The Polish Young Academy (The Academy of Young Scholars of the Polish Academy of Sciences) – the first period of existence

Abstract

The Academy of Young Scholars of the Polish Academy of Sciences (or briefly, The Young Academy of Poland) was established in 2011/2012 following the introduction of the new Polish law on scientific issues. The Academy comprises a maximum of the 35 best young Polish scientists aged 38 years and under, who are selected primarily based on scientific achievements by the most prominent senior researchers in Poland (members of the Polish Academy of Sciences) through a multi-step nomination procedure. Following the selection to The Young Academy, I became its first-ever president (2012-2014), and developed the organization in many ways. This is the main and most extensive description of problems and activities of the Academy in its historically important, first period of existence.