Prizes and awards

Winners of main prize in the 1st ADAMED SmartUP revealed

9 October 2015

The prizes were awarded by representatives of the Programme’s Scientific Council, and the list of guests included representatives of the best Polish higher education institutions, and representatives of governmental, business and educational communities.

ADAMED SmartUP is a national educational programme intended for lower-secondary and secondary school students who are especially gifted in the area of exact and natural sciences, run by the Adamed Group, a Polish pharmaceutical and biotechnological company.

There are many talented young people, i.e. young talents, in Poland. This can be seen even today by the successes achieved by young Poles at an international level, e.g. in international contests in the area of exact sciences (we won 41 medals in 3 years). However, we should bear in mind that “talent has to be developed and polished like a diamond in order for it to exist.” We need to create appropriate conditions for young people to develop even at the early stages of education — said Małgorzata Adamkiewicz, M.D. Ph.D., President of the Adamed Group Foundation.

Out of passion for science

Over 5.5 thousand candidates applied to participate in the programme and faced a multi-stage recruitment process. In order to make the final 10, young enthusiasts of science faced surprising riddles and unexpected turns of events in a scientific game, took part in an online knowledge test, and met with the Programme’s Scientific Council, to convince them why they should be given the opportunity to participate in the first innovative science camp in Poland. The Council was composed among others of Professor Marek Kulus — Vice Rector for Educational Affairs of the Medical University of Warsaw, Professor Michał Fedoryński from the Faculty of Chemistry of the Warsaw University of Technology, Professor Andrzej Górski — Vice-President of the Polish Academy of Sciences in years 2007–2015, and Małgorzata Adamkiewicz, M.D. Ph.D. — President of the Adamed Group Foundation.

In this way, the Council selected 50 participants of the science camp which took place in July 2015 in Warsaw. The young people took part in classes conducted in four subject areas: chemistry and biochemistry, medicine and medical sciences, engineering and robotics, and physics and new technologies.  Apart from an extensive curriculum implemented by lecturers and researchers from the best higher education institutions and academic centres in Poland and worldwide, the camp participants visited scientific institutions and research centres, normally inaccessible to visitors, such as the Space Research Centre or the National Centre for Nuclear Research. Ten finalists, who will be covered by an individual programme of educational consultations, were selected on the basis of their level of commitment, academic performance, motivation to learn and an assessment interview, among other criteria.

Future elite of the Polish scientific community

— Nowadays, in an era in which the world is so highly globalised, most economically advanced countries have highly developed sectors of high-tech industry based on exact sciences. These sectors cannot grow without cooperation of scientific and business communities. Moreover, science cannot develop without the development of talents and people driven by their passion — said Małgorzata Adamkiewicz.

Who are the winners of the first edition of ADAMED SmartUP? These people who skilfully operate laboratory equipment, gas chromatographs and spectrophotometers, members of scientific clubs, participants of workshops organised by leading scientific centres, winners of multiple subject-specific contests, scholarship holders and medallists of science competitions. These are resourceful young people taking part in competitions organised for instance by MIT at their own initiative, co-organisers of scientific conferences. They work with liquid nitrogen or hydrogen burners, program in advanced IT languages, build their own robots, and, at the same time, they are teenagers who work as volunteers and engage in charity events.

Winners of the main prize of the ADAMED SmartUP Programme:

Maksymilian Głowacki — student of XIV Liceum im. Stanisława Staszica [Stanisław Staszic Secondary School No 14] in Warsaw; winner of the 30th Chemistry Contest of the Warsaw University of Technology; finalist and winner of maths, physics, computer science and chemistry contests and competitions. Participant of the “University of Technology for a Young Chemist” programme. In his free time, he plays tennis and volleyball.

Filip Krawczyk — student of III Liceum im. Marynarki Wojennej RP [Polish Navy Secondary School No 3] in Gdynia. He focuses not only on developing his interests related to his profile subject area — biology and chemistry, but also to computer science and humanities. Leader of the first Polish secondary school team participating in the synthetic biology contest “IGEM” organised by MIT in the United States. His interests include film editing and production, computer graphics and learning foreign languages.

Aleksandra Janowska — student of XIV Liceum im. Stanisława Staszica [Stanisław Staszic Secondary School No 14] in Warsaw; winner of numerous biology, maths and English contests. She was granted a Scholarship of the Mayor of the Capital City of Warsaw for outstanding academic achievement.  She enjoys not only exact sciences but also painting, literature, singing and foreign languages. 

Anna Sieńko — student of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in II Liceum im. Stefana Batorego [Stefan Batory Secondary School No 2] in Warsaw. She is the winner and finalist of numerous subject-specific contests. Last year, she was granted a Scholarship of the Mayor of the Capital City of Warsaw for outstanding academic achievement. She likes to spend her free time in an active way — horse riding and running. She is also interested in fashion and discovering new flavours in the kitchen.

Marcin Bąk — student of XIV Liceum im. Stanisława Staszica [Stanisław Staszic Secondary School No 14] in Warsaw. Finalist of the Technical Knowledge Contest and awarded a distinction as a finalist of the Physics Contest of the Warsaw University of Technology. Enthusiast of exact sciences, mechanics, aviation and foreign languages, including Japanese.

Oskar Grudziński — student of II Liceum im. Stefana Batorego [Stefan Batory Secondary School No 2] in Warsaw, who won first place and the gold medal in the Young Physicists’ Tournament in Poland together with his team of the “Fenix” science club and presented the team’s achievement during the International Young Physicists’ Tournament in Thailand, where he also won the gold medal. Aviation, model-making, chess, playing the guitar, scuba diving... are only a few of his many interests.

Michał Bączyk — student of XIV Liceum im. Stanisława Staszica [Stanisław Staszic Secondary School No 14] in Warsaw. In his first year, he became a finalist of the 65th and 66th Maths Contest and 64th Physics Contest. He is the winner of the 27th European Union Young Scientists’ Works Contest. Currently, he is working on his own original research project in cooperation with the Faculty of Physics of the University of Warsaw.

Patrycja Paśniewska — graduate of Gimnazjum Akademickie im. Mikołaja Kopernika [Nicolaus Copernicus Academic Lower-Secondary School] in Toruń, winner of numerous biology, chemistry and physics contests. Moreover, she is a successful athlete. She enjoys fantasy, rock music and ballroom dancing.

Tomasz Białecki — graduate of Gimnazjum im. 25 p.p. AK [25th Infantry Regiment of the Home Army Lower-Secondary School] in Żarnów. He won 2nd place in the district “Use your head” maths contest, and he is a finalist of Voivodship Maths and Physics Contests. He constructs electronic devices in his free time, and in the near future he plans to build an automatic arm controlled by a microcontroller.    

Bartosz Gąsiorkiewicz — graduate of XIV Liceum im. Polonii Belgijskiej [Polish Diasphora in Belgium Secondary School No 14] in Wrocław; winner of the 43rd Biology Contest, first degree; bronze medallist of the 25th International Biology Contest in Indonesia and holder of the Polish Children’s Fund scholarship from the programme for outstanding students. Currently, in his first year of medicine in Krakow.

The second ADAMED SmartUP is underway

The winners of the first ADAMED SmartUP will now focus on planning their further scientific development under the supervision of experienced educational consultants. After 10 months, individuals with the highest potential will receive research scholarships tailored to their individual needs.

Young people expressing particular interest in and passion for exact sciences can participate in the second programme — the recruitment process began in September. In order to take part in this unique scientific adventure, all you have to do is register at www.adamedsmartup.pl. On 15 October 2015, the innovative recruitment game will be launched once again, and on the ADAMED SmartUP Facebook profile a competition for schools is still open, in which students can win laboratory equipment for their school in exchange for recording a short science-related lesson.

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CSR/Corporate social responsibility
29 September 2015