November 26, 2019, Campus of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences

The conference was organized by the Conference of Rectors of Polish Academic Schools (CRASP), Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), which also hosts the meeting, and the Institute of Contemporary Civilization Problems named after Marek Dietrich (IPWC).

An increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather phenomena is increasingly affecting our living conditions and has its economic consequences. We face the following problems: long-lasting heats and lack of rainfalls, followed by very low groundwater levels and rivers, drought, and also heavy downpours and hurricanes, late spring frosts and very early autumn frosts in Poland. Various global reports on this issue confirm that this is a global phenomena and is linked to global warming. One of the features is that these changes happen very rapidly and there is a need to find answers to these challenges.

Research has long been conducted in many countries to determine the magnitude and nature of climate change and its consequences for lifestyle, health and economy. It is impossible to raise all the problems regarding the sources of violent climate transformations, a description of these changes and their numerous consequences at a short conference. Therefore, have been taken only take up issues related to the conditions of climate change and consequences for forest and agricultural management. In Poland, we ask ourselves many questions in relation to these problems, such as, how to keep water and how to manage forest ecosystems to maintain sustainability and continuity of their functions? We also ask ourselves, in what direction should the Polish agriculture evolve taking into account the changing climatic conditions? These are the main problems were discussed during our conference.

The conference was opened by professors: Wiesław Bielawski, Rector of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Jan Szmidt, Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology, Andrzej Eliasz, Chairman of the Commission for Communication and Social Responsibility of Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and Tomasz Borecki, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Civilization Problems named after Marek Dietrich.

The lectures were given by: prof. Szymon Malinowski (University of Warsaw), prof. Kazimierz Banasik (Warsaw University of Life Sciences), prof. Tomasz Okruszko (Warsaw University of Life Sciences), prof. Bogdan Brzeziecki (Warsaw University of Life Sciences), prof. Jerzy Kozyra (The Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation IUNG.

The conference was summed up by prof. Tomasz Borecki (The Institute of Contemporary Civilization Problems named after Marek Dietrich.

May 21, 2019, Warsaw University of Technology

The conference was organized by the Conference of Rectors of Polish Academic Schools (CRASP), Warsaw University of Technology, which hosted the meeting, and the Institute of Contemporary Civilization Problems named after Marek Dietrich (IPWC).

The aim of the conference was to present and analyze new legal regulations regarding scientific publications and journals in the context of the university’s activity and scientists in Poland.

In this way, the organizers wanted to initiate a discussion on the possibilities of recognizing and using resources and the scientific potential of domestic publishing houses and magazines, including those that, as a result of implementation of new regulations, may lose their current position in the world of science.

With regard to domestic entities implementing scientific policy in various dimensions, including publications and scientific magazines, the task is to increase competitiveness in the international scientific environment by improving the quality of domestic scientific activities. The changes introduced by the new Act 2.0 with regard to universities, scientific disciplines and the scientific careers model are intended to serve this purpose. There is no doubt that the profile and quality of publications will have a significant impact on the results of their final assessment and influence.

Launching this debate with the task of developing constructive solutions seems to be an important issue in the pursuit of the principles of equality, openness and the availability of research and the possibilities of scientific development of academics creating the national scientific environment.

The conference was opened by Professor Jan Szmidt – Rector of Warsaw University of Technology, and Professor Marek Krawczyk – Chairman of the Science Committee of CRASP.

The lectures were given by Professor Błażej T. Skoczeń (Chairman of the Science Evaluation Commission of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, PK) and Professor Marek Niezgódka (UKSW).

Two discussion panels took place during the conference. The first panel entitled “Impact of the introduction of legal regulations on the functioning of publishing houses and the sustainable development of science” was introduced to the participants by Professor Andrzej Białas (UJ, PAU), who was also the moderator of the discussion. The participants of the panel were: Professor Dorota Malec (UJ), Professor Roman Z. Morawski (PW), Professor Arkadiusz Orzechowski (SGGW), Dr. Anna Perkowska-Klejman (APS), Professor Piotr Pruszczyk (WUM), Professor Grzegorz Sędek (SWPS University) and dr Jacek Żurek.

Professor Błażej Skoczeń (MNiSzW, PK) introduced the second panel entitled “Impact of changes in the principles of evaluation of scientific journals on the position of scientific units and the organizational structure at the university”, which was also moderated by himself. The panel was attended by Professor Dominik Antonowicz (UMK), Professor Zbigniew Kąkol (AGH), Professor Cezary Mik (UKSW), Professor Łukasz Niesiołowski-Spano (UW) and Professor Marcin Nowotny (MIBMiK).

The meeting was summed up by Professor Marek Krawczyk.

January 11 2019, University of Warsaw

The conference was organized by the Communications and Social Responsibility Committee (KiOS) of KRASP, University of Warsaw, which is also the host of the event and the Institute of Contemporary Civilization Problems named after Marek Dietrich.

The globalizing world presents new challenges for societies. One of them is the need to deal with hostility displayed to people who are different from us. The phenomenon of free movement of people often causes fear of immigrants, and as a result reveals hostility towards newcomers. We should take into account public fears, but at the same time we are obliged to oppose using and fuelling fears regarding strangers. The approach towards other people with different views, customs or cultural roots is a manifestation of ethical attitudes and values. Opposing the mood of reluctance towards people and collectivities perceived as foreign, especially counteracting xenophobic moods, is a moral duty of the academic community.

Our approach towards foreigners is not only a matter of recognized values, but also it concerns efficiency, because it has a real impact on the innovation economy. The degree of complexity of serious undertakings requires working in large, interdisciplinary teams, more and more often – on an international scale. Teams diversified in terms of qualifications, cultural resources and recognized values require from their members, apart from purely professional preparation, also communication skills and openness to contact with people who differ in various respects. Developing the attitude of openness among students towards people different from them is a lesson that should help them to prepare to work in an international environment, but also to fulfil various civic and family roles. It should help them to prepare themselves for life after graduation.

For several years, we have been working intensively to attract foreigners to study in Poland. We want to have foreign students learning in Poland as many as possible; it is not determined only by financial reasons, but even more important goal thereof is to create a climate of cooperation and opportunities for developing friendly contacts between people from different countries and cultures. Unfortunately, this second goal is implemented partially, because both foreign and Polish students are not willing to spend time together outside the university. Therefore, it is not enough to just accept foreign students at universities. We need thoughtful actions that will encourage both sides to get to know one another, to cross the invisible walls between them such as indifference, distrust or even hostility.

When preparing young people for their adult life, we must consider the conditions of negative approach towards others, especially towards people of other nationalities, become familiar with their manifestations and the consequences of reluctance or even hostility towards others. The above mentioned issues was subject of the conference.

The phenomena of hostility to ‘strangers’ cannot be ignored and it should not be treated as insignificant. Therefore, we encouraged the academic environment, which is responsible for shaping the students’ social minds and attitudes, to participate in the conference.

Particularly we invited the university and faculty authorities to the event, since the creation of an atmosphere conducive to the formation of an open approach towards all people, including foreigners, is important for our future.

The conference was opened by professors: Marcin Pałys, Rector of the University of Warsaw, Jan Szmidt, Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology, Andrzej Eliasz, Chairman of the Commission for Communication and Social Responsibility of Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and Tomasz Borecki, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Civilization Problems named after Marek Dietrich.

The lectures were given by: prof. Michał Bilewicz (University of Warsaw), prof. Janina Filek (Cracow University of Economics).

During the conference, there was also a discussion panel. The discussion was led by prof. Mirosław Kofta (University of Warsaw), participants of the panel were professors: Tomasz Besta (University of Gdańsk), Halina Grzymała-Moszczyńska (Jagiellonian University in Kraków), Rafał Pankowski (Collegium Civitas), Alfred Wierzbicki (The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin).

The conference was summed up by prof. Małgorzata Kossowska (Jagiellonian University in Kraków).