The Copernican Academy enjoys the recognition of the international community and members of the Academy from all over the world, emphasised the Minister of Education and Science, Przemysław Czarnek, during a gala ceremony at the Royal Castle.
On Tuesday 20 June, the first ever Copernican Prizes were awarded at the Royal Castle in Warsaw – prizes awarded by the Presidium of the Copernican Academy, which are a form of recognition for the achievements of researchers pushing the boundaries of previous knowledge of mankind.
Czarnek: If you do something good, you have to face problems
During the gala ceremony, the Minister of Education and Science, Przemysław Czarnek, took the floor and emphasised the importance of the Academy’s work. – ‘We are all the time in the Copernican Year and one of the very important moments of this year is today’s celebration,’ said the Minister.
– On 19 February we established, by the decision of President Andrzej Duda, the Copernicus Academy and since then – in just four months – a lot has happened at the Academy and the Nicolaus Copernicus University. Colleges of economics, management, medicine have been established – more colleges are waiting to be established,” the politician further emphasised.
– It is the work of a whole group of people, a work that has a great chance in the next 20 years of the Copernican programme to raise European and world science to new heights. No wonder, then, that this work is accompanied by difficulties,” explained Czarnek.
– Once, in a conversation with a pastor, I complained about various difficulties or problems and he instructed me that there are no such good things behind which there are not some bad deeds. If you are doing something good and you don’t get into problems, then ask yourself if what you are doing is actually good, because if it is good, then you must be facing problems. That is the nature of good and bad,” the minister added.
Distinction for the winners and for the Academy
The Minister for Education and Science then emphasised the importance of the award being presented, but also the distinction of Prof Peebles and Prof Barish accepting the award for the Academy.
– I want to congratulate the Secretary General and the Rector of Nicolaus Copernicus University for this achievement, for what has already happened in these last months. This is a good start to go into the future and realise what is in front of the Copernicus University in these at least 20 years,” said Czarnek.
– There are some awards that are a great honour for the laureates, but there are also some laureates who are an honour for the award and for those who establish and pass on the award. I for one am convinced that today we are dealing with these two situations at the same time,” the minister added.
