Professor Marek Konarzewski from the University of Bialystok was elected as the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences for the term of office 2023-2026 on 20 October 2022. The election was made during the 147th session of the General Assembly of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Two professors applied for the position of the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Professor Paweł Rowiński was the second candidate from the Institute of Geophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Professor Marek Konarzewski is employed in the Department of Evolutionary and Physiological Ecology at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Bialystok. He received his PhD in biological sciences in 1990, and the title of professor in 2004.
His scientific interests focus on issues on ecology, evolutionary biology, physiology and genetics of animals (in particular the evolution of components of energy budgets and the physiological mechanisms that determine phenotypic plasticity) as well as the analysis of studied processes at the molecular, organismal and environmental level. Professor Marek Konarzewski is the author or co-author of several dozen of scientific publications. He manages research projects (realised in terms of NCN calls for proposals: OPUS 14 ‘Plastyczność neuronalna myszy laboratoryjnych’ [Neuronal Plasticity of Laboratory Mice] and PRELUDIUM BIS 1 ‘Popielica szara: nowy model zwierzęcy w badaniach kosztów rozrodu’ [Edible Dormouse: A New Animal Model in Reproductive Cost Research]).
In 1991-1993 he was a scholar of the University of California, Los Angeles, where he worked in a research team of American biologist Jared M. Diamond.
Professor Marek Konarzewski is a corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Sciences and also performed functions in organizational structures of the Polish Academy of Sciences: the vice-chairperson of Olsztyn and Bialystok Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences. As well, he was the vice-chairperson of Olsztyn and Bialystok Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences (2015-2022) and a member of the Scientific Council of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
He is actively involved in international scientific cooperation. Additionally, Professor Konarzewski was the Science and Technology Minister-Counsellor at the Polish Embassy in Washington, D.C. for 5 years (2008-2013). In 2017-2021, he performed a function of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In August 2018, the researcher became a member of team for scientific cooperation with the United States of America in the field of medical research (the team was established by the ordinance of the Minister of Health).
Professor is not only a researcher but also a populariser of science. He is the co-author of many popular science articles, the popular science book ‘Na początku był głód’ [At the Start There Was a Hunger] and the translation of Jared M. Diamond’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book ‘Strzelby, zarazki, maszyny’ [Guns, Germs, and Steel. The Fates of Human Societes]. Along with Janusz Kupryjanowicz, Ph.D., Professor Marek Konarzewski is the co-author of two photo albums dedicated to the nature of the Biebrza Valley, Narew Valley and the Knyszyn Forest.
Professor Marek Konarzewski has been honoured several times for his academic achievement, and scientific activities. He was given the Prime Minister's Award for his habilitation thesis (1997), the Silver Cross of Merit (2004), the Award of the Polish Academy of Sciences – Division II (2014). Also, the prominent researcher was conferred the title of doctor honoris causa of the Poznan University of Medical Sciences (2013) and was awarded the title of the Ambassador of the University of Bialystok (2022).
