacts between particular In 1984 the exchange also concerned when ten JU students participated in units of both universities were language teachers and students. The language summer courses in Bochum established as early as in 1966. The project of collaboration between the JU and several students received 10 month proposal of co-operation was initiated Practical Language Teaching Centre and scholarships. Currently, the student by Prof. Berthold Beitz, the President of the Department of Linguistic Research exchange is realised within the Erasmus the Curators’ Council of Alfred Krupp at RUB aimed at organising a German Programme. von Bohlen-und-Halbach Foundation, language examination for JU students Besides the scientifi c co-operation who in 1965 presented his project of (from 1990). The cultural collaboration we should mention the material help that collaboration to Prof. Paul Mikat, the between the ‘Bratniak’ Foundation the Jagiellonian University received from German Minister of Culture. However, and Akademisches Förderungswerk Bochum, especially in the hard years the political situation in the 1970s did not allow formalising the academic A. Wojnar contacts in chemistry, physics and international law. Only the agreement signed in 1979 provided big possibilities of scientifi c co-operation and bilateral exchange. The joint projects embraced law, sociology, philology, earth sciences, physics, astronomy, chemistry and collaboration between the university libraries. Within 30 years the exchange of academic staff and students comprised hundreds of visits. For instance, in 1982 the exchanged embraced 630 days, in 1983 – 700 days, in 1984 – ca. 1,300 days and in 1985 – 640 days used by JU workers who conducted their research, using the laboratory equipment and library resources that were not available in Poland. Moreover, RUB helped them win German means from DAAD, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation The Academic Choir ‘Camerata Iagellonica’ giving a short concert

12 NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 1982-83. There were transports of gifts A. Wojnar (food and medicines), books and offi ce materials as well as scientifi c equipment. It was the initiative of Prof. Ipsen, who received the JU honorary degree in 1986, his goodwill and attitude towards the widely understood Polish-German relationships that shaped the co-operation and friendly relationships between our universities to such a signifi cant extent. The co-operation between the Jagiellonian University and the Ruhr University Bochum was presented during a session entitled ‘30 years of co-operation between Bochum and Kraków’, which was the second part of the celebrations on 14 December 2009. The moderator of the session was Ass. Prof. Elżbieta Chrzanowska-Kluczewska, Director of the Prof. Dettmar and Ass. Prof. Otmianowska-Mazur Institute of English Philology. Welcome The next talks concerned the Faculty presented the co-operation with Prof. speeches were given by Prof. Marcela of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Klaus Goeke and Prof. Albert Glöckle, Świątkowska, Dean of Philological Computer Sciences. The fi rst speakers who could not come to Kraków. 20 Faculty and Prof. Elmar Weiler, Rector were Prof. Ralf-Jürgen Dettmar and years of partnership between the JU of the University Ruhr Bochum. Then Ass. Prof. Katarzyna Otmianowska- Department of Nuclear Physics and the representatives of the International Mazur, Director of the JU Astronomical the Institute of Theoretical Physics II Relations Offi ces of both universities M. Observatory. Their common multimedia at the RUB embraced numerous visits, Kantor and M. Sprung made multimedia made for a very interesting presentation seminars and publication of over 60 joint presentations of their universities and their and showed 15 years of collaboration papers. Prof. Praszałowicz stressed the 30 years of co-operation. on the project concerning the structure, aspect of ‘universitas’ in international Then there were short speeches dynamics and evolution of galaxies, the scientifi c relationships. The medals for by the professors from Bochum, who interstar environment in galaxies. Prof. Prof. Goeke and Prof. Glöckle were received the JU medals ‘Plus ratio quam Albert Würfl inger and Prof. Stanisław given to Rector Weiler who later handed vis’ and their partners from the UJ. The Urban (Institute of Physics) have them to the honoured professors in fi rst speakers were Prof. Roman Seer collaborated for over 20 years. Their Bochum in the presence of the Dean of and Ass. Prof. Adam Nita from the tax partnership led to publishing pioneering the Faculty of Physics Prof. Czarnetzki. law departments. Below we present the research in liquid crystals and vitreous The participants of the session could speech of Prof. Seer. phases. Having the consent of the RUB also listen to a concert of Polish music The partnership in the fi eld of Prof. Würfl inger gave the JU Institute of performed by the Academic Choir of English Philology was shown by Prof. Physics his unique apparatus to examine the Jagiellonian University ‘Camerata Hans-Jürgen Diller and Ass. Prof. the phase transmissions in the function Iagellonica’. It is worth mentioning that E. Chrzanowska-Kluczewska. Prof. of pressure and temperature, using the the JU Choir performed in Bochum in Diller, an outstanding specialist in DTA method. 1985 within the framework of cultural Medieval English studies in literature The last speaker was Prof. Michał exchange between our universities. and language, began his collaboration Praszałowicz (Institute of Physics), who M. Kantor with the JU in 1978, one year before the offi cial agreement. One of the fruits of his work with the Cracovian scholars was the publication of several volumes on English drama and theatre. The co- operation in Classical Philology was presented by Prof. Gerhard Binder and Prof. Kazimierz Korus. Prof. Binder initiated the collaboration in 1982. Then the project on the history of Greek and Roman literature, literary theories and linguistics was launched. Prof. Binder supported the applications of the JU AAA Bochum candidates for DAAD scholarships and supervised their research stays in Bochum. The result of their endeavours was the monographic work ‘Places and Forms of Communication in Antiquity.’ Prof. Czarnetzki, Prof. Goeke, Prof. Glöckle and Rector Weiler

NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 13 German-Polish Tax Law Internationalization Seminar Series of studies at the JU Faculty Magniﬁ ciants, Spectabiliants, Honorables, of Chemistry

Ladies and Gentlemen, A. Wojnar The Bochum-Kraków-Law Faculty Connection began in the middle of the The JU Faculty of Chemistry is one eighties of the last century. Especially of the few chemistry faculties in Poland the former Rector Knut Ipsen, Rolf that has the common certifi cate of the Grawert und Heinrich Wilhelm Kruse European Chemistry Thematic Network established the partnership with the (ECTN) and the University Accreditation Jagiellonian University before the Iron Committee (UKA) - Eurobachelor Label Curtain had been drawn up. This was for its degree of Bachelor of Chemistry a remarkable act. The main subjects and Euromaster Label for its degree of of their co-operation were public Master of Chemistry. Both Bachelor and international and constitutional law, and Master students, who begin their studies even tax law. Apoloniusz Kostecki and at the JU Faculty of Chemistry, can Heinrich Wilhelm Kruse started a series Prof. R. Seer fi nish their programmes with the same of seminars on comparative tax law in competences like their peers at Western the 1980s. In the beginning, the seminars European universities. focussed on German Tax Law because in European law on the national domestic the socialist society the issue of taxes was tax systems of the EU member states. not a very important question. Tax is the One of the most meaningful seminars price of freedom. However, in a general was our meeting in Kraków in May view my colleagues could discuss the 2004, the day after Poland had become different systems of public fi nancial law. an EU member state. The topic was – of With time for the developing course – the EU Tax Law! democratic Polish state tax law became After the retirement of Apoloniusz more and more important during the Kostecki the partnership has been ‘90s. Nearly every year groups of continued by my colleague Adam Nita. students and academics visited Kraków Our two last bilateral seminars on the and Bochum. It had a forgoing impact Value Added Tax Law in Kraków and on their German-Polish-friendship and Poronin near Zakopane last year and attitude. In 1996, when I succeeded this year’s seminar in the Westphalia Heinrich Wilhelm Kruse on the chair of Versailles Castle in Nordkirchen near tax law, I found the tradition of seminars Münster with our friends of the North- which I liked to continue and intensify. Rhine-Westphalia School of Finance Apoloniusz Kostecki and I agreed to were very successful. I am deeply A. Rafalska-Łasocha confi dent that we will have many more enlarge the seminars by student groups Reserchers’ Night from the University of Zagreb, Croatia, Polish-German Tax Law seminars in the supervised by our colleague Oliver future. Currently, my Chair and the Tax Loncaric-Horvat. It was hard work to Law Department maintain international ECTN works within the frameworks organise the tri-national-seminar every partnerships with several law faculties of European programmes and year. However, the results of our efforts all over the world. But our partnership collaborates with numerous institutions, made us very happy. One EU-foundation RUB – JU has had the longest tradition organisations and committees in state, one state on the way to the EU and and has been one of the most important particular EU countries. One can another country, which wanted to fi nd seminars. I have a vision of several mention the German institution a way out of the tragedy of the Balkan very attractive academic projects in the of Akkreditierungsverfahren für war to become part of the peaceful, future: we can start with an international Studiengänge der Ingenieur- und der democratic European community. From summer school of Polish and German Naturwissenschaften, der Informatik 1997 to 2006 we organised annual law for bilingual students, with courses und der Mathematik, the English one seminars, which dealt with a huge in Polish and German, conducted partly – Royal Society of Chemistry or the scope of tax law issues. They referred in Kraków and partly in Bochum. Italian Societa Chimica Italiana. to income, corporate, consumption, Plus ratio quam vis et viva amicitae Before the JU Faculty of Chemistry inheritance taxes as well the questions of JU & RUB! had received the accreditation its academic staff and the teaching-research the tax procedure and the legal protection Prof. Dr. iur. Roman Seer, facilities were carefully evaluated. The of tax payers. The main subject was the Lehrstuhl für Steuerrecht, Bachelor studies must ensure general European tax law and the impact of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum

14 NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 chemical knowledge, like in other institutions within ETCN, and the That’s a life story! Master programme must embrace proper application aspects. Prof. Stanisław Łukiewicz The accreditation is a distinction for the Jagiellonian University and it gives rofessor Stanisław Jan Łukiewicz Physiology and Biochemistry at the students many privileges. In the years Pwas born on the 8th of January 1927 Agricultural Faculty of the Jagiellonian 2008-2011 each graduate of the Faculty in Kraków, where he spent his whole University. During the period 1954-1958 of Chemistry will receive a supplement life. During the period of the German he studied as a postgraduate student confi rming his knowledge and abilities, occupation (1939-1945) he completed at the Polish Academy of Sciences which the academic teachers belonging three-year schooling at the Kraków Trade (PAN), becoming in 1958 lecturer at to the ECTN consortium regard as School. That allowed him to work at the the PAN Department of Experimental necessary on the given level of higher Tax Offi ce. In his personal accounts Zoology in Kraków. He was awarded education. This applies to other European he mentioned being forced into labour the degree of PhD in natural sciences universities, too. Copyright Triplet in 1961 for his thesis entitled ‘Research Since 2009 the JU Faculty of into the prolonging of electronarcosis Chemistry has conducted international and galvanic contraction’, which he doctoral projects (MPD). Each project is defended at the M. Nencki Institute realised in collaboration with a partner of Experimental Biology at PAN in European university where a doctoral Warsaw. student does part of his research project From 1961 to 1965 Dr. Łukiewicz within four year doctoral studies. ‘The was in Sicily, Italy, for post-doctoral programme embraces 20 research topics studies. At the Institute of Physics and proposed for the best young researchers the Institute of Comparative Anatomy selected during an open contest. The of the University of Palermo he used the novelty of the programme is included in spectroscopy of electronic paramagnetic the research topics themselves as they resonance (EPR) in the analysis of the concern the latest fi elds of chemistry and physiochemical properties of biological multi-disciplinary research as well as the systems. This research was pioneering possibility to carry out research in close for EPR applications in biology and collaboration with the best centres in the allowed Dr. Łukiewicz to prepare his world’, says Prof. Jacek Młynarski, the post-doctorial thesis entitled ‘Electronic co-ordinator of the MPD Programme at paramagnetic resonance and the the Faculty of Chemistry. Candidates absorptive spectra of the sea urchin cell from all over the world can send and its components.‘ He was awarded their applications to this programme. the habilitation degree in the fi eld of More information can be found at biophysics on the 26th of September www.chemia.uj.edu.pl/mpd. 1966 by the Biology and Earth Sciences Prof. St. Łukiewicz Faculty Council of the Jagiellonian Alicja Rafalska-Łasocha by the Germans on the construction University. of the defense in infrastructure at In 1965 on the recommendation of Niedźwiedź near Kraków. He studied the Ministry of Higher Education Dr. S. simultaneously in the underground Łukiewicz together with Dr. M. Sarnecka- education system functioning in Poland Keller (cf. Triplet, No 6 (3/09)) undertook at that time. He passed his secondary the organisation of the Department of school examinations under the auspices Biochemistry and Biophysics at the of the secret State Examination Jagiellonian University. In May 1969 A. Rafalska-Łasocha Commission. His School Certifi cate Dr. Łukiewicz was transferred from was obtained after the liberation of the Polish Academy of Sciences to the Poland and in 1946 he started to study newly opened research and teaching at the Mathematical-Natural Science unit at the university where he took up Faculty of the Jagiellonian University, the position of Reader. A year later, as a from which he graduated in 1952 with result of reorganisation, the department Master’s degree in Biology. At the same became the Institute of Molecular time he also studied physics. During the Biology, while from 1st January 1972 fi nal years of his university studies he Dr. Łukiewicz was appointed Head was also working at the State Institute of the Biophysics Department of the for Physical-Chemical Research. Jagiellonian University’s Institute of Professor Łukiewicz began his Molecular Biology; a function he fulfi lled academic career in 1952 following his until 1984. It needs to be stressed that the employment as an academic teaching founding of the Department of Biophysics assistant in the Department of Animal at that time was only possible thanks Researchers’ Night NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 15 Copyright Triplet to the initiative, involvement, power of persuasion and enormous energy of Professor Łukiewicz. In 1976 Łukiewicz was appointed associate professor and in 1991 he was appointed full professor (profesor zwyczajny), at the Department of Biophysics. In 1986 he organised the Laboratory of Radio Spectroscopy of Cancer and Radiobiology, which he headed until 2002. Even following his formal retirement in 1997, Professor Łukiewicz displayed an exceptional degree of academic and teaching activity; employed at the Department of Biophysics on a part time basis he directed academic research and doctorial theses almost up until the day he died. He passed away on 20th February 2005. Throughout over half a century of his The celebration of Prof. Łukiewicz’s 70th anniversary in 1998 academic activities Professor Łukiewicz remained faithful to the academic was the author of new methodological the presence of a photosensitizer. He interest he had developed while still an solutions enabling EPR measurements established many academic contacts undergraduate and during the fi rst years of the X-ray irradiated samples. An with clinical institutions, many of which of his work as a researcher. His scientifi c extremely important achievement by are still in effect to this day. One of them development was characterised by a Professor Łukiewicz’s research team is the JU Ophthalmology Clinic, which rarely met consistency – Prof. Łukiewicz from the 1970s and 1980s was the is at the fore in Poland in the treatment persistently strove to understand the conceptualization and methodological of melanoma of the eyeball. nature and physical mechanisms of the development of the measurement of Prof. Łukiewicz’s research phenomena occurring within biological concentrations and diffusion of oxygen in achievements met with lively interest systems. Besides, he was always biological systems using EPR oxymetry. and recognition on the part of foreign interested in new physical methods This advanced physical method, used institutions. This was refl ected by useful for the research of such processes. widely at present, enables an analysis of numerous invitations to international It is worth emphasising that some of the transportation of molecular oxygen scientifi c meetings at the time that the these methods or techniques were in biological membranes and other participation of Polish academics was developed by Prof. Łukiewicz himself supermolecular biostructures. rather rare. In 1963 Professor Łukiewicz or were adapted by him. His earliest Prof. Łukiewicz’s attention was drawn was the guest of the British Biophysical research interests concerned bioelectric in 1988 to the atypical paramagnetic Society. From 1962-1964 he lectured effects, particularly the role of stationary properties of rejected heart transplants at the Italian universities of Pavia and bioelectrical potential as well as the and some tumours, connected with the Genoa, and in 1973 at the University electrokinetic potentials of the cell appearance of complexes of nitric oxide. of Zurich within the framework of the surface. Professor Łukiewicz became This work was done in parallel with European School of EPR. A year earlier interested in the magnetic properties analogical research conducted at the best he had actively participated in the work of biological systems and the EPR American and English laboratories, for of the Fourth Congress on Biophysics techniques during his stay in Italy. which the Nobel Prize in physiology and held in Moscow, while in 1974 he gave Of particular note among Professor medicine was awarded in 1998. In the two papers at the Fifth Congress on Łukiewicz’s scientifi c accomplishments same year Professor Łukiewicz gathered radiation research in Seattle (USA). in the 1970s is a series of experimental the main research trends on the subject in In 1974, he participated in the Gordon works devoted to analysis of the EPR a monograph, which was published by the Conference, presenting the results of the spectra of live cells and amphibian renowned Kluwer Academic Publishers. research into the paramagnetic properties embryos. These studies were the fi rst He was awarded, together with his team, of living cells. academic publications to demonstrate Kraków’s II Degree Prize in 1999 in the In the 1970s Prof. Łukiewicz in a convincing way that EPR fi eld of science and technology for this initiated co-operation with the Medical spectroscopy, despite known physical editorial work. College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA, limitations, may be applied for studies His particular passion, one that had on biophysical applications of EPR. of living organisms. Prof. Łukiewicz’s taken hold of him possibly even in the This co-operation, continued by the work from this period showed that in 1960s, was the application of EPR Biophysics Department to this day, was certain conditions the EPR spectrum spectroscopy in the search for new amongst some of the most fruitful that the is a source of unique information on methods in the treatment of tumours. Jagiellonian University has engaged in disturbances in the permeability of Paramagnetism in melanins led to his over the last few decades. It has resulted, cytoplasmatic membranes as well as interest in melanoma. He strove to a among other things, in the publication on the physiological state and vitality multimodal sensitization of melanoma of over 200 joint papers in prestigious of cells. What’s more, Prof. Łukiewicz to radiation, and later to visible light in academic journals, several patents and

16 NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 several joint research projects funded by the National Institute of Health. Visit of the Delegation from the Professor Stanisław J. Łukiewicz belonged to the group of eminent Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas initiators of biophysical research in Poland; he played a decisive role in the development of this discipline in On the 22nd January 2010 the in 1910, and destroyed by the Nazis Poland and in a signiﬁ cant way was Jagiellonian University hosted a during the Second World War, became instrumental in the introduction of EPR delegation from the Vytautas Magnus the site of patriotic and anti-communist spectroscopy to biophysical research. University in Kaunas in the persons manifestations in the years 1945-1989. He was a co-founder of the specialist of Prof. Zigmas Lydeka, Rector of the In 1878 the eminent Polish historicist journal Current Topics in Biophysics. It University, Prof. Jonas Vaicenonis, painter Jan Matejko painted a huge oil is no exaggeration to say that Professor Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Prof. canvas devoted to the battle and entitled Łukiewicz made the Kraków School of Zigmuntas Kiaupa from the Institute of simply ‘Bitwa pod Grunwaldem’ [The Biophysicists recognizable worldwide. History. The delegation met the Rector Battle of Grunwald]. This painting is He possessed a unique talent of endearing of the Jagiellonian University Prof. regarded a masterpiece of battle-scene students to biophysics through his Karol Musioł as well as Prof. Andrzej painting. excellent lectures, exceptionally friendly Banach, Dean of the Faculty of History, It is also worth mentioning that there attitude towards students and devoting Prof. Stanisław Sroka, Director of the is a memorial devoted to the Polish King his time to students with embarrassing Institute of History, and two historians: located in Central Park in New York. generosity. He would personally oversee Prof. Piotr Franaszek and Prof. Krzysztof The equestrian statue of Jagiełło, raised Ożóg. The aim of the visit was to discuss on its grand plinth, is one of the most mutual projects devoted to the 600th prominently-sited and impressive of the anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald, twenty-nine sculptures located in Central in particular a conference on ‘The Times Park. The inscription on the plinth of the of Jagiello and Vytautas’ organised in monument reads: King Jagiello, King

Copyright Triplet Kaunas on 9-11 September 2010 with of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, the participation of six historians from 1386 – 1434, Founder of a Free Union the Jagiellonian University. of the Peoples of East Central Europe, The Battle of Grunwald (Tannenberg) Victor Over the Teutonic Aggressors at was one of the most important battles of Grunwald, July 15, 1410. Medieval Europe and the largest one The King is shown seated on a horse of those, in which medieval knights holding two crossed swords over his Prof. Łukiewicz lecturing fought. It took place in open plains head as a symbol of defi ance and of near the villages of Grunwald, Stębark the union of Polish-Lithuanian forces. the fi rst experimental steps of novices to (Tannenberg) and Łodwigowo on 15th Known as the Grunwald Swords, they science, sometimes late at night. He used July 1410. The Polish-Lithuanian- were an invitation to the battle offered to visit laboratory classes, and willingly Ruthenian forces under the command to the Polish King and Vytautas in an and most attentively fulfi lled the role of of the King of Poland, Ladislau ironic gesture by Ulrich von Jungingen, tutor. It is, therefore, no surprise that the Jagiello [Polish spelling: Władysław the Grand Master of the Teutonic basis of the Professor’s School has been Jagiełło] in alliance with the Grand Order. The monument represents the fi rst and foremost the numerous group Duke of Lithuania Vytautas executed a triumph of Jagiełło, who was one of of the PhD and MSc students tutored by decisive defeat on the Teutonic Knights, the most famous kings in the common Prof. Łukiewicz (in total over a hundred strengthened for the battle by Western history of Poland and Lithuania. It is people) as well as a signifi cant body of European knights and commanded by worth mentioning, that the king played independent academics amongst who are the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, a very important role in the history of many professors. Worth emphasizing is Ulrich von Jungingen. the Kraków University as well when the high quality equipment of the present The Battle of Grunwald was one he re-founded it in the year 1400. It is Department of Biophysics as well as the of the most splendid and important his wife Jadwiga and he himself, who extensive academic contacts with the victories in Polish history. It has been gave the name to our Alma Mater – the leading laboratories in the world. Out of commemorated and celebrated in Jagiellonian University. the individuals, equipment and classes numerous ways. For example, Henryk Every year the Battle of Grunwald is nurtured, assembled and designed by Sienkiewicz (the Nobel Prize recipient commemorated through its re-enactment, Prof. Łukiewicz, one could easily create in literature) devoted one of his novels which takes place precisely on the 15th of a large academic institution. This has entitled ‘Krzyżacy’ [The Teutonic July. Thousands of medieval re-enactors established the basis for further dynamic Knights] to the events connected with from all over Europe, many dressed in development of biophysics in Kraków, the battle and the battle itself. Numerous knight’s armour, gather in Grunwald fi elds which was always Professor Łukiewicz’s poems, songs, monuments, paintings to reconstruct the battle. Each year the dream. and medals from various periods in event is rehearsed with great care for the Prof. Tadeusz Sarna, history commemorate that victory. historical details of the armour, weapons, Dr. Krystyna Urbańska The memorial to King Jagiełło and the and the conduct of the battle itself. Dr. Przemysław M. Płonka Battle of Grunwald erected in Kraków M. Kantor, J. Basista

NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 17 EEUU SStudiestudies FFairair iinn BBrusselsrussels

hat is ‘Europe’? This is one we offer several of the fi rst questions – and specialisations for Wa deceptively diffi cult one – students content that students of European studies have to to complete their grapple with. However, we defi ne it, the MA studies at studies of the continent, and specifi cally the Jagiellonian its political integration, have gone University. Some from strength to strength and become specialise in EU increasingly popular in recent years, with studies, and often landmark events such as the Maastricht end up following a Treaty and later Eastern Enlargement career in government of 2004 and 2007 convincing many or NGOs in their young people – from within the EU and own country or in further afi eld – that whatever Europe multinational hubs is, its structures and machinations are such as Brussels. Voice Copyright European something worth learning about and Very popular is our JU stand in Brussels seeking worth in. Today, increasing Central and Eastern numbers of universities produce European Studies (CEE) stream, for exhibitors. As well as discuss education graduates in European Studies, training students intent on building on their options, participants were also able a cosmopolitan workforce for careers in interest in our fascinating region. The to attend seminars on such subjects as European government and institutions, new specialisation in Europeanisation ‘What is European Studies?’ and ‘The international business and much more and Governance in CEE, meanwhile, European Job Market’, and a tour of the besides. offers an angle which focuses on the European Union institutions was also The Jagiellonian University is no same region in the light of its political offered. exception to this trend, and, in Poland integration into Europe and the The JU/CES table attracted a at least, has been a forerunner, with the challenges that brings. signifi cant amount of interest, and, history of what is now the Institute of On February 13 I represented the while I was able to provide information European Studies going back to 1993, Jagiellonian University and the Centre for to visitors on options for studying in when the Inter-faculty Department of European Studies at the 11th annual EU Kraków, it was also an interesting European Studies was founded. Today, Studies Fair organised by European Voice experience for me and other exhibitors to the Institute offers degree programmes newspaper in the capital of Brussels and learn from the varied and cosmopolitan and various specialisations at all levels Europe. Around 700 visitors attended the crowd, who came from a total of 56 in Polish, as well as a number of fair, mostly young people interested in countries (I talked to people from the programmes taught in English, mostly options for graduate study. Registrations Netherlands, Romania, France, Canada, taught at our international section known had suggested that numbers might Ukraine, China and Djibouti, to name as the Centre for European Studies be even higher, but the cold weather but a few) and spoke an average of 3.6 (CES). As well as participating in proved a deterrent for some. Around languages each. Many were browsing consortia including Euroculture and the 60 organisations were represented for options for the best place to go to International Masters in Economy, State – mostly European universities but complete an MA degree in European and Society, both of which have been also other institutions, including the Studies, European Law, International made Erasmus Mundus programmes, European Union Directorate General Relations etc., while others already had for Interpreting and, one or two MAs and were looking for perhaps surprisingly, the right location for doctoral studies. I the Azerbaijan spoke to a number of visitors and fellow Diplomatic Academy. exhibitors who had visited Małopolska’s The guest of capital before, their impressions usually honour at the fair was very positive. Some people were Androulla Vassiliou, specifi cally interested in Masters studies four days into her in the CEE region, and, fi ngers crossed, job as European may soon be Jagiellonian University Commissioner for students. They should by then have a Education, Culture, very good idea of what Europe is, and be Multiculturalism ready to ask and learn to answer many and Youth, who gave more questions raised by the fi eld of

Copyright European Voice Copyright European the opening speech European and CEE studies. and made a short B. Koschalka at the Fair tour, chatting to Ben Koschalka

18 NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 Freedom of media vs. responsibility for words Conference in Sankt Petersburg

The international conference in Polish Association in Sankt Petersburg, the authorities. Freedom of the media Sankt Petersburg, organised by the the young people prepared speeches, in often gives journalists a tool to effective Polish Association and the General Polish and Russian, concerning various control of the government’s activities but Consulate of the Republic of Poland on aspects of building democracy in on the other hand, it frequently becomes 30 October 2009, focused on the role Poland after 1989. Victoria Gromowa, a dangerous tool in the hands of those of the democratic transformations in a doctoral student at the University of who overusing freedom of speech harm Poland after 1989, the limits of freedom Sankt Petersburg, conducted workshops democracy. of speech in public debate and the role for youth entitled, ‘We learn democracy.’ The conference held in the Polish of the media as the guarantee of a well- They discussed what democracy was House in Sankt Petersburg gathered functioning democracy. and what values were most frequently Polish and Russian young people from Addressing the young participants of associated with it, how to use the different regions of Russia, from the the conference Aleksandra Sapieżyńska, achievements of democracy responsibly, distant Archangelsk and even Kamchatka, the Vice-Consul of the Republic of how to participate in political life the places where once Polish deportees Poland in Sankt Petersburg, stressed actively and what role the free media lived, and nowadays the remembrance the merits of all those who had created played in democracy. about their hard fates survived thanks to the foundations of democratic country Representing the Institute of the efforts of the Polish Consulate and 20 years ago, giving examples how Political Sciences and International what is especially worth praising, thanks to build a better future, assuming the to the initiative of the Russian youth of responsibility for the fate of their Memory and respect for those who one of the local schools who completely homeland. Unfortunately, many of never saw freedom and were often disinterestedly renovated the Polish those founders passed away. ‘Guarding namelessly buried, defi nes our cemetery in Borowicze (Borovichy), the democracy is a great challenge and at the national identity from which young place where the soldiers of the Home same time a test of patriotism, especially generations can draw strength to Army were transported in 1944. Mr for the Polish people dispersed in the build democracy. Roman Władysław Bar, the President whole territory of Russia, those who of the Association of the Polish Siberian speak Polish and feel Polish thanks to Relationships of the Jagiellonian Survivors of Borowicze Environment and the tradition of their grandfathers and University I emphasized the merits of a former prisoner of the Russian forced thanks to the history of Poland’, Consul Anna Politkovska, the Russian journalist labour camps, was moved thanking the Sapieżyńska said. ‘Memory and respect who gave her life for freedom of Russian youth for their remembrance of for those who never saw freedom and speech as the fundamental value of the the Polish deportees. On 1 November the were often namelessly buried, defi nes democratic state of law. This is the value participants of the conference went to the our national identity from which young without which building citizen society is cemetery in Levashovo, several kilometres generations can draw strength to build a fi ction. At the same time I reminded away from Sankt Petersburg, to pay democracy.’ the audience that freedom of speech homage to the Russians, Poles, Latvians The conference focused on the Polish in political debate had to be always and other victims of Stalin’s repressions way of democracy, our experiences accompanied by responsibility for words. who were massacred there in the years in building citizen society, creation of Using the constitutional warranty of 1933-39. They put a wreath on behalf of structures of democratic state of law. freedom of speech must be realised with Mr Jaroslaw Drozda, the Polish General Thanks to the efforts of the Vice-Consul the feeling of responsibility, respecting Consul in Sankt Petersburg, at the obelisk Anna Dembowska, who took care of other people’s personal goods, including commemorating the mass executions of the Polish community in Russia, and politicians as well. Therefore, it is not Poles, the victims of the NKWD terror. Mrs Lilia Szyszko, the President of the easy to defi ne the limits of criticism of Maciej Miżejewski M. Żirowa M. Żirowa Conference participants – young people M. Miżejewski lecturing M. Żirowa, M. Miżejewski from the Polish Association and R. Bar in Sankt Petersburg and W. Gromowa (second from the right) NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 19 n 22 February 2010, the A. Wojnar OJagiellonian University hosted a delegation from Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, Ukraine. The delegation consisted of the Rector Prof. Stepan Melnychuk, Prof. Yurii Makar, the Director of the Institute of International Relations at the Faculty of History, Political Science and International Relations, and Dr. Yaroslav Redkva, the Director of International Relations. The main purpose of the visit was to get to know the JU and to sign a new agreement of co-operation, which would continue the collaboration that started in 2006. The Ukrainian visitors met the JU Rector Prof. Karol Musioł, the Vice-rector Prof. Szczepan Biliński, the Dean and the Vice-Dean of the Philological Faculty Prof. Marcela Świątkowska and Prof. Zofi a Berdychowska, the Director of Agreement of co-operation the Institute of East Slavonic Philology Prof. Grzegorz Przebinda and Prof. with Yuriy Fedkovych Adam Fałowski from the same institute, who initiated the collaboration. Chernivtsi National University The new agreement embraces the exchange of scientists, doctoral Economy. The research focuses on in the south-west of Ukraine, close students and MA students. It concerns the Ukrainian language and literature, to the Romanian border, in the city the Institute of East Slavonic Philology, Polish studies, social work, geological of Chernivtsi, the centre of Northern the Centre for Polish Language and studies of the Carpathians and the soil Bukovina. It has 16 faculties, over Culture in the World, the Institute of sciences. 20,000 students, 1,150 professors and 7 Psychology, the Botanical Garden and Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi research centres. the Institute of Geography and Space University, founded in 1875, is located M. Kantor

Biophysics Student Club NOBEL

he route to the Stockholm prize requires extraordinary Tknowledge, abilities and an enormous input of work…

Our Faculty gained 15 students Copyright Triplet of Biophysics, who are already now putting in all possible effort in order to enter onto this difﬁ cult path. The reactivation of the Biophysics Student Club, under the new graceful name of NOBEL, started in 2008. The acronym could be read as Natural Obsession for Biophysics Emanating from Laboratories. The academic overseer for the Nobelists is Dr. Jerzy Dobrucki.

Science Festival 2009

20 NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 The inaugurating round, organised by biophysicists from Poznań, took place in May. This allowed the most active of our Club’s members to go on an academic trip

Copyright Triplet and visit the sister faculty of Biophysics at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. The project had its ﬁ nale at the end of November at the Jagiellonian University’s Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, where our guests had the opportunity to take part in seminars and practical laboratory classes. However, co-operation itself with the Poznań biophysicists has not come to an end, for on the horizon loom other joint ideas. To make biophysics more popular among the high school students, we Science Festival 2009 – invoking interest in science in the youngest generation decided to answer the most often asked question: ‘What really is biophysics?’, and so we have started a series of lectures The ﬁ rst president of the reactivated entitled Meetings with Biophysics! To club was Patryk Kuleta, at the time a date we have been hosted by three high student of the 3rd year of biophysics. At schools (in Kraków and environments). the beginning of the current academic Remembering our own rebellious year 2009/2010 the new NOBEL board attitude to studying while at secondary was elected: its president is Paulina Rybak school, we were more than pleasantly (4th year student), the function of vice- surprised by the lively reaction on the president is performed by Maciej Bratek part of the young and the genuine interest (2nd year) while the funds are administered in the subject we presented. by Joanna Kwiatek (4th year). every day in the kitchen, a whole array We are aware that a lot of work still The members of NOBEL meet on of colours – plant dyes. The rainbow of lies ahead of us as well as challenges Wednesdays – in the very middle of testers caught the attention of visiting – those every day and those more the work week. Besides the friendly adults and children alike. extraordinary, but we have also the hope atmosphere, an important fact is that Under the presidency of Patryk that our NOBEL is on the right route to freshmen as well as older students Kuleta, combining strength and zeal a Nobel. are involved in the organisation of the with students from other parts of particular projects to various degrees. Poland, First Biophysics Student Agnieszka Pierzyńska-Mach Despite the fact that the Club has Exchange Programme was launched. Agnieszka Grabowiecka only been in existence for a short time we have already managed to take part in several important undertakings. One should note that many of these have been conducted in association

with the Departments and Copyright Triplet Laboratories of our Faculty. The ﬁ rst important event for the Club was its presence at the annual Science Festival. At the Main Market Square, amongst historians staging battles, and students of culture teaching Asiatic dances, there stood our Faculty’s tent full of a ‘ﬁ eld laboratory’. The Biophysics Student Club organised a stand on which the cosmic looking pipettes, bottles and beakers with their mysterious liquids allowed one to extract from the plants and vegetables used On our way to a trip around Poznań in an ancient tram

NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 21 R. Voncken

IRUN student ambassadors at JU

A long time ago in a kingdom far, far it even more attractive for students to in close contact with both the Polish away, two young explorers were given a study at a foreign university. It is an and the international students. After our special task. Coming from the oldest city exciting and fulfi lling period of your life; registration at the International Student of their country, they were sent to the you gain personal development through Offi ce, the Erasmus Student Network unknown east. After a long and heroic cultural experience, you have the option (ESN) organized an Orientation Week for journey they fi nally arrived at their fi nal to specialize or broaden your study, it all the incoming students. In this week, destination, the magical medieval city of looks good on your curriculum vitae, we met a lot of other students from all Kraków situated at the banks of Poland’s and of course, during this adventure over Europe and also from other parts of main river. So what was the mission that you will make many international the world. We did some nice sightseeing brought these two brave young men to friendships. And we are experiencing all tours in the old city and Kazimierz and this cold and unknown region? these benefi ts right now. we discovered the university library. The two explorers are IRUN We are really positive about both We had a lot of fun during a paintball ambassadors studying at the Radboud our fi rst weeks as exchange students as session in the basement of an old hotel University Nijmegen in the Netherlands. well as the way we were welcomed as and of course we didn’t miss the famous This spring semester we are studying Kraków nightlife. It was an intensive at the Jagiellonian University as Roger and Rick but really useful and interesting week Erasmus students. From the last winter were we made a lot of new friends; a semester, the Radboud University perfect basis for a wonderful spring began to train exchange students to semester in Kraków. It was good become IRUN ambassadors. During to see the ESN team putting a lot their study period at an IRUN of effort in making everything as partner it is our task to promote the comfortable as possible for us. We International Research Universities will defi nitely take these experiences Network as well as our own university. back home and follow their example With this purpose we co-operate when exchange students will visit with the partner’s International our university! Offi ce, e.g. to give a presentation at And now the classes have started, an event promoting studying abroad. the reason why we are actually here. Furthermore, as ambassadors, we In these classes we really experience keep a weblog about our experiences R. Voncken the advantages of studying abroad. in Kraków. These weblogs can We discuss various topics with be found on the website of IRUN. In IRUN ambassadors. The fi rst time we international students and lecturers. this way, we hope to encourage other visited the offi ce of the JU International These intercultural meetings are a real students to follow our example and to Relations we were warmly welcomed enrichment to our study programme. It is spend some months at an IRUN partner by Mrs. Maria Kantor, who told us a lot good to see that the level of the courses university. Personal contact with the about the university and the ambitious we are following is so high and that local students is, therefore, essential in plans lying ahead. Besides that, she most of the students are very motivated. achieving our goal. introduced us to other staff involved We are looking forward to classes still It is obvious that science is not bound in student exchange and international to come and of course all the interesting by national borders. In a globalizing relations, a good starting point for our discussions we will have. We are sure world it is important that students are ambassadorship in Kraków! we will have a semester never to forget, prepared for international careers. Of course, we are not only and hopefully, many other students will Studying abroad is, therefore, becoming ambassadors; we enjoy the Erasmus decide to do the same at one of the IRUN more and more important. Going abroad student life as well! After all, the best universities! to one of the IRUN members makes way to promote our university is to stay Rick de Jong & Roger Voncken

22 NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 Fifth Academic Carol Concert A. Wojnar olish and international classic Christmas carols sounded in the hall of Auditorium Maximum of the Jagiellonian PUniversity on 16 January 2010. It was the Fifth Academic Carol Concert that gathered several hundreds of scholars, students and inhabitants of the oldest academic city in Poland. The concert was held under the patronage of the JU Rector and the President of Kraków. The performers embraced ﬁ ve choirs and one orchestra. These were: the Choir of the Philosophical-Pedagogical Higher School ‘Ignatianium’, the P. Szeptyński conducting the Choir ‘Cantata’ Choir of the University of Agriculture in Kraków, the Choirs of the John Paul II Pontiﬁ cal University, the ‘Cantata’ Choir of the Kraków University of Technology, the ‘Camerata Iagellonica’ Academic Choir of the Jagiellonian University, the Polish Radio Choir and the orchestra of the AGH University A. Wojnar of Science and Technology. The programme consisted of the well known Polish carols as well as the highlanders’ Christmas joyous songs. Naturally, the programme could not lack the Polish version of the famous carol ‘Silent night’. The AGH representative orchestra, dressed in colourful gala costumes, played ‘Jingle bells’ and ‘White Christmas’. The professional Polish Radio Choir performed ‘La Nuit de Noël’ (arr. Jean Baptiste de Bousset – 1662-1725), ‘A la nanita nana’ (arr. Mario Acebedo) and ‘A ty, Betlejem’ – Christmas Oratory by Hubert Kowalski, with the soloists L. Pociecha (soprano) and H. Poczykowska (alt). Polish Radio Choir Finally, one should mention Mr Grzegorz Mielczarek, an actor of the Słowacki Theatre in Kraków, who was the master G. Mielczarek – the master of ceremony of ceremony of the concert. M. Kantor O. Sznicar conducting the JU Choir ‘Camerata Iagellonica’ A. Wojnar

Orchestra of the AGH University of Science and Technology A. Wojnar

NEWS letter No. 40 Winter / Spring 2010 23 A. Wojnar Guinness longest lecture of Errol Tapiwa Muzawazi

rrol Tapiwa Muzawazi from who through his/her activities enriched community’, said Waldemar Siwiński, Zimbabwe, a student of law, is a the academic environment and built the Chairman of the Foundation. Ereal star among the international bridges among cultures. Errol is part Errol Tapiwa Muzawazi is also students of the Jagiellonian University. of the large community of over 16,000 known for his attempt to make Guinness In 2009 he won the special award foreign students in Poland. The award records for the longest lecture. His last granted by the President of the Students’ ceremony was held in Warsaw on 7 (the fourth) successful attempt began Parliament and the Chairman of the November 2009. ‘The fi rst contest was on 9 December at 12 p.m. and lasted Educational Foundation ‘Perspektywy’ symbolic because it makes us all aware 121 hours, i.e. almost six days and in the fi rst contest ‘InterSTUDENT’ for that international students have become nights! 59 students from 17 countries the best international student in Poland an integral part of the Polish academic were involved in organising this long lecture and the JU Rector Prof. Karol Musioł took the honorary patronage over this event. The theme of Errol’s lecture was various political systems. He also answered the questions of the listeners who gathered in the Auditorium Maximum of the Jagiellonian University. The whole lecture was broadcast on the JU webpage. Two days after beating the record Errol formulated his theory of will consisting of 5 factors: courage, faith, motivation, determination, sacrifi ce. Certainly, all these features help him study law and initiate numerous endeavours. Perhaps the best conclusion of his extraordinary achievement is the words of one of the encouraging banners ‘Even sky is not a limit for you’. A. Wojnar Congratulations to Errol! 24 NEWS letter No. 40Errol Winter conducting / Spring his lecture 2010 M. Kantor