Dr Tomasz Napierała is a geographer and an economist. His research includes, among other things: spatial aspects of price competition in tourist services, as well as the assessment of tourist attractiveness, sustainable development, social and spatial justice in rural areas.
What inspired you to become a scientist?
The opportunity to realize one’s own ideas and professional dreams, without having to compromise with the employer. Thanks to my scientific work, I can deal with issues that I consider important and interesting. Additionally, I was inspired by people – Prof. Marin Bachvarov, who got me involved in his research and writing joint scientific texts when I was a student and my parents – without their support I would not have decided to work at the university.
What impact does your work have on the surrounding reality?
On the one hand, it is the impact through the work with students! When we share our knowledge and values with future specialists, we indirectly influence what the future will look like. On the other hand, practical projects – it gives me great joy when practitioners and I find common interests and engage in research, publications or projects together. As geographers, we propose solutions that make our functioning in space more responsible. After all, this is our common space, we will have no other space.
How do you understand the term: profession of a scientist?
I will answer with a quote from the "Chernobyl" series, in which Jared Harris as Valeri Legasov says: "To be a scientist is to be naive. We are so focused on our search for truth, we fail to consider how few actually want us to find it. But it is always there, whether we see it or not, whether we choose to or not. The truth doesn’t care about our needs or wants. It doesn’t care about our governments, our ideologies, our religions. It will lie in wait, for all time". From my perspective, true science is only possible in conditions of uninhibited freedom.
More information about Dr Tomasz Napierała’s work
Wykorzystanie nowych technologii i informacji do opisu przestrzeni turystycznej [The use of new technologies and information to describe tourism space]
Impact of Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 Cases on Hotel
Scientific achievements
Source: Dr Tomasz Napierała (Institute of Urban Geography, Tourism Studies and Geoinformation, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, University of Lodz)
Edit: Michał Gruda (Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz)
The mission of the University of Lodz is to conduct reliable research and actively disseminate facts and research results so as to wisely educate future generations, be useful to society and courageously respond to the challenges of the modern world. Scientific excellence is always our best compass. Our values include: courage, curiosity, commitment, cooperation and respect.