START scholarships for UPWR scientists

• Karolina Tkacz was already previously awarded in many scientific programmes, including the Diamond Grant and TopMinds.
• Kamil Smolak is a doctoral student who has contributed to the development of many scientific fields simultaneously
• Dr. Iga Solecka is a scientist conducting international research, and has been previously awarded numerous scientific grants.

The Foundation for Polish Science (FPS), a non-governmental institution set up in 1991, pursues the mission of promoting science by supporting outstanding scholars and research teams in all fields of science, funding innovative projects, and commercialising scientific discoveries and inventions. It provides annual scholarships for outstanding young scholars at the beginning of their scientific careers, who already have documented achievements in their field of research. By enabling them to fully dedicate to their research work, the foundation wants to encourage further scientific development. 

In previous years the amount of an annual scholarship was PLN 28,000. In this year's edition of the programme the FPS will award approx. 100 one-year scholarships to young scientists who have a proven track record confirmed in publications such as articles in renowned scientific journals, who are doctoral students or doctoral candidates, or who are carrying out research and development projects.

Among those awarded are three scientists from the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences – doctoral students Karolina Tkacz and Kamil Smolak, and Dr. Iga Solecka.

Already awarded numerous scholarships and with many successes to date

In addition to her doctoral studies at the UPWr, Karolina Tkacz from the Departament of Fruit, Vegetable and Plant Nutraceutical Technology is working on projects together with scientists from the Food & Feed (F&F) research group at the Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF) Centre and is a member of the Plants4FOOD Leading Research Group, which researches plant-based functional food. In the past Karolina also received a Diamond Grant, took part in the TopMinds programme, and got a Bekker scholarship for research on functional hydrogels made from fruit pomace.

– I have also developed and optimised original and innovative solutions for the use of sea buckthorn berries in the food industry, with an aim to increase the use of these berries in industrial-scale production, variety expansion and, consequently, consumption – says Karolina. The concept of her work is both scientifically and socially relevant, as it focuses on developing products with high neuroprotective and anti-aging potential, addressing an important aspect in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Pioneer in Integrated Mobility Science

Kamil Smolak from the Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformatics is also carrying out his doctoral thesis at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences. He was awarded under the START Programme for his research on maximising the usefulness of information on human mobility obtained from mobile devices. By developing innovative methods of processing it and proving its broad potential, Kamil has contributed to the development of many fields of science at the same time. – For the first time ever I used data on the mobility of people to support projections of the demand for utilities in a city. Recently, together with U+GEO and Spyrosoft S.A., I built a model of the spreading of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, which was based on an innovative model of human mobility – says the doctoral student.

Kamil wants to develop this emerging field of mobility, so his research focuses on fundamental aspects of analysis. – I am the co-author of a paper calling for the creation of a new field – an integrated science of mobility – by combining two other fields, the science of human mobility and the science of animal mobility. I also want to simplify access to advanced algorithms in my field, which is why I am the author of the open and dedicated software library 'HuMobi' for processing and analysing mobile data – says the PhD student, who was not only awarded under the START Programme, but also this year's NCN Preludium 20 competition.

International scientist

Dr. Iga Solecka from the Institute of Spatial Management, who develops methods for landscape identification and valorization, and their use in the planning process, was also awarded under the START Programme. She is currently researching the importance of location and environmental management in the context of cross-border regions. But this is not her first success this year. In January she was also awarded in the Beethoven 4 competition, receiving a grant for the above-mentioned international survey.

– In my scientific work I proposed a method supporting landscape identification on the basis of publicly available spatial data and using the current typology of Polish landscapes, which allows to minimise the influence of subjective opinions of researchers on the result and partly automate the identification process. On the basis of literature review, I developed an original three-step procedure used for landscape valorisation as a tool for supporting spatial planning. I also focused on the development of methods of landscape valorization, developing an original method based on point credit scores and a method based on landscape indicators. The former method enabled the determination of the most valuable landscapes, as well as zones of potential conflict between these areas and new investments in the area – says Dr. Solecka about her research, adding that during her studies she also developed an analytical model that makes it possible to combine an index-based assessment of the landscape with an assessment of ecosystem services, which allows for an integrated assessment of the environment at local level and is particularly important with regards to agricultural production in a given area. – My most recent research was conducted in an international team and deals with the use of participatory methods in landscape valorisation. I developed a geo-survey on important landscape sites addressed to the inhabitants of the suburbs of Wroclaw, using the collected responses to map areas of particular importance to them. The findings suggest that future landscape planning and management should aim to increase the integration of people's preferences in assessing landscape needs – the researcher stresses.

However, Dr. Iga Solecka's scientific achievements reach much further. In 2017, while still a doctoral student, she received a PLN 62,000 grant from the National Science Centre for her research on landscape valorisation as a tool for determining the directions of socio-economic development of a community.