We are pleased to invite all researchers to submit proposals under Beethoven 2 call for Polish-German research projects in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences as well as selected fields of Physical Sciences. Proposals must be submitted by Polish-German research teams by the 15^th December 2016. Results will be published in October 2017.The call covers the following research disciplines:

The National Science Centre invites researchers to submit proposals under POLONEZ 3 funding opportunity addressed to incoming researchers who would like to carry out basic research in host institutions in Poland.

On September 13^th Science Europe released a short Statement ‘Funding Research in Horizon 2020: Europe’s Most Valuable Strategic Resource’, available here.

Science Europe expresses strong concern that the research funding budget be maximised in Horizon 2020 so that Europe can fully realise its target of becoming a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy. Funding for research and innovation in Europe is a critical strategic investment which is essential for Europe’s long-term growth and prosperity.

The National Science Centre as a member of Science Europe supports this call on European policy makers, civil society and citizens to safeguard European research funding, ensuring that it is not treated as a pot from which other initiatives are funded.

In a recently published “Nature Index 2016 Rising Stars” report, Poland has been listed first among the “rising stars of science.” This term is applied to countries whose position in the Nature Index tables has improved dramatically over the past four years.

In the years 2012-2015, Poland’s contribution to the “Nature” index has increased by 34 per cent. The magazine underscores that such a major leap was possible thanks to the creation of the National Science Centre in 2011, an agency which fosters basic research, and the reform of its applied-science counterpart, the National Centre for Research and Development;  both institutions have become pillars of the competitive-grant-based system of funding science. The magazine also mentions the considerable significance of EU funds for the advancement of science in Poland.

Among the 100 “rising stars” with the best quality of research (Top 100 institutions), two Polish universities have been listed: Jagiellonian University (placed 69^th) and the University of Warsaw (96^th). It should be noted that in the ranking of countries from Southern and Eastern Europe (Top 25 institutions/South East Europe), of the 25 research institutions listed as many as 8 are Polish, 3 of which are in the top ten. Jagiellonian University has been ranked first, the University of Warsaw third, and the National Centre for Nuclear Research tenth. Other institutions included in the ranking are the AGH University of Science and Technology, the University of Wrocław, Polish Academy of Sciences, Marie Curie-Skłodowska University and Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań.

We are pleased to announce that the European Commission (EC) has allocated EUR 11.5 million for QuantERA, a program aiming to support research in Quantum Technologies, coordinated by the National Science Centre. It is the largest grant awarded to Poland in the framework program Horizon 2020. The aim of QuantERA is to promote research in Quantum Technologies and create a common European strategy for the development of this field of science. Thanks to the EU co-funding, the NCN along with 31 institutions funding research in Europe will launch a call for international research projects in the field of Quantum Technologies. The call will be announced in the first half of 2017. Its budget will amount to almost EUR 35 million.

Quantum Technologies is a new, fast growing and highly interdisciplinary area of research. It relies on specifically quantum phenomena, such as entanglement, which have only recently been brought under full experimental control. The practical use of these phenomena may not only help us solve much faster important computational problems, but also ensure cryptographic data transmission, with safety guaranteed by the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics. Research in Quantum Technologies may also lead to the development of new generations of sensors with significantly higher sensitivity.

Contact:

Sylwia Kostka, tel. +48 12 341 9018

Anna Plater-Zyberk, tel. +48 12 341 9016

We are pleased to announce that 5 international projects involving researchers from Poland have been awarded funding in the Uses of the Past call for proposals launched by the NCN together with the HERA (Humanities in the European Research Area) network, supporting research in humanities. The theme Uses of the Past recognises that in order to understand the pressing societal questions of identity, integration, political legitimacy, creativity and cultural dynamics across Europe we need to understand how societies use and reflect upon the past.Announced in 2015, the call attracted 605 outline proposals from transnational consortia consisting of researchers from four or more participating countries. An international panel of experts selected 100 consortia to submit a full proposals. Funding of EUR 21 million, including co-funding from the European Commission, was granted to 18 international consortia.

Polish projects awarded within the call:

1. CRUSEV: Cruising the 1970s: Unearthing Pre-HIV/AIDS Queer Sexual Cultures

Polish Principal Investigator: dr hab. Tomasz Basiuk, University of Warsaw

Partners: dr Glyn Davis, University of Edinburgh, the UK (Project Leader); prof. Andreas Krass, Humboldt-University Berlin, Germany; prof. Juan Suarez, University of Murcia, Spain

2. EUROPACH: Disentangling European HIV/AIDS Policies: Activism, Citizenship and Health  

Polish Principal Investig:  dr Agata Dziuban, Uniwersytet Jagielloński 

prof. Beate Binder, Humboldt University Berlin, Germany (Project Leader); prof. Marsha Rosengarten, Goldsmiths, University of London, the UK; prof. Martin Lengwiler, University of Basel, Switzerland

3. HERILIGION:  T he heritagazation of religion and the sacralization of heritage in the contemporary Europe 

Polish Principal Investig: dr Anna Maria Niedźwiedź, Jagiellonian University

Partners: dr Oscar Salemink, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (Project Leader); dr Irene Stengs, Meertens Institute, the Netherlands; Maria Clara Saraiva, Faculdade de Ciencias Sociais e Humanas - Univesidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal; Ferdinand de Jong, University of East Anglia, the UK

4. MELA: Memory Laws in European and Comparative Perspectives

Polish Principal Investig: dr Aleksandra Gliszczyńska Grabias, Instytut Nauk Prawnych PAN

Partners: prof. Eric Heinze, Queen Mary University of London, the UK (Project Leader); dr Uladzislau Belavusau, Department of Transnational Legal Studies, Faculty of Law, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands; dr Emanuela Fronza, Universita di Trento, Italy

5. SoundMe: Sound memories: the musical Past in Late-Medieval and Early-Modern Europe

Polish Principal Investig: dr hab. Paweł Gancarczyk, Instytut Sztuki PAN

Partners: prof. Karl Kuegle, Utrecht University, the Netherlands (Project Leader); prof. Susan Rankin, University of Cambridge, the UK; dr Lenka Hlavkova, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic; prof. Inga Mai Groote, Ruprecht Karl University, Germany

More information: http://heranet.info/.

Astronomers from the Warsaw University Astronomical Observatory based long-term large-scale sky survey OGLE (Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment) announced the discovery of an extraordinary exploding star. Long-term observations of the classical nova V1213 Centauri from the years 2003–2016 provide a new insight into the evolution and mechanisms of these spectacular cosmic explosions. The paper that describes the discovery has been published in the prestigious science journal Nature.

– Classical nova eruptions are among the largest star explosions observed in the Universe. Within hours novae brighten by a factor of several thousand, becoming the brightest objects in the Milky Way – explains Przemek Mróz, the first author and a PhD student at the Warsaw University Astronomical Observatory.

Figure 1: Artist's portrayal of a classical nova explosion. Credit: Krzysztof Ulaczyk / Warsaw University Observatory

Classical novae are close binary systems consisting of a white dwarf star that is accreating matter from a low-mass companion star. The hydrogen-rich matter accumulates on the white dwarf surface and once its mass reaches a critical value, a thermonuclear runway is triggered, causing a large explosion – classical nova eruption. Astronomers believe that in each nova system, nova eruptions recur on timescales of thousands through millions of years, which makes it impossible to trace the system's behavior during that time.

One of the hypotheses, known as a hibernation scenario, predicts that several decades after the nova eruption the system should fall into state of low activity (known as a „hibernation”), when the mass transfer virtually stops. The hibernation hypothesis gained some support from the discovery of ancient nova shells around two systems with a low-mass transfer rate. However, direct evidence for considerable mass-transfer changes prior, during and after nova eruptions has not hitherto been found.

The authors of the Nature paper present long-term observations of a classical nova V1213 Centauri (Nova Centauri 2009), which exploded on 8th May 2009. The star is located in the Centaurus constellation at a distance of 23 thousand light years from the Earth. Astronomers analyzed the observations collected with a 1.3-m Warsaw Telescope located at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile.

Figure 2: Upper panels: Snapshots of a nova lifecycle. Lower panel: The Milky Way over the Warsaw Telescope dome. Credit: Jan Skowron, Krzysztof Ulaczyk / Warsaw University Observatory

– Our observations are in accord with predictions of the hibernation scenario. This is the first case that the evolution of a classical nova can be investigated so precisely – says Przemek Mróz.

Prior to the 2009 eruption, the system showed dwarf nova outbursts (small, periodic brightenings), implying a low and unstable mass-transfer between the two stars. Currently, the system is significantly brighter than before the explosion, suggesting that the mass-transfer rate increased as result of the nova explosion. This is in accord with key predictions of the hibernation hypothesis.

What will be the fate of V1213 Centauri? During the next decades the mass-transfer rate should gradually decrease and the star will be gradually fading. The star will again transform into a dwarf nova and possibly fall into hibernation for thousands of years, until it will awake again and explode as a classical nova. V1213 Centauri with its well known pre- and post-eruption behavior can become a Rosetta stone for nova evolution studies. Its extensive follow-up observations in the next decades will enable further tests of the long-term nova evolution.

– Our discovery is another case, when long-term OGLE observations are crucial for studies of unique, extremely rare phenomena – says Professor Andrzej Udalski, the Warsaw University Observatory Director and a PI of the OGLE team. – A few years ago we observed a process of merging of two stars, which led to another stellar explosion, known as a red nova – adds Udalski.

One of the first goals of the OGLE survey was discovering dark matter using the gravitational microlensing technique. Currently, their studies cover a large range of topics – searches for extrasolar planets, studies of the structure and evolution of the Milky Way and neighboring galaxies, variable stars, quasars, transients.

The paper that describes the discovery has been published in Nature: „The awakening of a classical nova from hibernation”, Przemek Mróz, Andrzej Udalski, Paweł Pietrukowicz, Michał K. Szymański, Igor Soszyński, Łukasz Wyrzykowski, Radosław Poleski, Szymon Kozłowski, Jan Skowron, Krzysztof Ulaczyk, Dorota Skowron & Michał Pawlak, 2016, Nature (doi:10.1038/nature19066).

The lead author is supported by the „Diamond Grant” funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

The OGLE survey has received funding from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (grants Ideas and Iuventus plus, Stypendia dla Wybitnych Młodych Naukowców, Diamond Grants, SPUB), the National Science Centre (grants MAESTRO, Opus, Harmonia, Symfonia), and the Foundation for Polish Science (programs Team, Homing, Focus and Start).

We wish to remind you of the consequences of performing testing on animals without a permit by the appropriate ethics in science committee. Pursuant to the act that had been in force until 2015, instances of proceeding without a permit would be treated as a misdemeanour, whereas pursuant to the act of 26 February 2015 this shall constitute an offence.

Pursuant to the text of article 66 of the act of 26 February 2015 on protecting animals used for scientific or educational purposes (Journal of Laws of 2015, item 266):

 1. They who, on account of conducting activity involving the use of animals for scientific or educational purposes:

1. expose animals to unnecessary pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm to their bodies,
2. use animals in procedures that constitute an experiment, having failed to secure a permit to use them, shall be subject to a fine, community sentence or term of imprisonment of up to 2 years.

2. They who in the cases referred to in 66(1.) cause the death of an animal, shall be subject to term of imprisonment of up to 3 years.

In addition, a note should be taken of the statutory regulations of the dates when the act in question enters into force. Pursuant to the text of article 78(1.) of the aforementioned act:

1. Experiments authorised by permit before the date of entry into force of the hereby act shall be carried out pursuant to the former regulations, albeit no later than 1 January 2018.

Whereas, pursuant to article 79 of the aforementioned act:

1. To proceedings regarding the issuance of a permit to carry out a test, ongoing before the date of entry into force of the hereby act, the former regulations shall apply.

2. Experiments authorised by permit in the proceedings referred to in 79(1.) shall be carried out pursuant to the former regulations, albeit no later than 1 January 2018.

Pursuant to article 84, the law in question was entered into force after 3 months since its publication, i.e. on 27 May 2015.

The aforementioned offences shall be persecuted ex officio, and pursuant to article 304 § 2 of the act of 6 June 1997 – The Code of Penal Procedure (Journal of Laws no 89, item 555): State and local government institutions who, in relation to their activities, find out that an offence prosecuted ex officio has been committed, are obliged to immediately notify the public prosecutor or the Police and to take the necessary measures by the time of arrival of the competent law enforcement authority or by the time the said authority has issued an appropriate order, so as to prevent removing evidence of the offence.

In light of the above, it shall be understood that in the event of finding out that the offence referred to in article 66(1) of the act of 26 February 2015 on protecting animals used for scientific or educational purposes has been committed, the Centre is obliged to notify the relevant law enforcement authority.

We would like to inform that from 26^th to 29^th of July due to local transportation difficulties connected with the World Youth Days which take place in Krakow, there will be limited access to NCN staff as the office shall be closed. Contact with NCN coordinators and administrative officers will not be possible.

All inquiries should be directed to the NCN help desk:

Tel. +48 12 341 9000

Email: informacja@ncn.gov.pl

The NCN has concluded the fourth edition of the SYMFONIA call for proposals targeted at applicants wanting to conduct interdisciplinary research. Within this call, experts selected 5 projects worth over EUR 5 million.

SYMFONIA applicants must be PhD holders who have already led the implementation of a minimum of 2 research projects selected within domestic or international calls for proposals. The proposed research must involve at least two research domains: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences and Engineering.

- Excellent interdisciplinary research makes a significant contribution to each of the areas concerned, it is however a big challenge and a rare phenomenon in research today - explains prof. Zbigniew Błocki, director of the NCN. - Interdisciplinary projects can of course be submitted to the NCN under regular calls, but past experience shows that it is not easy to convince experts to select such research from a pool of projects put forward to research panels including narrow research fields within which such proposals are usually evaluated. The SYMFONIA funding scheme caters to the needs of researchers who want do carry out large, truly interdisciplinary, high-calibre research projects.

It is expected that research performed within SYMFONIA will constitute more than just using tools or data from one research field in order to develop another field, and it will contribute to the development of both fields in which the project is embedded. The stringent demands of the SYMFONIA scheme means there is usually a small number of applications. Under this edition, the NCN received 38 proposals, out of which 5 were selected. The proposed research brings together Humanities with Life Sciences and Life Sciences with Physical Sciences and Engineering.

The research team from Jagiellonian University led by prof. Jonathan Heddle will investigate the principles of protein structure formation. The discoveries of this research project may be used in the future to create nanoobjects which will allow for the delivery of drugs directly to the cell.

Dr hab. Agnieszka Surma will coordinate the efforts of a research team involving researchers from various Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences – the Institute of Organic Chemistry and the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry. The scientists will strive to build 3-D supramolecular frameworks which will facilitate the formation of protein crystals – necessary in the process of drug design.

Prof. Przemysław Urbańczyk from Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw will conduct research about the cultural and natural resources of the Polish section of Białowieża Forest. The researchers will employ new, non-invasive methods such as airborne laser scanning. Thanks to the cooperation of both archeologists and life scientists, we will be able to better understand the heritage of Białowieża Forest.

This research team brings together scientists from the University of Warsaw and Jagiellonian University and will be led by prof. Robert Moszyński. The researchers will work on developing methods of “photographing” chemical reactions on the scale of femtoseconds, i.e. one thousand of one million of one millionth of a second. The results of this research will facilitate more precise observations of the countless phenomena playing a role in chemical, bio-photonic and biological processes.

And last but not least – prof. Andrzej Cichocki together with scientists from Nicolaus Copernicus University, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing will seek to investigate the Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal and the way it represents the activity of specific parts of the brain. New analytical tools developed through their research may allow for more effective use of electroencephalography.