INFORMATION PORTAL OF THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE OF THE KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIE Region IN TORUŃ

Professor Wilhelmina Iwanowska began her scientific career in Vilnius, but her greatest achievements in astrophysics and her academic career were connected with Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, which she co-founded in 1945. On the 120th anniversary of her birth, Marshal Piotr Całbecki took part in the ceremonial unveiling of a plaque dedicated to this outstanding scientist.

— She chose Toruń as the place to establish a new university in Poland. Thanks to that decision and her many years of scientific work, the university gained prestige as well as recognition in the academic world. Professor Wilhelmina Iwanowska demanded a lot of herself, earning the respect of her colleagues. She was an outstanding astrophysicist, emphasized Marshal Piotr Całbecki.

The plaque dedicated to Professor Wilhelmina Iwanowska was unveiled on the façade of the building on Kraszewski Street, where she lived for 40 years.

The ceremony was also attended by Mayor of Toruń Paweł Gulewski, President of the Toruń City Council Łukasz Walkusz, Mayor of the Łubianka Commune Dagna Całbecka, UMK Vice-Rector for Promotion and Cooperation with the Socio-Economic Environment Prof. Joanna Kucharzewska, Prof. Iwanowska’s nephew Jan Pruski, as well as her colleagues, representatives of the UMK academic community, cultural and scientific institutions, and the community of the Prof. Wilhelmina Iwanowska Primary School in Pigża (Łubianka Commune, Toruń County).

An exhibition consisting of ten thematic panels documenting the most important stages of Prof. Wilhelmina Iwanowska’s life and scientific work was opened the same day (September 2) at the Copernicus Library. The materials on display make it possible to trace her scientific achievements and discover the personal side of her biography recorded in notes, photographs, and extensive correspondence. More information about the exhibition is available on the Copernicus Library’s website.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, the Od Nowa Club staged a musical monodrama Astronomer based on the memoirs of Professor Iwanowska.

After joining UMK, Professor Wilhelmina Iwanowska took over the Chair of Astrophysics. Together with Professors Władysław Dziewulski and Konrad Szeligowski, she co-founded the astronomical observatory in Piwnice near Toruń, which she directed for a quarter of a century. Her scientific work led to the establishment of a new scale of distances in the universe. She supervised nineteen doctoral students, eight of whom went on to become professors of astrophysics. In 1997, she was awarded Honorary Citizenship of Toruń. She died two years later.

Beata Krzemińska
Spokesperson of the Marshal’s Office

September 3, 2025