We are pleased to announce that one of our Council members, dr. hab. Justyna Olko from the Faculty of “Artes Liberales” of the Warsaw University, is one of the winners of the Falling Walls 2020 award presented during the World Science Summit/Berlin Science Week organised by the Walls Foundation.
The Polish researcher was awarded in the area of Social Sciences and Humanities for “breaking the walls between the academy and local communities in favour of linguistic diversity”. She received the title of the “Breakthrough of the Year” in her category alongside nine other researchers selected among over 900 nominees all over the world pursuant to a decision of the ERC jury chaired by Helga Nowotny (former President of the European Research Council). Justyna Olko connects scientific research and engaged community work to promote multilingualism, language revitalisation and ethnic minority empowerment. As she herself says: “Every three months one language disappears from the earth. We need to look for solutions.” Through her research she provides that the use of local heritage languages protects against historical trauma and decolonises our world. She has discussed her breakthrough work during the World Science Summit which, due to the epidemiological situation, was held online 1 and 10 November.
Dear Justyna! Congratulations!