Dr Agata Zysiak deals with historical sociology, she works at the University of Lodz and the University of Vienna. Locally she popularises the history of Lodz in the Topography Association. Dr Agata Zysiak is the author of an award-winning book about the socialist university and post-war social advancement "Punkty za pochodzenie" [Points for Social Origin] (2016), and the co-author of the main publication about Lodz available in English "From Cotton and Smoke Industrial City and Discourses of Asynchronous Modernity 1897–1994" (2018).
What inspired you to become a scientist?
Amazement, an attempt to understand the reality around me: apparent contradictions, simplifications, perceptions of the world.
What impact does your work have on the surrounding reality?
My research pertains to the recent history. I try to understand our recent past and propose a story about it. I am less interested in specific dates and more in social processes. They help us understand what kind of world we live in today – and why.
How do you understand the term: profession of a scientist?
I wish I could answer that it should be an ordinary job, which, for example, ends at a specific time and does not apply beyond certain hours. The academy promises a lot, but also requires a lot: on the one hand, it tempts with its missionary nature and fulfilment of one’s passion. On the other hand, it tries to subordinate the entire life of a researcher– in this case, the work never ends. The trick is to find a balance.
More information about Dr Agata Zysiak’s work
The book "Wielki przemysł, wielka cisza Łódzkie zakłady przemysłowe 1945–2000" in open-access on the website of the Lodz University Press – download
Nagroda za książkę o początkach UŁ [Award for the book about the beginnings of the University of Lodz] (in Polish)
Złoty Exlibris dla publikacji o przemysłowej Łodzi [Golden Exlibris for publications about industrial Lodz] (in Polish)
Ziemia nieobiecana [Unpromised Land] (Tygodnik Powszechny) (in Polish)
Source: Dr Agata Zysiak (Department of Rural and Urban Sociology, Faculty of Economics and Sociology)
Edit: Michał Gruda (Comunications and PR Centre, University of Lodz)
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