“A combination of curiosity and patience” — Professors J. Waluk, R. Szmigielski, and P. Garstecki honored with the Minister of Science Award

During the Polish Science Gala, held on February 20, 2026, at the Polish Theatre in Warsaw, outstanding researchers and teams whose scientific, educational, implementation, and organizational achievements set the highest standards and directions for the country’s development were honored. Among the awardees were three representatives of the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (IChF).

Prof. Jacek Waluk — Head of research group No. 29, Photophysics and spectroscopy of photoactive systems — received the award for lifetime scientific achievement.

Asked about the significance of this distinction, he said:
 “I treat it as a pleasant complement to my scientific work.”

When asked what is essential for achieving success and a sense of fulfillment in science, he indicated that it is a “combination of curiosity and patience.”

To young researchers he offered a short but meaningful message:
“That they learn to combine these two qualities—preferably in a 1:1 ratio.”

He dedicated the award to his wife.

Prof. Rafał Szmigielski — Head of research group No. 17, Environmental Chemistry — was honored for educational achievements.

Asked how he felt receiving the award, he replied:

“I feel a tremendous surge of energy, confirming that it was worth devoting oneself to young people and that it is still worth doing so. Passing knowledge on to others is truly demanding work. You must know what you are talking about, and you must be prepared for questions—sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes difficult. What matters most, however, is to be yourself and not pretend to be an ‘important figure’ in front of people.”

He also emphasized:

“In teaching, the worst enemies are routine and intellectual stagnation. It is important to remain aware of what we say publicly and how we say it. Any falsehood or artificiality in your voice will be detected by the audience immediately. It is often worth stepping beyond established patterns and doing something that borders on madness. Above all, however, every listener should be treated as a living individual rather than an anonymous and undefined element of a crowd.”

Addressing young scientists and educators, he advised:

“If you undertake teaching, you must pursue science in parallel. The two are connected like the two banks of a river. One must constantly learn, discover new developments, and speak about them with the same passion that radiates from the face of Dr. Tulp in Rembrandt’s painting. And perhaps most importantly—you must like people and respect them.”

Asked to whom he dedicates the award, Prof. Szmigielski said:

“It is difficult to express in a single word. I believe the dedication should first go to members of my family, members of my research team, the management of IChF, and the deans of the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, as well as the Educational Publishing House Pazdro. I also dedicate the award to all my mentees—including my students, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students.”

Prof. Piotr Garstecki received the award for implementation achievements. Earlier in his career, he was awarded the prestigious ERC Starting Grant, which he carried out at our Institute while leading the research group No. 11 Microfluidics and Complex Fluids. Prof. Garstecki is the founder of the spin-off company Scope Fluidics and currently serves as the company’s CEO. In 2022, Scope Fluidics completed the largest transaction in Poland’s medtech sector, confirming that research developed at IChF can translate into tangible international technological and economic success.

The management and the entire community of the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences congratulate the laureates on this prestigious recognition. Their achievements demonstrate the vitality of scientific research in Poland and remain a source of inspiration for the scientific community.

Report and photos from the gala (in Polish):
https://www.gov.pl/web/nauka/gala-nauki-polskiej---wybitni-badacze-uhonorowani-nagroda-ministra

Profile photographs of Prof. R. Szmigielski and Prof. J. Waluk: Dr. Karol Karnowski

Photos from the gala: Ministry of Science and Higher Education