Dr Beata Chmiel awarded the City of Gdańsk Jan Uphagen Award for Young Scientists
On 13 March 2026, the City of Gdańsk Jan Uphagen Awards for Young Scientists were presented. Among the laureates of the 23rd edition of this prestigious distinction were Dr Beata Chmiel from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Gdańsk and Dr Estera Rintz from the Faculty of Biology at the University of Gdańsk.
The awards were granted in two categories: natural and exact sciences, and humanities and social sciences.
In the category of natural and exact sciences, the award was presented to Dr Estera Rintz for her significant contribution to the development of molecular therapeutic strategies for rare diseases. In the category of humanities and social sciences, the award was granted to Dr Beata Chmiel for her research on sustainable urban development, with particular emphasis on residents’ quality of life and social participation.
The official award ceremony took place at the Uphagen House on Długa Street in Gdańsk. The awards were presented by the Mayor of the City of Gdańsk, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz. The laudation for the laureate in the natural and exact sciences category was delivered by dr hab. Karolina Pierzynowska, professor at the University of Gdańsk, delivered the laudation in the humanities and social sciences category, while dr hab. Wojciech Bizon, professor at the University of Gdańsk and Dean of the Faculty of Economics.
Dr Beata Chmiel is an economist and researcher focusing on the development of contemporary cities, particularly sustainable development, residents’ quality of life, and urban mobility. She is a graduate of the University of Gdańsk and works in the Department of Logistics at the Faculty of Economics.
Dr Beata Chmiel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Logistics at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Gdańsk. She received her PhD in 2025 on the basis of her dissertation entitled “Sustainable urban development as a key factor in improving residents’ quality of life,” prepared under the supervision of Dr hab. Barbara Pawłowska, Professor at the University of Gdańsk, and Dr Agnieszka Szmelter-Jarosz. In her doctoral research, she analysed the possibilities of applying the doughnut economics model in Gdańsk, highlighting, among other aspects, the key role of social participation in the implementation of sustainable development policies in cities.
She is the author and co-author of research projects on urban mobility, including projects funded by the National Science Centre (NCN). Her research includes, among others, analysing the potential for implementing the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) concept in the largest Polish cities and examining the functioning of public transport systems in crisis situations.
The City of Gdańsk Jan Uphagen Award for Young Scientists was established in 2004 (until 2006 it was known as the “Young Hevelius” Award). It is one of the most important distinctions in Gdańsk for young researchers and is awarded to students and graduates of Gdańsk universities under the age of 30 for outstanding scientific achievements in two categories: humanities and social sciences, and natural and exact sciences. To date, 42 young scientists have received the award.
The award is granted by the Mayor of the City of Gdańsk upon the recommendation of the award committee, which includes, among others, the presidents of the Gdańsk branches of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Gdańsk Scientific Society, the rectors of public higher education institutions in Gdańsk, and a representative of private universities.
The Dean’s Team and the entire community of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Gdańsk extend their sincere congratulations to Dr Beata Chmiel on receiving the City of Gdańsk Jan Uphagen Award for Young Scientists. This distinction recognizes her research achievements and contributions to the development of science.
We wish Dr Beata Chmiel continued scientific success, the implementation of ambitious research projects, and many further achievements in both her research and teaching activities.
