Throughout the last 10 years as many as 577 applications from the University of Lodz for the amount of nearly PLN 176 million were accepted for financing as part of competitions organized by the National Science Centre. We are, among others, one of the first three universities in Poland in terms of applications funded as part of MINIATURA competition (101).
The number of applications qualified for funding in the following competitions is also encouraging: PRELUDE (137), OPUS (219), SONATA (55). We are also present in almost all other competitions announced by the Centre, such as: BEETHOVEN, BEETHOVEN LIFE, DAINA, ETIUDA, FUGA, HARMONIA, MAESTRO, POLONEZ, POLS, SONATA BIS, SONATINA.
The grants awarded by NCN enabled researchers from the University of Lodz to implement ambitious projects and single scientific activities. It is worth emphasizing that behind each awarded grand there is a single man with their individual story of success. Selected examples of projects that were implemented thanks to the NCN grants have been listed in a special jubilee publication (in Polish). The publication, on page 110 presents the success story of dr Monika Kujawska, an ethnologist from the Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Lodz. Dr Kujawska tells about her research entitled "Local knowledge of the use of medicinal and edible plants in South America", which she obtained funds for as part of OPUS competition.
Organising the 'NCN Days' at the University of Lodz in 2019, an event addressed to the entire Polish scientific community, should be also be recalled.
Let’s celebrate together online
Celebration of the 10th anniversary of NCN will be broadcast live on the website of the National Science Centre, on the NCN profile on Facebook and on the YouTube channel. During the conference also a special app will be launched, which will make it possible to comment and ask questions. Details of the event are available on the website: 10 years of NCN and also in social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram with a hashtag #10yearsNCN.
"All scientists, universities, institutes as well as institutions associated with science are welcome to join our jubilee celebration. We encourage you to take part in the events and publish materials and posts related to the successes of scientists who have been winners of NCN competitions with a hashtag: #10yearsNCN"
- Anna Korzekwa-Józefowicz, NCN spokesperson.
The Jubilee celebration
The NCN Jubilee will last two days. On 9 September in the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Krakow a gala will be held. The programme of the event includes:
• a lecture of prof. Åsa Wikforss Science Denial in the Post-Truth Era. Prof. Wikforss is a philosopher from the Stockholm University, member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Swedish Academy as well as a member of Academia Europaea and an author of, among others, a best-seller „Alternative Facts on Knowledge and Its Enemies”,
• concert of SINFONIETTA CRACOVIA Orchestra of the Royal Capital City of Krakow conducted by Edmon Levon.
On 10 September the International Cultural Centre in Krakow will host a conference, whose attendees will discuss science in times of pandemic and the policy of Open Access. Presentations by the winners of NCN competitions, who will talk about the implemented projects and opportunities that the grants open will constitute a separate part of the event.
What is the National Science Centre?
NCN has been appointed to support scientific activity in the field of basic research, i.e., research that aims at obtaining new knowledge on the basics of phenomena and observed facts, without the objective of direct commercial application. The mission of NCN is to improve the quality and efficiency of research and act to increase the significance of Polish science in the international arena.
The official inauguration of the Centre activity took place on 4 March 2011. Several days later, it announced its first four competitions.
NCN regularly announces competitions for research projects, doctoral scholarships and postdoctoral internships. Together with the German Max Planck Society (MPG) it runs the DIOSCURI programme aiming at creation of Centres of Scientific Excellence in Poland. NCN is also a coordinator of CHANSE and QuantERA programmes which are implemented in cooperation with other European institutions that finance scientific research thanks to the use of European Union funds from the Horizon 2020 programme. It is also an operator of the ‘Research’ area in the field of basic research, which is financed from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norwegian funds.
The NCN competitions are addressed to all researchers regardless of their age, exerience and the unit where they work. During more than a decade the Centre organised 200 competitions, awarded more than 23 thousand grants and passed nearly PLN 11 billion to researchers. Examples of projects implemented thanks to the NCN grants are presented in the special Jubilee publication.
Source: NCN Press Office, Research Centre, UL
Edit: Promotion Centre, UL