– These are outstanding scientists, astrophysicists and Nobel Prize winners, these are great friends of Poland,” said Tomasz Rzymkowski, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Government Plenipotentiary for the Development and Internationalisation of Education and Science, about the first winners of the Copernicus Awards.

On Tuesday 20 June, the first ever Copernican Awards were presented at the Royal Castle.The award, given by the Presidium of the Copernican Academy, is a form of recognition for the achievements of researchers who push the boundaries of previous knowledge of mankind.

The first prize winners were astronomer and cosmologist Prof. P. James E. Peebles and physicist Prof. Barry C. Barish.

– These are people with strong ties to Polish scientific and research centres who fully deserved this award, named after our most eminent scientist, a showpiece of Polish science, Nicolaus Copernicus,” commented the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Government Plenipotentiary for the Development and Internationalisation of Education and Science, Tomasz Rzymkowski, on the award.