The cooperation agreement was signed by Prof. Rafał Matera, Rector of the University of Lodz, and Marek Błoński, Magdalena Chodak and Magdalena Żuk representing PAP and the PAP Foundation. The agreement provides for ongoing expert support from the University of Lodz in the preparation of press materials by PAP journalists, as well as mutual participation in debates and other events promoting science.
For years, we have worked very well with the Polish Press Agency, because PAP has preserved what has unfortunately been lost by many other media outlets – reliability of information is always the top priority here. Sensational stories do appear, often as breaking news, but above all these are reliable pieces of information. And that last aspect is what matters most to us
– said Prof. Rafał Matera.
The Rector of the University of Lodz has stressed that the agreement brings together two equal partners who can gain a great deal from this cooperation.
On the one hand, there is PAP, which has been providing information from Poland and around the world for many years, and on the other hand, the University of Lodz, which, as one of the leaders among universities in Poland, shares knowledge from virtually all fields of science – exact sciences, natural sciences, humanities and social sciences. We believe we owe something to society, so we want to explain the diversity and complexity of the world in a reliable way
– said Prof. Rafał Matera.
The Director General of PAP, Marek Błoński, points out that the University of Lodz joining the network of academic partners strengthens the Agency’s long-established relationships with universities across the country and other scientific institutions. He adds that PAP has promoted science, among other ways, by running the Nauka w Polsce service for over 20 years, which serves as a valuable platform for contact with the academic community.
We are one of the channels that provide the public with reliable, expert knowledge from scientists. In our news dispatches, we make daily use of opinions and commentary from experts in a wide range of fields. In fact, our contacts with universities and their staff date back a long time, and we are now strengthening them further. Since this cooperation works, we wanted to take the next step further
– explained Marek Błoński
The PAP Director announced that the Agency planned to expand cooperation with leading universities as part of a project tentatively called “Think Tank PAP”. The initiative is intended to create a network of cooperation between PAP and researchers. Plans include preparing reports and analyses on issues of social and economic significance, using, among other things, public opinion research centres and media monitoring services. The conclusions will be presented in PAP services.
The Polish Press Agency has for years been a reliable and trusted partner of the University of Lodz in the mission of popularising science. Each year, the two institutions jointly prepare from a dozen to several dozen valuable pieces of science-related information. Support in joint science promotion events, including last year’s “PRom” conference co-organised by the University of Lodz, constitutes another area of the cooperation.
Popularising science is one of UniLodz’s priorities. In the Rector’s Board for the 2024–2028 term, a dedicated Vice-Rector for Popularisation of Science and Education has been appointed – dr hab. Krzysztof Pabis, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz. The University consistently focuses on improving the level of science popularisation also due to its growing importance in the system for evaluating research activity.
Source: Rector’s Office, University of Lodz
Photo: Honorata Ogieniewska (Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University of Lodz)
Edit: Press Office, University of Lodz
