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Honours for outstanding individuals
On 19 February, during the University Day celebrations, special university honours were awarded: Convallaria Coperniacana and Laurus Aesculapii. Dr Cecylia Iwaniszewska and prof. dr habil. Ryszard Oliński received them for their outstanding contribution to the development of science and our university.
Convallaria Coperniacana and Laurus Aesculapii are two special awards granted by the Senate of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the university, both in scientific and organisational terms.
The first of these was established in 2004, and the originator of the name, referring to the lily of the valley held in Nicolaus Copernicus's hand in several portraits, was... this year's laureate, dr Cecylia Iwaniszewska. The first graduate of astronomy at the Nicolaus Copernicus University, a long-time employee of the Astronomical Observatory, social activist and populariser of science, she was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the development of astronomy in Toruń and its promotion on the world scene, as well as for her services to the Nicolaus Copernicus University. The award was received on behalf of dr Iwaniszewska by her son, Prof. Jan Iwaniszewski.
The Laurus Aesculapii award, established in 2024 on the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz and the 20th anniversary of its merging with the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, went to prof. dr habil. Ryszard Oliński this year.
He is one of the organisers of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz, founder of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation at the Medical Academy in 1991-1996, and from 2012 to 2016 – Rector's Plenipotentiary for Science and International Cooperation. Prof. Oliński's research focuses primarily on the pathogenesis of cancer and the use of molecular biology, genomics and proteomics methods for its early detection, as well as the development of new methods for the treatment of malignant tumours. He received the award for his outstanding contribution to the development and popularisation of the achievements of the NCU Collegium Medicum and for his overall scientific, teaching and organisational achievements.
Dr Cecylia Iwaniszewska, née Łubieńska, was born on 24 November 1928 in Warsaw. She graduated from the Nicolaus Copernicus Secondary School in Bydgoszcz. In December 1945, she began studying mathematics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. She became interested in astronomy under the influence of Prof. Wilhelmina Iwanowska. She graduated as the first graduate of the astronomy programme. In her third year of studies, she began working at the Department of Astrophysics as an assistant. She actively participated in the creation of the Astronomical Observatory in Piwnice, taking part in the installation of the first telescope at the Observatory – the Draper astrograph. The observations made using the telescope became the basis for her doctoral thesis, defended in November 1959 and written under the supervision of Prof. Wilhelmina Iwanowska. It was the second doctorate in astronomy at the Nicolaus Copernicus University.
After defending her doctoral thesis, she worked as an adjunct professor and then as a senior lecturer. At the turn of the 1960s and 1970s, she was very active in the preparations for the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus' birth; she gave a series of lectures, published a book and many articles, and edited works by other authors. She also participated in the organisation of the extraordinary Congress of the International Astronomical Union in Toruń in 1973. From 1980 to 1984, she served as deputy director of the Institute of Astronomy. She retired in 1989, but continued to teach until 2007.
Dr Cecylia Iwaniszewska's main research interests were astrophysics and stellar astronomy, later the history of astronomy and culture, and the teaching of astronomy. She published 15 scientific papers in specialist English-language journals, over 150 popular science articles and reports in Polish, French, English, Spanish and Czech. As an editor, author or co-author, she published five books. She has made several longer visits to foreign universities (Strasbourg, Hyderabad) and many shorter trips to conferences and lectures (East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Spain, Mexico, Germany, the USA, Great Britain, Italy, Germany). Since 1958, she has been a member of the International Astronomical Union, where she has been very active in the work of the Commission on Astronomy Education (she was its president from 1985 to 1988).
Dr Cecylia Iwaniszewska was actively involved in many organisations and associations. She is a member of the Polish Astronomical Society (since 2023, she has been its Honorary Member), the Polish Society of Astronomy Enthusiasts, the Scientific Society in Toruń (since 2024, as an Honorary Member) , the Toruń Enthusiasts Society, the Catholic Intelligentsia Club (she was its president from 1994 to 2017) and the Nicolaus Copernicus University Alumni Association (in 2010, she became its first Honorary Member).
Dr Iwaniszewska has received numerous awards from the authorities of the Nicolaus Copernicus University, including the Medal for Services to the Development of the University. She is the recipient of numerous state and local government awards and distinctions. The most important of these are the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Gold Cross of Merit, the Medal of the National Education Commission, the Distinguished Cultural Activist Badge, the silver and gold medals 'Unitas Durat Palatinatus Cuiaviano-Pomeraniensis' from the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship, the Honorary Medal 'For Services to the City of Toruń' on a Ribbon from the City Council of Toruń, the Honorary Medal of the Mayor of Toruń 'Thorunium', as well as the Award of the Mayor of Toruń in the category of National Heritage Protection.
Cecylia Iwaniszewska has two sons, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Prof. dr habil. Ryszard Oliński has been employed at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum since 1988. He was one of the organisers of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz. He created and organised the Department of Clinical Biochemistry from scratch.
In 1991-1996, he was the Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation at the Ludwik Rydygier Medical Academy in Bydgoszcz, and from 2012 to 2016, he served as the NCU Rector's Plenipotentiary for Science and International Cooperation.
The Professor's interests and scientific achievements concern the pathogenesis of cancer and the use of molecular biology, genomics and proteomics methods for its early detection, as well as the development of new methods for the treatment of malignant tumours. In particular, he has studied the role of oxygen free radicals in the development and pathogenesis of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, the assessment of changes in antioxidant enzyme activity and nitrogen base damage in cellular DNA, the analysis of DNA repair products and vitamins with antioxidant properties, and the verification of the principles of production and use of foods rich in natural antioxidants in terms of their health-promoting effects. In recent years, his interests have focused on the processes of DNA methylation and active demethylation and the significance of these processes in the pathogenesis of human diseases.
For many years, Professor Ryszard Oliński has led a team conducting research on the role of oxidative DNA damage in carcinogenesis and other human diseases. The team was the first to demonstrate that there is significantly more oxidative DNA damage in cancerous tissues than in normal tissues (FEBS Lett. 1992 and 1994).
Today, this is a widely accepted fact, confirmed by over 8,000 citations of scientific articles co-authored by the Professor.
Ryszard Oliński has participated in numerous grants, including international ones; two under the Polish-American Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fund, three financed by the European Union, and over 20 financed by KB, MNiSW, and NCN. He is the author of many publications with a high impact factor and high citation rate.
Professor Oliński has been awarded several individual prizes by the Minister of Health for his outstanding scientific achievements, has twice received the Medical Sciences Team Award from the Polish Academy of Sciences, and is also a recipient of an FNP professorial grant in the field of medical sciences..
He has supervised over a dozen doctoral theses. Three doctoral students have received FNP scholarships under the Start programme. Six members of staff have obtained their postdoctoral degrees in the department he has headed.
