During the University's August Count Cieszkowski Patron's Day, on November 17, 2022 a ceremony was held at PULS's the Runge College to confer the highest academic title of an honorary doctorate. Prof. Tomasz M. Gruszecki of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, a world-renowned specialist in animal science and animal biodiversity conservation, was honored.
The title of the PULS honorary doctorate to Prof. Tomasz M. Gruszecki was awarded by the Senate of the Poznań University of Life Sciences on September 28, 2022, at the motion of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences.
The official conferral of this honorary title began this year's celebration of the Patron's Day at the Poznan University of Life Sciences. During the ceremony the University's Rector Professor Krzysztof Szoszkiewicz stressed that for the academic community conferring the honorary PhD title is an act of utmost importance, while the title itself is the highest honor any university can bestow on distinguished scientists. "Ceremonies such as today's prompt us to reflect, to think about the extent to which we manage to appreciate outstanding scientists, their achievements and their importance to Polish and world science," the Rector said opening the ceremony.
Prof. Tomasz Gruszecki's accomplishments were presented to the guests by Prof. Małgorzata Szumacher, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences at the Poznań University of Life Sciences. In the laudation speech she underlined the achievements of Prof. Tomasz Gruszecki in the areas of science, academi teaching, as well as the implementation of research results into agricultural practice, which fully justify the award of an honorary doctorate. "From the entirety of the Professor's achievements emerges the image of a scientist with broad intellectual horizons, unquestionable scientific achievements, and above all, great authority both in the scientific community and among practicing zootechnicians. Particularly noteworthy is the Professor's impeccable manners, always balanced judgments and opinions, and respect for other people." - Professor Małgorzata Szumacher said in the laudation.
The supervisor of the proceedings for the conferral of an honorary doctorate was Prof. Dr. Piotr Ślósarz, Vice-Rector for Studies at PULS and Head of the Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, who when delivering the laudation pointed out that without a doubt Prof. Tomasz M. Gruszecki belongs to the group of outstanding contemporary Polish specialists in animal science, closely associated with practical animal husbandry, especially small ruminants, and activities to protect the biodiversity of livestock and the natural landscape. "Cnfirmation for the recognition of the academic community and the Professor's contribution to the development of animal sciences is his holding of many key positions both at his alma mater and at the national scale," emphasized Prof. Piotr Slósarz.
The body of work was reviewed by Prof. Tomasz Szwaczkowski, of the Poznań University of Life Sciences, Prof. Roman Niżnikowski, of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, and Prof. Dr. h.c. Jędrzej Jan de Pelikan Krupiński of the National Research Institute of Animal Production in Cracow. Prof. Tomasz Szwaczkowski emphasized in his laudation that from the analysis of the entire body of work emerges an image of a researcher with broad intellectual horizons, unquestionable scientific accomplishments and, above all, a great authority both in the scientific community and among practitioners.
The ceremony of conferring the honorary doctorate was an opportunity to listen to the occasional lecture by Prof. Tomasz Gruszecki "Animal production - a need or a threat to the natural environment?".
Iwona Cieślik
Rzeczniczka prasowa UPP
