Dr Michał Godziszewski Wins the 2026 "Polityka" Science Award

Rational Thinking: A Challenging Topic in Contemporary Times

What is rational thinking? How do we acquire knowledge, make decisions and distinguish truth from falsehood? These are fundamental questions explored by Dr Michał Godziszewski, a philosopher and logician affiliated with the Faculty of Philosophy and History and the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science of the University of Lodz. In his research, he combines philosophy with mathematical logic, theoretical computer science, game theory and artificial intelligence. He is interested in how people reason, how computer systems can act rationally, as well as how decisions can be made collectively under conditions of uncertainty. The practical dimension of his research interests is reflected, among other things, in his work on the use of AI algorithms and game theory to improve the protection of critical infrastructure. The researcher also leads a project funded by the National Science Centre on the philosophical and logical foundations of mathematics, investigating, among other topics, different ways of understanding infinity and the nature of the mathematical world.

His academic achievements include publications in renowned international scientific journals, and he has gained research experience at universities in Europe and the United States, including Oxford, Berkeley and Munich. He is the recipient of prestigious scholarships and fellowships, including the Fulbright Programme, the START programme of the Foundation for Polish Science, and the scholarship of the Minister of Science for outstanding young researchers.

Dr Godziszewski’s research demonstrates that seemingly abstract philosophical considerations can have important implications for the development of modern technologies, security, and a better understanding of the mechanisms that shape our decisions.
 

Two Finalists from the Same Faculty

We would also like to congratulate Dr Dawid Kobiałka from the Faculty of Philosophy and History, who was also a finalist for the “Polityka” Weekly Foundation Award in the same category. This year witnessed an unprecedented situation in which an entire academic field was dominated by two outstanding researchers from the University of Lodz. As the competition required a single winner to be selected, this year the distinction went to Dr Michał Godziszewski.

We should underline that just last week Dr Dawid Kobiałka received another distinction for an outstanding humanities scholar, becoming the recipient of the National Centre for Culture Award. As a result, the Faculty of Philosophy and History of the University of Lodz is now home to two of the most distinguished representatives of Polish humanities, recognised by the academic community and other independent expert panels. This is an absolutely exceptional situation in the history of our University.

More information about the award received by Dr Dawid Kobiałka.

“Polityka” Science Awards

The “Polityka” Science Awards programme is one of the longest-running scholarship programmes in Poland supporting young researchers. The programme has been organised since 2001 by the “Polityka” Weekly Foundation. Its aim is to recognise talented researchers with significant scientific achievements who conduct promising research projects. The competition is primarily intended for individuals up to around 40 years of age, and the evaluation process takes into account both their overall academic achievements and their most recent professional successes.

The winners are selected in two stages. In the 26th edition of the competition, the Professorial Jury, composed of distinguished members of the academic community, selected 15 finalists from nearly 400 submitted applications. The Civic Jury, bringing together individuals actively engaged in public life, then chose the five main award recipients, assessing, among other criteria, the significance of their research for the development of science and society.

The awards were presented in five categories:

• humanities,
• social sciences,
• exact sciences,
• technical sciences,
• life sciences.
   

During the ceremonial gala held on 18 October 2026, the five main laureates received scholarships worth PLN 15,000 and the opportunity to present their research in the pages of “Polityka” weekly magazine, while the remaining ten finalists received awards of PLN 5,000 each.

Over the 25 years of the programme’s existence, the Foundation has supported a total of 407 young researchers with nearly PLN 7.3 million.

Photo of Dr Michał Godziszewski: Leszek Zych