The visit of the delegation from the Akademia Kopernikańska began with an official meeting with the Mayor of Lidzbark Warmiński, Mr Jacek Wiśniowski, at the City Hall. During the discussions, the details of the visit’s programme were reviewed, along with preparations for the lecture session scheduled for the following day. The meeting also included the signing of a cooperation and academic support agreement between the Academy and the City—an important step forward in promoting the heritage and scholarship of Nicolaus Copernicus.
At the same time, agreements were concluded with the principals of two Lidzbark schools—Primary School No. 1 named after Nicolaus Copernicus and the General Secondary School named after Kazimierz Jagiellończyk—regarding the donation of the educational exhibition “Nicolaus Copernicus – A Pilgrimage to the Stars.”
As a gesture of appreciation for the city’s commitment to promoting Copernicus’s legacy, Paweł Derecki, head of the delegation, presented the Mayor with reprints of two of the scholar’s seminal works: De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres) and Monetae cudendae ratio (Treatise on the Minting of Coin). The meeting was also attended by Ms Małgorzata Jackiewicz-Garniec, Curator of the Castle of the Warmian Bishops, and Ms Danuta Łasek, Principal of Primary School No. 1, who is actively engaged in the development of Copernican education in the region.
The delegation then visited Primary School No. 1 to formally donate the educational exhibition “Nicolaus Copernicus – A Pilgrimage to the Stars,” consisting of 12 roll-up panels. The school also received a complete set of reprints of Copernicus’s works. The Principal guided the guests through the school, introducing teachers of the exact sciences and natural sciences who passionately promote knowledge of Copernicus among their students.
The day concluded with a visit to the Zamek Biskupów Warmińskich—one of the most significant sites in Copernicus’s biography. It was here that Copernicus arrived shortly after earning his doctorate in canon law to assume duties alongside his uncle, the Bishop of Warmia, Łukasz Watzenrode. During nearly a decade in Lidzbark, he practised as a physician, conducted intensive astronomical observations, and deepened his knowledge of mathematics and economics. Owing to his youth and intellectual vitality, this was likely the most productive period of his scientific activity. The tour was conducted under the guidance of the Curator, who introduced the guests to the history of the castle and its significance in the life of the great astronomer. A set of reprints of Copernicus’s works was also formally presented to the Castle.
The meetings and discussions of the first day constituted an important stage in the preparations for Tuesday’s academic session and reflected the excellent cooperation between the Academy and local institutions, jointly committed to promoting the legacy of Nicolaus Copernicus.
Finally, we invite you to watch the interview “Between the Stars and the School Desk”—a conversation with Mr Jacek Drążkowski, MSc, a physics and computer science teacher and a graduate in astronomy from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. For many years associated with the General Secondary School named after Kazimierz Jagiellończyk, he currently teaches at Primary School No. 1 named after Nicolaus Copernicus in Lidzbark Warmiński. In the interview, he shares how he pursues his passion for astronomy—both in his work with young people and beyond his pedagogical activities.
A creative mind, passion, and curiosity about the world—Mr Jacek Drążkowski represents a contemporary example of a teacher who continues the legacy of Copernicus, inspiring young people to explore the universe.