In line with the basic principles and key focus areas of the Young Academy of Europe (YAE), since 2017, the André Mischke YAE Prize for Science and Policy has been awarded each year as a recognition of excellent early- to mid-career researchers who are both active in science but also made important contributions to science policy, to evidence-informed policymaking at the European level, to science communication and outreach as well as to the strengthening of the network between future generations of researchers. Since 2019, the Prize is bearing the name of the Founding Chair of YAE, the late André Mischke, and aims to recognise, reward and promote the engagement of excellent early- to mid-careers scholars with science policy. Below we present this year’s awardee: Dr Jacek Kolanowski.
Dr Jacek Kolanowski is a habilitated assistant professor at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznan, Poland, and head of the Research Facilities and Innovation Centre, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney, Australia. He obtained his BSc and MSc in Poland, his PhD in France, and spent postdoctoral years in Australia. He has been managing several national and European grants, and directed the Centre for Chemical Biology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, where he was responsible for the management of an interdisciplinary research group and research facilities totaling over 35 people in 5 years. In this role he focused on fostering diverse and flexible academic-industry collaborations and facilitating research translation through developing robust methods and bringing new technologies to wide range of users. His interdisciplinary research is focused on the design, synthesis, validation and use of low-molecular-weight chemical compounds to visualise and control biochemical parameters in biological models both for basic and applied research.
In addition, Dr Jacek Kolanowski has also been active in science outreach by delivering several popular science lectures, lessons, and workshops in schools. He was a member of the Polish Young Academy and later served it for 2 years as vice-chair and 2 years as chair. He played an important role in fostering solidarity and networking among young researchers in Europe, as the founder of the Young Science Beyond Borders conference, providing a platform for young researchers from low- and middle-income countries and scientists at risk to interact with and access science in the EU or by providing academic support for Ukrainian researchers following the Russian invasion.
Besides his merits in building capacity and community among young scientists, he was proactively engaged with policymakers to positively influence science policy at both national and European level.
Furthermore, Jacek Kolanowski was a founding member, Board member and first elected President of the Young Academies Science Advice Structure (YASAS), a pan-European network of Young Academies and he catalyzed the campaign for YASAS to join as an independent partner the prestigious Science Advice Mechanism for the European Commission through SAPEA.
By awarding the YAE Prize to Jacek Kolanowski, the YAE aims to recognise excellent interdisciplinary and translational research, management, science outreach and science policy activities, as well as the building of early- to mid-career researcher networks and the structure facilitating the contribution of these networks and researchers to science advice for policy at the European level. The YAE will award the eighth annual YAE Prize, honouring our Founding Chair André Mischke, at the joint annual Academia Europaea and YAE meeting entitled Building Bridges 2024 in Wroclaw, on 26-28 November 2024.