AGH University researcher in the final of Polityka Science Awards

Dr Eng. Michał Dziadek is an assistant professor in the Department of Glass Technology and Amorphous Coatings where he has been focused on, among others, developing innovative materials which could be used as dressings in the treatment of diabetic foot. It is one of the most severe complications of diabetes, as non-healing wounds and difficult-to-treat infections frequently lead to the amputation of the lower limb.

The scientist has developed a new technique for making organic bio-dressings, the main components of which are cheap and easily available milk proteins and plant extracts. In addition, to enhance the therapeutic effect, the materials are enriched with borate bioactive glasses. These ingredients have a wide biological activity which is great for shortening the process of wound healing, promoting vascularisation of diseased tissues, and counteracting infection and inflammation.

Dr Eng. Michał Dziadek has worked at the universities in Lancaster (Materials Science Institute), Erlangen-Nuremberg (Institute of Biomaterials), and in the Czech Academy of Sciences (Institute of Experimental Medicine). He had over 40 articles published in international journals. He is the manager of three research projects and a co-author of numerous papers for industry.  He was granted the START scholarship of the Foundation for Polish Science and the scholarship from the Minister of Science and Higher Education, among many others.

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Since 2001, the Polityka Weekly Foundation has been running a scholarship program for young scientists called “Stay with us!” – since 2011 under the name Polityka Science Awards.  The campaign carried out in the weekly has been promoting a valuable career model against pop culture trends with an emphasis on intellect and hard work. Sought after are the people who have reached an important milestone in their professional lives in the past year or two. Their achievement could be a doctoral thesis, habilitation, book, important paper, completion or initiation of research, creation of a team, assumption of a significant function in a scientific institution.

The Polityka Science Awards were granted for the 23^rd time. From about 350 submissions, the jury selected 15 finalists. Subsequently, 5 laureates were chosen (one for each of the categories: humanities, social sciences, exact sciences, technology, and life sciences) who will be granted scholarships of PLN 15,000. There is also an additional prize – an interview in the Polityka weekly. The remaining 10 finalists received a final award in the amount of PLN 5,000.

The ceremony with the announcement of the winners and the presentation of awards took place in the seat of Polityka weekly on October 22, 2023.