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We are pleased to announce that during the Ceremonial Scientific Session of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences (PAU), held in Kraków on November 16 this year, two representatives of our Institute were honored with membership, in accordance with the resolution of the PAU General Assembly adopted on June 17 this year.
Prof. Dr. Jean Poesen, a professor at UMCS and an emeritus professor of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), was elected as a foreign member. Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Hab. Maria Łanczont, an emeritus professor at UMCS and a volunteer at our university, was elected as an active member.
PHOTO and VIDEO REPORT from the Ceremonial Scientific Session of PAU - November 16, 2024
Prof. Dr. Jean Poesen, a distinguished physical geographer and geomorphologist, conducts extensive research on hillslope and reservoir sediment dynamics, soil degradation and erosion, their environmental determinants, and methods for mitigating these processes. He is also engaged in studies of hillslope hydrology, desertification processes, soil and water conservation, and experimental geomorphology. Prof. Poesen has participated in over one hundred research projects, many of which were carried out during numerous study visits across 47 countries on five continents. His scientific collaboration with UMCS staff is longstanding and fruitful. For his outstanding scientific achievements, he has been awarded several honors, including the Alexander von Humboldt Medal by the European Geosciences Union (EGU) and the David Linton Medal by the British Society for Geomorphology. In 2014, Prof. Jean Poesen received an honorary doctorate from UMCS. His academic profile was presented by Prof. Dr. Hab. Maria Łanczont during the December meeting of PAU’s Division IV of Natural Sciences.
Prof. Dr. Hab. Maria Łanczont is a physical geographer, climatologist, and professor of Earth sciences specializing in geomorphology, geology, and Quaternary paleogeography. Her academic interests initially evolved from bioclimatic studies to morphometric analyses, culminating in her doctoral dissertation on morphometry, defended in 1980 under the supervision of Prof. Adam Malicki. Over time, her focus shifted to Quaternary geomorphology and paleogeography, particularly studies on loess deposits and their stratigraphy in Poland and Ukraine. These studies have played a pivotal role in understanding the sedimentological and paleoecological dynamics of the Carpathian and pericarpathian regions.
Prof. Łanczont's research has made significant contributions to the correlation of stratigraphic divisions and the reconstruction of environmental conditions in the Quaternary period. She has also developed an interest in geoarchaeology, studying the influence of the natural environment on the development of Paleolithic and Neolithic cultures in the Carpathians and their forelands. Her work provides valuable insights into the environmental determinants of settlement during the Pleistocene, based on comprehensive studies of loess archaeological sites. She has been the principal investigator or contributor to over 20 scientific grants, and her scientific output includes over 500 publications. In addition to her research activities, she has supervised numerous master’s and doctoral students and played a key role in organizing Polish-Ukrainian scientific collaboration, including field seminars on loess stratigraphy and glacial and periglacial processes.
Prof. Łanczont’s achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including her election as a corresponding member of PAU in 2009. Her scientific work highlights her significant role in advancing knowledge about environmental processes and Quaternary stratigraphy, as well as her commitment to interdisciplinary research and international collaboration. Her academic profile was presented by Prof. Dr. Hab. Andrzej Kostrzewski during the December meeting of PAU’s Division IV of Natural Sciences.
The Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences is one of the most prestigious scientific institutions in Poland, with a history dating back to 1872 when it was founded as the Academy of Arts and Sciences by a group of eminent scholars. After World War II, its activities were limited, but it was fully reactivated in 1989, restoring its prominent position in the academic world. PAU is not only a scientific institution but also a guardian of Poland’s intellectual heritage. Its mission is to advance science at the highest level and to popularize knowledge among a broad audience.
The Academy consists of six divisions: Philological, Historical-Philosophical, Mathematical-Technical Sciences, Natural Sciences, Medical Sciences, and Artistic Creativity. These divisions serve as interdisciplinary forums for the exchange of scientific ideas, organizing conferences and symposia and publishing numerous monographs and scientific journals. PAU plays a crucial role as a thought leader in the Polish and international scientific community, providing expert opinions and supporting innovative research.
Membership in PAU is an honor reserved for scientists whose contributions to the advancement of science are widely recognized. The Academy’s highest authority is the General Assembly, which includes full members (up to 27 per division), corresponding members (usually 36 per division, with a slight allowance for exceeding this limit), and foreign members, who are distinguished scientists from outside Poland. Candidates for membership are selected based on their scientific achievements and recommendations from other scholars, further emphasizing the prestige of this institution.
PAU’s publishing activity is essential for the popularization of science. The Academy publishes monograph series as well as journals, including "Rozprawy i Sprawozdania PAU" (PAU Proceedings and Reports). Its publications are highly regarded both nationally and internationally, contributing to the dissemination of research findings and fostering the exchange of ideas.
PAU also engages in extensive international collaboration, maintaining contacts with numerous scientific institutions worldwide. Its foreign members represent diverse fields of knowledge, underscoring the Academy’s international character. PAU’s activities in research and collaboration significantly impact scientific development and the preservation of intellectual heritage, making it one of the most important academic centers in Poland.
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