30th Anniversary of the Wrocław Division of The Polish Phytopathological Society
The first division of The Polish Phytopathological Society was founded in Wrocław on 9 July 1972. At a scientific meeting on 21 October 2002 the 30th anniversary of the event was celebrated. President of the Society, Professor Małgorzata Mańka, delivered a commemorative speech, recalling the beginning of the Society in 1971 and 1972 and of its first born divisions. This was followed by a reflection by Professor Wanda Truszkowska - founder and long-time Chair of the Division - concentrated on the common interest in plant pathology and plant protection, and love for nature, on which the foundation and activity of the Wrocław Division was based from the very beginning.
 Speach of Profesor Małgorzata Mańka (Photo E. Łaszcz) |
 Speach by Professor Wanda Truszkowska (Photo E. Łaszcz) |
In 1972 at the first organizational meeting the board of the Division was elected: Chair Prof. Dr Wanda Truszkowska, secretary - dr Małgorzata Narkiewicz-Jodko, treasurer - dr Helena Gembarzewska. The board worked until 1981. From October 1981 on, the secretary changed and dr Włodzimierz Kita started his career as treasurer and continues until today.
Factors that contributed mainly to the foundation of the Wrocław Division were both interest in plant health, resulting from teaching activity in the Department of Plant Pathology (Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural University, Wrocław) and collaboration with Prof. dr Karol Mańka, founder and organizer of The Polish Phytopathological Society in 1971 in Poznań.
Scientific societies have always gathered - and they still do - pure unselfish enthusiasts. That was also the ground for The Polish Phytopathological Society in Wrocław. The chair of the anniversary meeting, Prof. M. Narkiewicz-Jodko, was the Division secretary from its very beginning. Her constant involvement in the work yielded the position of chair for the 3rd tenure now. Another devoted board member is dr W. Kita. The two colleagues deserve particular gratitude. May they be followed by others in future. The Wrocław Division is a small one but always in active touch with the other divisions which is worth mentioning as it promotes the exchange of experience. Many materials presented at the Wrocław Division meetings are published afterwards.
Plant Pathology and The Polish Phytopathological Society faithfully serve protection of nature, under natural and man-created plant communities (phytocenoses). Healthy plants obtained due to this service may well serve in satisfying basic needs of humans and animals, and the beauty of plants stimulates human creative abilities in many fields. This is worth mentioning as it contributes to culture.
Let us quote a remarkable opinion of Prof. dr Piotr Sztompka: "Science should be in solidarity with people ... it is not only writing treatises by specialists but also passing knowledge to the society". That is the mission of scientific societies and of the Wrocław Division of The Polish Phytopathological Society among them.
At the jubilee meeting Professor Krystyna Tylkowska (Agricultural University, Poznań) delivered a lecture on seed pathology problems at two international seed science conferences.
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Chair of the Wrocław Division, Professor Małgorzata Narkiewicz-Jodko, congratulates the founder of the Division, Professor Wanda Truszkowska (Photo W. Kita)
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Congratulations (Photo E. Łaszcz)
Professor Krystyna Tylkowska delivers a lecture on seed pathology (Photo W. Kita)
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Birthday cake of the Wrocław Division (Photo W. Kita)
Wanda Truszkowska