The awarded thesis has been written under the supervision of Prof. Zdzisława Romanowska-Duda from the Department of Plant Ecophysiology, University of Lodz.
Each member of the Baltic University Programme Scientific Committee for PhD Award in Natural Sciences, Technology and Engineering, including Maris Klavins (Latvia), Jakob Hildebrandt (Germany) and Ireneusz Zbiciński (Poland), evaluated the theses submitted for the competition. After the discussion, all the Committee members decided that this year BUP PhD Award (in the form of a diploma and support up to a maximum of €1000 for either attending a scientific conference or publishing in a peer-review scientific journal) should go to Dr Krzysztof Piotrowski from the University of Lodz.
Novelty of the thesis by Dr Piotrowski
Additionally, the dissertation by Dr Krzysztof Piotrowski was sent to Professor Aleksander Lisowski from the Department of Biosystem Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences for an independent opinion about the PhD thesis regarding its novelty, innovation, multidisciplinarity and sustainability.
According to Prof. Lisowski, Dr Krzysztof Piotrowski in broad and multidisciplinary approach, justified the use of biological agents in agriculture considering climatic and environmental aspects, biological development of energy crops, physical properties of biomass and economic balance. The reviewer stressed global importance of the research issue selection, innovative approach and novelty of the dissertation regarding the environmentally friendly use of biological agents in modern agriculture instead of fertilisers and synthetic agents.
The thesis points to the possibility of significant reduction of chemical fertilisers, hazardous to humans and the environment with simultaneous reduction of energy crops production costs.
Moreover, the novelty of the doctoral dissertation by Dr Krzysztof Piotrowski consists in original research methods; methodology of controlling variables related to climatic conditions and parameters for assessing the effects of the impact of biopreparations on the development and yielding of plants.
The reviewer stressed that the doctoral dissertation was of high substantive value, insightful, delivered valuable contribution to the development of scientific knowledge and as a distinctive study deserved to be honoured with the PhD Award of the Baltic University Programme.
University Network Award
Dr Krzysztof Piotrowski, as the winner of the BUP PhD Award, has been invited by the Baltic University Programme to present his research at the 9th BUP PhD Training which will be held in Lodz on 23-26 November 2022.
Baltic University Programme (BUP), established in 1991, is a programme that brings together more than 220 universities and higher education institutions, mostly from the Baltic Sea Region but also from Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Norway and Belarus. The main goals of the programme include sustainable development, environmental protection and democracy in the region, as well as strengthening the regional role of the universities that join the programme.
Source: Baltic University Programme
Edit: Promotion Centre, University of Lodz