On February 20, at the Polish Science Gala held at the Teatr Polski in Warsaw, Dr. Monika Topa-Skwarczyńska received the Minister of Science and Higher Education Award in the category of Scientific Activity for her PhD dissertation defended with distinction, entitled “Synthesis and investigation of new high-performance photoinitiating systems dedicated to dental light-curable polymer materials”, conducted under the supervision of Dr. hab. inż. Joanna Ortyl, Prof. PK.
The Minister of Science and Higher Education Award is one of the most prestigious distinctions in the Polish scientific community. The annual awards are granted in five categories: lifetime achievements, scientific activity, teaching, implementation, and organizational activity. This year, 158 recipients were honored – 60 individual laureates and 17 research teams, with 32 individual awards in the category of scientific activity. The award recognizes outstanding scientific achievements, innovative research, and a significant contribution to the development of Polish science and higher education.
During her doctoral research, Dr. Topa-Skwarczyńska designed, synthesized, and comprehensively studied new photoinitiators and photoinitiating systems, and also developed innovative next-generation dental composites. The materials she created are safe, non-toxic, and non-allergenic, while offering significantly improved functional properties compared to commercially available dental materials.
This award reflects recognition of the highest quality of scientific work and the contribution to the advancement of Polish science and higher education. Dr. Topa-Skwarczyńska’s recognition in the category of scientific activity demonstrates that her research, both in terms of content and innovation, stands out among national achievements and makes a significant contribution to the field of dental materials.
Congratulations!