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Nicolas Copernicus Medals for the COVID-19 Advisory Team

The Nicolaus Copernicus Medals were received by members of the interdisciplinary COVID-19 Advisory Team to the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences.This distinction is awarded by thePAS Presidium to scientists who have done great service for the research community in Poland.

2021 10 15 PAN medal kopernika

The COVID-19 Advisory Team has been operating since June 30, 2020. Experts monitor the course of the COVID-19 epidemic in Poland, analyze and predict its possible scenarios and put forward recommendations.

The laureateswere honored for theirwork in the COVID-19 Advisory Team to the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences, delivering report on the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease, and the preparation of 21 position statements on various aspects of the COVID-19 epidemic" – weread in the resolution of the PAS Presidium of 21 September 2021.On October 15, medals were awarded to: 

  • Prof. Krzysztof Pyrć 
  • Dr. Magdalena Rosińska, MD 
  • Dr. Tomasz Śmiatacz, MD 
  • Dr. Aneta Afelt 
  • Dr. Anna Ochab-Marcinek
  • Prof. Radosław Owczuk, MD 
  • Dr. Wojciech Paczos 
  • Dr. Anna Plater-Zyberk

medal kopernika portrety 2021 pan

Top row, from left to right: Prof. Krzysztof Pyrć, Dr. Magdalena Rosińska, MD, Dr. Tomasz Smiatacz, MD, Dr. Aneta Afelt. Bottom row, from left to right: Dr. Anna Ochab-Marcinek, Prof. Radosław Owczuk, MD, Dr. Wojciech Paczos, Dr. Anna Plater-Zyberk. Photo by T. Smiatacz, M. Kossowska. 

About the Team

The team's announcements are shaping the public debate about vaccines and the pandemic in Poland. So far, the team has published 22 detailed positionstatements in which it has made recommendations for public services and society at large.

The Position Statement No. 13 was presented in the United Nations report on the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum for Sustainable Development. This was the only voice from Polish institutionThe statement presents 8 lessons that we should follow to recover from the pandemic as soon as possible.

In addition, in September 2020, the Academy issued a report entitledUnderstanding COVID-19. Reportby the COVID-19 Advisory Team to the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences”.In an accessible manner, this document presentthe current state of knowledge about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, COVID-19 disease and its medical, psychological, economic and social impacts, and provideforecasts of the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations for citizens and institutions.

The team is chaired by Prof. Jerzy Duszyński, President of the PAS, with Prof. Krzysztof Pyrć (Jagiellonian University) as deputy chair and Dr. Anna Plater-Zyberk (Polish Academy of Sciences) as its secretary. It also  includes professors who are members of the Polish Academy of Sciences: prof. Małgorzata Kossowska and prof. Andrzej Rychard.

medal kopernika portrety 2021 pan drugie

From the left: Prof. Jerzy Duszyński, Prof. Małgorzata Kossowska, Prof. Andrzej Rychard. Photo by T. Smiatacz. 

Nicolaus Copernicus Medal of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Founded in 1969 medal isawarded by the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciencesfor outstanding scientific achievements to researchers not being Academy members that have contributed vastly to science in PolandCandidates for medals are proposed by the Academy Division or five Academy members. From the formal point of view, the motions are processed by the Medal Chapter presenting the recommendations of the PAS Presidium.