Prof. dr hab. Jacek Zaucha, winner of the Jan Hevelius Science Prize of the City of Gdańsk, was a guest at a ceremonial meeting in the Old Town Hall in Gdańsk. During the lecture, he presented the evolution of the view on shaping maritime space, referring to the theoretical foundations and practical implications.

On Thursday, 23.11.2023, the Old Town Hall in Gdańsk hosted a ceremonial meeting with prof. dr hab. Jacek Zaucha from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Gdańsk, winner of the Jan Hevelius Science Prize of the City of Gdańsk.

During the meeting, the laureate gave a fascinating popular science lecture entitled 'Space terra incognita. "Space terra incognita?". Prof. Jacek Zaucha is the creator of the foundations of maritime spatial economics and the author of the first publications on this subject worldwide. His research focuses on spatial planning and management, spatial development, maritime development, territorial cohesion, EU cohesion policy and Baltic integration. During the lecture, he presented the evolution of the view on shaping maritime space, recalling the theoretical foundations and practical implications of creating maritime spatial economics.

The lecture was followed by an inspiring and dynamic debate on space as a research topic with the participation of dr hab. Jarosław Czochański, dr Marek Stępa and dr Wiktor Szydarowski.

The meeting was accompanied by recollections of prof. Jacek Zaucha's life and scientific path, anecdotes and stories, and virtual interviews.

The ceremony, which took place in the beautiful Burghers' Hall of the Old Town Hall, was graced by wonderful musical accents, including opera (Julia Iwaszkiewicz - soprano, Emilia Grażyńska - piano), a concert by the band 'Jakubowe Muszelki' (Leszek Hinc - guitar, vocals, Joanna Kandzora - vocals) to the lyrics of Jacek Kaczmarski, and an etude by the Teatr na Wynos from Krakow.

The meeting was attended by the Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski, numerous representatives of the authorities of the City of Gdańsk, the Gdańsk Scientific Society, the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre and the Sea Fisheries Institute, as well as family, friends and supporters of the Professor.

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Photogallery by Grzegorz Mehring

Prof. dr. hab Jacek Zaucha - professor of economics at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Gdańsk, who has been cooperating with the Maritime Institute of the Maritime University in Gdynia for many years. He co-authors the EU Territorial Agenda 2020, the Concept of National Spatial Planning. He also led the preparation of the first Polish Maritime Spatial Development Plan. At the University of Gdańsk, he holds, among others, the position of Head of the Department of International Economics and Economic Development, Senator, and member of the Discipline Council.  Prof. Jacek Zaucha, PhD, is an expert at the National Science Centre, a member of the Presidium of the Committee for Spatial Planning of the Country of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Scientific Council of the Stanisław Leszczycki Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Pomeranian Investment Council for Returnable Instruments and the Pomeranian Territorial Forum at the Marshal of Pomorskie Voivodeship. He has served as Chairman of the Committee on Spatial Planning and Development of the Baltic Region and Deputy Secretary of this cooperation network.