The rectors of the three universities organising the World Copernican Congress: Professor Andrzej Sokala, Rector of Nicolaus Copernicus University (UMK) in Toruń, Professor Jacek Popiel, Rector of Jagiellonian University (UJ) in Kraków, and Professor Jerzy Przyborowski, Rector of the University of Warmia and Mazury (UWM) in Olsztyn, signed a letter of intent to establish an International Centre for Copernican Studies.

The Centre will serve to further develop Copernican research and deepen and broaden contacts, including international relations, which were established thanks to the World Copernican Congress.

The life, work and reception of Nicolaus Copernicus’ achievements continue to inspire researchers, which is reflected in the extensive programme of events organised in Kraków, Olsztyn and Toruń as part of the celebrations of the 550th anniversary of the great astronomer’s birth. The work and discussions held so far show that Copernican research has not been exhausted and that the astronomer and his achievements continue to enliven the minds of researchers from all over the world.

“I am very pleased that something tangible remains after the Congress. The agreement we are signing today promises the creation of something that will live and promote the ideas and values that are important to us”, said Prof Jerzy Przyborowski, rector of UWM in Olszyn.

The rector of the Jagiellonian University, Prof. Jacek Popiel, stressed the value of cooperation between the universities to celebrate the round anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus’ birth.

“Breaking the pattern of independent work in favour of cooperation often brings very good results”, said Prof Popiel, adding that “the success of the World Copernican Congress, which only made sense with the involvement of our three universities and the Polish Academy of Sciences, shows that today’s scientific research and its popularisation should take place as a joint initiative”.

Adrian Andrzejewski