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Stanisław Ulam

The outstanding Pole who invented a few mathematical formulas, taught on many universities and co-created an H-Bomb

 

Stanisław Ulam in front of the Santa Fe.

 

Stanisław Ulam was born on April 13, 1909. As a child he dreamt of understanding mathematical formulas. His dream came true just in primary school when he found out what E=mc2 stood for. Back then he was known under the name of a 'brilliant child'. Mathematics meant everything to Stan. Seeing that, Stanisław Mazur, Kazimierz Kuratowski and Stefan Banach asked him to join their scientific group working on many complex mathematical problems. Stefan Banach admitted that Stan had really bizarre ideas which, unexpectedly, always held good. At the age of 18, Ulam wrote his first scientific study published 2 years later, in 1929. He graduated from university as a mathematician.

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Jerzy Giedroyc

The dreamer of a new Culture

 

Jerzy Giedoryc in his office (1987)

 

Jerzy Giedroyc is one of the most famous Polish political thinkers, an author and publisher, and a founder of the "Kultura" Journal which served as a leading hub to develop the independent intellectual life of Polish expats under the Communist regime. Above all, he was a visionary, who dreamed of creating a new generation of Poles, and a nation that is broad-minded, compassionate and pluralistic.

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Mieczysław Zygfryd "Rygor" Słowikowski

A top Polish double agent

 

 

Mieczysław Zygfryd Słowikowski, codename "Rygor", was instrumental in creating and operating the British intelligence network in North Africa during WW2. It is thanks to the data gathered by his people that the Allies could successfully land and proceed with "Operation Torch". The purpose of this operation was to release French North Africa from German military influence, by deploying American and British forces on the coasts of Morocco and Algeria.

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Olga Boznańska

The painter of human souls

 

 

Olga Boznańska is considered the greatest Polish female painter of the late nineteenth century and certainly one of the greatest female painters in Europe. Although her paintings may seem to belong with the Impressionists, Olga always denied being a part of that movement. She evolved her own style of painting and portraying, considered by many as sorrowful and sad, her works are widely admired even today. Meet Olga Boznańska!

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Kazimierz Nowak

A man who encompassed Africa back and forth on his own

 

 

Can you imagine completing a travel 40 000km long on the African continent on foot and by such means as bike, horse, camel and boat. You are about to meet someone who did it at the beginning of the 20th century – Kazimierz Nowak the pioneer of Polish reportage.

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Jan Czochralski

A father of today's technology

 

 

Jan Czochralski was a Polish scientist, who discovered a method of growing single crystals, which is commonly used nowadays in the production of microprocessors. Without this invention, such devices as smartphones and laptops couldn’t exist. Despite the fact that his achievements are as important for contemporary science, as those of Maria Skłodowska-Curie and Mikołaj Kopernik, his name remained forgotten for many years.

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Władysław Bartoszewski

The advocate of decency in totalitarian times

 

 

A man of indisputable righteousness, a recognised hero of three nations, an accomplished writer and public activist. He was all this and so much more.

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Stanisław Lem

Science fiction writer

 

Lem in his private, little library

 

Stanisław Lem is the most frequently translated Polish science fiction writer, a forerunner of science fantasy, and also a philosopher, futurologist and literature critic. His work touches on topics of development of science and technology, human nature and the place of humanity in the universe whilst undergoing an examination of the status of intelligent beings. His literature contains references to the state of modern society, scientific and philosophical reflections about this, and also criticism of the Soviet Union’s political system. He was at one time the most read non-English sci-fi writer. His books have been translated into 40 different languages with circulation of more than 30 million copies. His influence on sci-fi literature is compared to H.G Well’s or Olaf Stapledon’s. He was awarded with the “Gloria Artis” medal and the highest Polish state decoration – the “Order of the White Eagle”.

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