„I am an astronomer, you are economists, and Copernicus was both. I hope that the Copernican Academy will succeed in instilling this spirit, especially in the younger generation.”
Prof. Krzysztof Górski
Secretary General of the Copernican Academy
From September 1st to 4th in Greece, the International Economics Olympiad (IEO) took place. It was attended by 100.000 representatives from 22 countries.
The Polish team of high school students was unmatched, taking first place in both the individual and team categories.
The Olympiad was won by Szymon Jackowski from the XIV High School named after Stanisław Staszic in Warsaw, earning the title of the best young economist in the world.
Gold was also claimed by Jan Baranowski from the Public High School of the University of Łódź in Łódź.
Silver medals were awarded to:
Patrycja Smentoch from the Good Education Academy named after Maciej Płażyński in Gdańsk, Wiktor Kocur from the Saint Mary Magdalene High School in Poznań, and Szymon Sobiech from the I High School named after Stanisław Staszic in Lublin.
On October 10, 2024, the Copernican Academy hosted a ceremony honoring the IEO laureates at its headquarters. The gold and silver medalists received congratulatory letters and gifts. The Polish Economic Society, which prepares the Polish Olympic team each year received a congratulatory letter. The Academy honored the scientists particularly involved in this success with small tokens of appreciation.
Guests of the event included: Ms. Ewa Trybuchowicz – Director of the National Board Office of the Polish Economic Society, and Dr. Mikołaj Handschke, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at SGMK. The ceremony was chaired by the Secretary General of the Copernican Academy, Prof. Krzysztof Górski, who, while congratulating the laureates, said:
“I am an astronomer, you are economists, and Copernicus was both. I hope that the Copernican Academy will succeed in instilling this spirit, especially in the younger generation. We aim to nurture a multidisciplinary approach. I hope we will combine educational and academic interests in both scientific, economic, legal, and other fields within the five thematic departments of the Academy and School.”
Dr. Mikołaj Handschke noted: “You are proof that Poles are pioneers and top students in many fields worldwide, and that we have nothing to be shy about. SGMK is a school that will strive to support, identify, and educate individuals like you.”
At the end of his speech, the Vice-Dean of SGMK invited the laureates to pursue doctoral and postdoctoral studies at SGMK.
Ms. Ewa Trybuchowicz said:
“I would like to sincerely thank the Copernican Academy, its Secretary General, Professor Krzysztof Górski, and the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management at SGMK – Dr. Mikołaj Handschke – for awarding and presenting prizes to our gold and silver medalists. Thank you for recognizing and appreciating their success, both in Poland and internationally. It should be emphasized that this year’s victory is historic and will be remembered, because you – the young representatives of Poland in economics – impressed the International Olympiad Committee with your level of knowledge. The fact that all of our representatives won medals shows the high level of the winners of the National Economic Knowledge Olympiad.”
At the end of the ceremony, the laureates were given a surprise. They were invited to the Nicolaus Copernicus Superior School, where, in the company of the Secretary General of the Academy and the Vice-Dean of SGMK, they attended a brief lecture on Copernicus as an economist, delivered by
Mr. Robert Szaj from the Nicolaus Copernicus Foundation. The ceremony concluded with a meeting between the laureates and Prof. Gertruda Uścińska, Rector of the Nicolaus Copernicus Superior School, who expressed her gratitude to the laureates and presented a token of recognition to the Polish Economic Society.
