„It may be that the next Copernican revolution will lie in the discovery that, afterall, we are, in some sense, special, although not in terms of place, but time; that we live in an era, in which we are capable of asking ultimate questions. Perhaps that is the way in which the legacy of Copernicus works – it is not ending, but, instead, still just begins.”
prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Górski, NCA Journal
The NCA Journal is a popular-science periodical aiming to view the legacy of Nicolaus Copernicus not as a closed chapter in history, but as a continually relevant way of thinking, based in curiosity, observation, questioning, verification of hypotheses, and the courage to challenge what we think obvious when reasonable doubts arise. Our goal is to bring our readers closer to the achievements and scholarly work of the members of the Copernican Academy, as well as to popularize contemporary knowledge in the five Copernican fields.
The first issue of the NCA Journal is comprised of seven articles, published in three languages (Polish, English, and German). Therein, we regard Copernicus from several perspectives – not only as an astronomer, but also a lawyer, an economist, and exceptionally talented and effective administrator. Articles on Copernicus are interspersed with texts illustrating the development of astronomy and contemporary scientific research, providing a broader picture of this field, so profoundly influenced by the revolutionary ideas of this versatile scholar.
Dr. Mariusz Andrzejewski writes about Nicolaus as a pioneer of monetary policy, Dr. Witold Mazurek discusses the role played by Copernicus in the defence of Olsztyn, and Damian Zawada explores the scholar’s connections to the Bishops’ Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński. Jagoda Semków presents an intriguing account of the search for, as well as identification and reburial of Copernicus’s remains in Frombork.
The section on astronomy includes articles: by Prof. Krzysztof Górski – discussing changes in the methods of observing and understanding the Universe, by Prof. Marek Sarna – concerning the development of observational instruments and techniques, and by Prof. Leszek Roszkowski – on the emerging Astrocent institute (the first of its kind in Poland and that part of Europe) and research in the field of particle astrophysics.
We cordially invite you to read the first issue of the NCA Journal.
