The awarding of honorary consul titles, prizes, and medals for outstanding contribution to the development of the university were the most important moments of Thursday's Celebration of Wrocław University of Science and Technology

The celebrations began with a holy mass and the unveiling of a plaque conferring an academic status to the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Then the participants walked to the Monument of Lviv Professors’ Martyrdom, located in Professor Idaszewski Square, where they paid homage to the murdered academics.

Next, on the plaque with the names of all the professors of our university since 1945, located in the Avenue of Professors, another five names were unveiled of scientists with professorial nominations received from the President of the Republic of Poland.

The following names had been placed on the plaque:

• Professor Wojciech Brzezowski from the Faculty of Architecture,
• Professor Witold Posadowski from the Faculty of Electronics of Microsystems and Photonics,
• Professor Robert Kudrawiec from the Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology,
• Professor Grzegorz Sęk from the Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology,
• Professor Marcin Mierzejewski from the Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology,

The Celebration of Wrocław University of Science and Technology was continued in the auditorium of the university’s main building. In his speech, the Rector of WUST presented the most important successes of our scientists in the last academic year, emphasising that their majority are young people’s achievements related to research carried out towards innovative solutions prepared for implementation.

During the ceremonial event, Professor Cezary Madryas mentioned the ongoing and planned investments related to the expansion of the campus of Wrocław University of Science and Technology. The GEO-3EM building at Na Grobli Street, now on the point of being completed, will serve the purpose of conducting research and development works focused on areas strategic from the point of view of Lower Silesia. The Na Grobli centre will also house a nanophotonic laboratory, already approved by the Senate of WUST, which the university wants to develop in cooperation with the University of Würzburg. There are also plans to create an international cooperation centre, whose employees will provide comprehensive services to students and guests from abroad, as the number of foreign students studying at our university has been growing significantly over the past two years.

The highlight if the ceremony was the awarding of the Medal of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology to Professor Aleksander Weron from the Faculty of Mathematics for his outstanding contribution to the development of the university.

Additionally, during the Celebration of Wrocław University of Science and Technology, grants of the Rector of WUST were awarded to outstanding employees in the categories of science and commercialisation. The award for outstanding achievements in the science category went to Mariusz Hasiak, PhD from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marcin Habrych, PhD, Eng from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, while Krzysztof Schabowicz, PhD, DSc, Eng, Professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering was awarded for his outstanding achievements in the area of commercialisation.

The Dionizy Smoleński Scientific Award of the Rector for outstanding scientific achievements, awarded to young researchers, was also granted at the ceremonial event. This year, Lech Sznitka, PhD, Eng from the Faculty of Chemistry was honoured for his outstanding scientific achievements in the field of technical sciences. For outstanding scientific achievements in the area of interdisciplinary sciences, the award went to Anna Musiał, PhD from the Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology.

The Special Scientific Award of the Rector of WUST was granted by Professor Cezary Madryas to Professor Tomasz Downarowicz from the Faculty of Mathematics (Hugo Steinhaus Scientific Award).

In the competition for the "Best Diploma of the Year" organised by the Marshal's Office, Hanna Orlikowska from the Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology was awarded among the graduates of the first cycle studies, and Hubert Stokowski - also from the Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology - among the graduates of the second cycle studies.

Since 2011, the rectors of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology have been awarding the prize named the Lions of Wrocław University of Science and Technology to university employees, regardless of their positions, who with their work, commitment, and ideas make the name of Wrocław University of Science and Technology famous and raise its prestige in the academic environment. The design of the statuette refers to the symbol of Lviv and emphasises WUST’s intellectual roots. So far it has been granted to by 24 people.

Three other WUST employees joined the prestigious group on November 15, 2018:

• Professor Roman Galar from the Faculty of Computer Science and Management;
• Kazimierz Pabisiak from the Division of Communal Facilities Management;
• Paweł Wanatowicz the Public Orders Office.

Moreover, the names of five new Honorary Consuls of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology were announced. The Senate awards this title to people from outside the university, who have made an outstanding contribution to its development and promotion outside Poland.

Certificates of merit and commemorative pens were received by Tu Duc Hoa, PhD, Eng, President and CEO of Thikeco, Professor Hussam Jouhara from Brunel University London, Professor Imre J. Rudas from Obuda University in Budapest, Andrzej Zabłocki, President of the Ignacy Domeyko Polish Association in Chile and Vice President of the Union of Associations and Organisations of Polish Communities in Latin America, and Professor Jerzy Leszczyński from Jackson State University (USA).

In recognition of achievements for the development of Wrocław, the President of the city Rafał Dutkiewicz handed the Wroclaw Honorary Award "Wrocław with Gratitude - Wratislavia grato animo" to Professor Jan Biliszczuk from the Faculty of Civil Engineering.

In turn, at the request of Professor Marek Ziętek, Chairman of the College of the Rectors of Universities of Wrocław and Opole and the Wrocław Intercollegiate Foundation Pro Homine, Cecylia Biegańska received a commemorative medal "Merito de Wratislavia - Distinguished in Service to Wrocław" from Rafał Dutkiewicz.