The academic staff involved in the creation and implementation of POLCA Summer School are specialists, also well prepared for work and intercultural communication, inclusiveness, and diversity in teaching with foreign students, also in a virtual environment.

Golus Włodzimierz – researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Geography at the University of Gdańsk, Poland. A PhD thesis in Earth Sciences in the Hydrology discipline. Research interests: small water bodies and their impact on water cycle in post glacial landscapes, particularly within endoreic areas of northern Poland. His main interests focus on functioning of natural ponds, small temporal streams and ephemeral reservoirs as elements of water network that form runoff. He has experience in working in field and in teaching. Division of Limnology

POLCA Summer School – PBL Supervisor & tutor

Urszula Janas – Associate Professor at the Department Of Experimental Ecology of Marine Organisms, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk. Research interest include ecology and ecophysiology of benthic organisms with focus on non-indigenous; Effect of hypoxia and other environmental stress of the Baltic Sea ecosystem on different levels of biodiversity end ecosystem functioning. Coauthor of over 50 scientific publications and several dozen of other reports and publications. Many years of experience in working with students, a tutor for 9 years and nature educator

POLCA Summer School – Lecturer & PBL Supervisor

Adam Sokołowski – researcher and academic teacher at the Institute of Oceanography, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland.  Research interests: impact of stressors (natural and anthropogenic) on the structure and functioning of marine macrobenthic fauna at different levels of biological organization (physiological processes, individuals, populations, communities); marine food webs and trophic transfer of contaminants; biological effects of ocean acidification and human pharmaceuticals. Division of Marine Ecosystems Functioning

POLCA Summer School – Lecturer & PBL Supervisor & lead tutor

Mirosława Malinowska – researcher, lecturer, and certified tutor at the Institute of Geography at the University of Gdańsk, a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, works in the Division of Meteorology and Climatology. Research interests: atmospheric phase of the water cycle, macro and mesoscale factors influencing precipitation, extreme atmospheric events, climate change, academic didactics. Apart from university teaching, she has experience in quality assurance in higher education, educational project management, and higher education management. Deputy Dean for Students at the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography.

POLCA Summer School – Lecturer

Damian Moskalewicz – researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography at the University of Gdańsk, PhD in Earth Sciences (University of Gdańsk), MSc in geology (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań) and geography (University of Gdańsk). Research interests: sedimentology, geomorphology, and Quaternary Geology. Current research focuses on sedimentary records of extreme storm surges in the coastal zone; reconstructions of past environments and sea-level changes; application of handheld gamma-ray spectrometry in Quaternary deposits. Division of Geomorphology and Quaternary Geology.

POLCA Summer School – Instructor & tutor

Halina Kendzierska – researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Oceanography at the University of Gdańsk, a PhD in Earth Sciences in the Oceanology discipline. Research interests: influence of environmental factors, especially oxygen deficiency in the bottom zone, on the functioning of benthic communities, the influence of marine organisms on biogeochemical processes occurring at the border between water and sediment in different habitats, the importance of non-native species in the structure and functioning of macrozoobenthos. She has experience in working in the field and on board.

POLCA Summer School – Instructor

Maciej Markowski – post-doctoral Assistant Professor in Department of Geography at the University of Gdańsk, Poland (UG), a PhD in Earth Sciences in the Geography discipline. His master degree as well as PhD were focused on hydrology aspects for functioning and stability of lobelia lakes. Besides of extensive hydrology and limnology knowledge gained during almost 15 years University career, his interests and researches are closely related with different aspects of GIS (Geographic Information System), Remote Sensing, Data Science, ETL, Data Transformation and Data Analysis. In Department of Geography at the University of Gdańsk he is responsible for providing professional courses of usability of GIS technology in environmental research. Also scientifically, he is still involved in research in the field of broadly understood lake hydrology. His scientific and technical experience is widely used in variety of research projects.

POLCA Summer School – Lecturer & Instructor

Pryputniewicz-Flis Dorota – graduate of the University of Gdańsk, doctor of Earth Sciences with a specialization in Chemical Oceanography. My research interests are focused on geochemical processes occurring in the marine and freshwater environment. I have carried out research on the Baltic Sea, the Antarctic environment and the lakes of the Kashubian Lake District. In my research work I deal with: the transformation of matter in the aquatic environment, transformations of the forms of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon, analysis of the size and direction of the streams of these substances in the water column and at the border of water and sediment, the impact of pollutants reaching water reservoirs on the chemistry of waters and sediments, the impact of pollutants reaching water reservoirs on the chemistry of waters and sediments. I am the author of scientific studies (articles, books and expert opinions) relating to the presented research issues. I participated in many national and international projects in which I realized my interests. I am also a promoter of knowledge about the environment, which is associated with participation in many educational projects aimed at adults, adolescents and children.

POLCA Summer School – Instructor

Justyna Świeżak – post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk. Her research interests are related to anthropogenic pressure in marine ecosystems, particularly in the field of marine ecotoxicology targeting the influence of xenobiotic pollutants on benthic organisms’, i.e. cellular stress responses, early development, reproduction and overall condition. She has experience in field sampling, laboratory experiments and international collaboration.

POLCA Summer School – Instructor

Iwona Bubak – an employee of the Department of Hydrology at the Institute of Geography at the University of Gdańsk; a PhD in Earth Sciences in the Oceanography discipline. Research interests: taxonomy, biodiversity and ecology of marine and lake phytoplankton, with particular emphasis on diatoms; the use of biological indicators in the assessment of the ecological state of the aquatic environment and in palaeoecological reconstructions; natural and anthropogenic causes of environmental transformation.