Poland in the UK

This event will begin with a talk by Prof Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz, who will share her journey from an early career researcher to an established and award-winning scientist both in the UK and the US. Professor Żernicka-Goetz is Professor of Development and Stem Cells at the University of Cambridge and Bren Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. Professor Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz has a degree in Biology and a PhD in developmental biology from the University of Warsaw. After obtaining her PhD, Professor Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz spent two years as a postdoctoral European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) fellow with Martin Evans in the Wellcome Trust / Cancer Research UK Institute (now the Gurdon Institute) in Cambridge. For the past 25 years, Professor Żernicka-Goetz has built two labs in the UK and the US engaging in groundbreaking research into developmental biology. The Żernicka-Goetz Lab, which she founded, aims to uncover the fundamental principles and molecular mechanisms that regulate cell identity, pluripotency, and embryo plasticity, size, shape, and self-organisation. In 2020, Professor Żernicka-Goetz was listed by Prospect magazine as the 10th greatest thinker in the Covid-19 era and was included in The Times’s ‘Science Power List’ of 31 groundbreaking scientists.

A panel discussion on the value and challenges to frontier research in biotechnology will follow. Panelists include Prof Magdalena Żernicka-Goetz, Prof Melanie Welham, Dr Adam Dawidziuk and Ania Lichtarowicz.

Professor Melanie Welham is one of UK’s leading biotechnological scientists. Professor Welham is currently Executive Chair of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council at the UK Research and Innovation. Professor Melanie Welham is Executive Chair of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation. BBSRC supports discovery and strategic bioscience research, development of transformative technologies, bioscience infrastructures and training the next generation of researchers, investing around £420m annually in universities and institutes. Melanie joined BBSRC in October 2012 as Director of Science, initially on secondment from the University of Bath, where she led a research team focussing on molecular signalling and stem cell science. She has a degree in Biochemistry from Imperial College London, a PhD from University College London and undertook post-doctoral research at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Professor Welham has long been an advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, playing a leadership role and engaging in activities to promote the EDI agenda. Alongside leadership of BBSRC Melanie is also UKRI Executive Champion for People, Culture and Talent. She is also a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Human Frontiers Science Program Organisation and the Governing Board for Science Europe.

Dr Adam Dawidziuk has a doctorate in life sciences and is a specialist in molecular biology with particular emphasis on molecular diagnostics and biomarkers. He is author of scientific publications and a number of diagnostic tests dedicated to oncology and rare diseases. He is founder and co-creator of research teams and research and development departments in both scientific institutions and companies from the medical sector in Poland. An expert in medicine and medical biotechnology with extensive knowledge about drug development, medical devices, and management of medical R&D projects, he has also specialized in fundraising, grant application and project management has a vast experience in project and program evaluations according to strategic research programs' scientific, technological, and socio-economic goals. Adam Dawidziuk joined Łukasiewicz Research Network earlier this year, where he works as chief expert and coordinator of the Health Research Group in Lukasiewicz Research Network.

Ania Lichtarowicz is senior broadcast journalist for the BBC, where she works as science reporter and senior journalist and producer of Digital Planet, BBC World Service and BBC Sounds.

A reception hosted by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Court of St James's, Professor Piotr Wilczek will follow the discussion.

Kindly await for the confirmation email from the Polish Embassy Team. Once confirmed, all guests are kindly requested to present the confirmation email and a photo ID upon entry. Tickets are non-transferable. Please kindly note that airport-style checks are in place at the Polish Embassy, so please do not bring any heavy luggage, as there are no dedicated storage facilities on-site.

Register for the event here.