Worldwide Famous Poles and People of Polish Roots (00:11:44min)
THE POLISH DIASPORA: Famous Polish people around the world.
A complete index of blog posts. Please click on the links below.
December 20, 2013
THE POLISH DIASPORA: FAMOUS POLISH PEOPLE - COMPLETE INDEX OF BLOG POSTS
Worldwide Famous Poles and People of Polish Roots (00:11:44min)
THE POLISH DIASPORA: Famous Polish people around the world.
A complete index of blog posts. Please click on the links below.
December 18, 2013
THE POLISH DIASPORA CONCLUSION: FAMOUS POLISH PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD
The special series: The Polish Diaspora, concludes with this post, Famous Polish People Around the World. The following presentation includes more fascinating stories of contemporary Polish People from countries such as Egypt, Lithuania, Mexico, Russia, and Japan, just to name a few. There is also mention of a famous Polish-Scottish scientist whose discoveries are mind-blowing!
In the past few months I had posted a few blogs highlighting extraordinary Polish men and women - from Canada, the United States, Australia, France, Britain, and Brazil. Some of them may already be familiar to you, others not. Unfortunately I had to omit many personalities. The task of mentioning them all is literally impossible for the limitations of the blog.
Nevertheless, these stories are meant to enlighten and entertain readers about the lives and work of great Polish people around the world. Wherever Polish people have chosen to call home - they have contributed their skills and talent, fascinated us with their brilliant intellect, and charmed us with their intrinsic beauty and grace.
Look to your left. Look to your right. One of you is Polish!
ADAM GIEREK
Adam Gierek was born in Belgium, and is a Polish politician. He is a member of the European Parliament and sits on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. He is serves as substitute for the Committee on Culture and Education, as well as member to the Delegations of the EU to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees (for relations with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Mongolia) and substitute for the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
Gierek holds a Master's in Engineering, and Doctorate. Among his positions, he has been Professor at the Silesian University of Technology; from 1972 to 1982 he was the head of the Metallurgical Sciences and Technology Department and Director of the Institute of Materials Engineering; since 1973 he has been member of the Polish Academy of Sciences; from 1982 to 1989 he was visiting Professor at the Technische Universitat in Dresden; and member of the Polish Nuclear Society (PTN) among many other organizations.
AWARDS AND MEDALS
Order of the Banner of Labour, Second Class
Knight's Cross of the Order of Poland Reborn
Gold Medal for Merit for Defense of the Nation
National Education Medal
LUCIA TOPOLANSKY SAAVEDRA
Mrs. Saavedra, nee Lucia Topolansky is the wife of the President of Uruguay, Jose Mujica. She served as Deputy for Montevideo (2000-2005); Agriculture Minister, and Senator. ( In the 2009 Uruguayan general election, she won the most votes for Senator.) She has been a long-time member of the Movement of Popular Participation (MPP) an urban guerilla organization.
(The MPP has been linked with the former guerilla movement known as the Tuparnaros. In the 1960s the Tuparnaros had launched a barrage of political kidnappings, armed propaganda and assassinations. However by 1971 the military unleashed violent bloody reprisals and crushed the movement. Jose Mujica was also a member of the MPP in its heyday.
Lucia Topolansky Saavedra became the first female President of Uruguay on November 26, 2010, albeit temporarily. According to a clause of the Uruguayan Constitution, in the event that the President and Vice-President are both absent from the country, the Presidency rests temporarily in the control of the leader of the largest elected group in the Senate, hence Mrs. Saavedra. However, it lasted only two days. On November 28th, the President and Vice-President both returned to Uruguay.
NADIA LUFTI
Nadia Lufti was born in Egypt - the daughter of an Egyptian father and Polish mother. Lufti became one of the most celebrated actresses in the Golden Age of Egyptian cinema. In fact she took her stage name from a character (Nadia Lotfy) of a smash hit film called La Anam, starring Omarr Shariff. Thus she made her first screen debut in 1958 when Omar Shariff and his beautiful wife, Faten Hamama, were the reigning couple of Arab cinema.
Lufti performed her first dramatic production entitled, Soultan. In her second film, Cairo Station, she took on a smaller role which brought it's director, Youssef Chahine, international acclaim when it was presented at the Berlin Film Festival.
Following this great success, Lufti performed in melodramas and musicals that were then much in demand by Arab audiences, films such as " Al Khataya" (1962). But she finally achieved distinction in the cinematic world by performing in several great films such as Naser Salah el Dine. In this film, she took the role of a Frankish warrior during the Crusades, wearing full armor in battle against her Christian-Arab lover.)
Also very noteworthy, and controversial was the film Lil-Rigal Faqat (1964) translated as For Men Only. In this film, Lufti and her co-star Su'ad Husni portrayed the roles of women geologists who disguise themselves as men in order to find work, and in the process struggle to suppress their romantic feelings to avoid discovery.
In the 1960s Lutfi's career skyrocketed when she starred in two films based on novels published by Naguib Mahfouz, a Nobel-prize winning author. Unfortunately, his novels, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed`, and "Children of Gebelawi" were both banned by religious authorities.
By the end of the 60s, Nadia performed one of her most sensational roles, that of an exotic dancer who seduces a much younger man, in Abi foq al-Shagara (My Father Atop a Tree)
Due to the increase in public demand for movies from the East and East, and that of home videos, Egypt's "Golden Age" of cinema petered out, and with it Lutfi's career sadly faded. In the first decade of her career she churned out almost 50 films, but in the decade that followed, she made only three, her last being in 1981.
Lutfi made an appearance in the press in 2004 when she came to the defence of her long-time friend, Omar Shariff. He was viciously berated by the Arab press when he confided that he intended to allow his grandchildren to decide on their own religious beliefs when they reached age of maturity. (One of them is Jewish).
DANNY SAUCEDO
Danny Saucedo's career was literally launched by the Swedish version of American Idol, though he was eliminated after having reached as far as 6th place in the finals.Nevertheless, he launched into a very successful career releasing numerous singles and albums as a solo artist; in 2006, he released his first single, a cover of Oppna din dorr. It reached number 24 on the Swedish Singles music charts. He was also a member of the Swedish pop trio E.M.D. with Erik Segerstedt and Mattias Andreasson. (2007-2010).
Known as just " Danny " his three singles, "Tokyo, "Play it for the Girls" and "Radio" reached the top of Swedish music charts. The band won a Grammis (Swedish version of the Grammy Awards), for "Jennie Let Me Love You" (Song of the Year -2008). His first single released in the UK is "If Only You" also became a number one hit on the music charts in Russia and Poland.
Saucedos' talents are diverse: not only is he an accomplished musician but he has written songs for Alcazar and Pulse. He has also proven himself on the dance floor and was a contestant on Let's Dance 2008 (the Swedish version of Dancing With The Stars). Saucedon and his partner, Jeanette Carlsson (a professional dancer) won 12th place in the final of the Eurovision Dance Contest in Glasgow. He also made an appearance in a music video for "Victorious", by Swedish singers Velvet and Linda Bengtzing. In 2013, he hosted Melodifestivalen with Gina Dirawi, a Swedish-Palestinian celebrity.
Danny was born in Stockholm Sweden to a Polish father and Bolivian mother. He studied music at the prestigious Adolf Frederik's Music School, named after the great Swedish composer.
Discography as solo artist
Albums
2007 Heart Beats
2008 Set Your Body Free
2011 In the Club
Singles
2006
Oppna din dorr
Tokyo
Play It For the Girls
2007
If Only You (with Therese Grankvist)
Hey (I've Been Feeling Kind of Lonely)
2008
Radio
Need to Know
All on You
Emely (with Sasha Strunin)
Just Like That (with Lazee)
2011
In Your Eyes
In The Club
Tonight
2012
Amazing
All in My Head
Delirious
Todo Al Mundo (Dancing in the Streets).
Discography - As part of E.M.D.
Albums
2008: A State of Mind
2009: A State of Mind (Deluxe Edition)
2009: Välkommen hem
2010: Rewind
Singles
2007: "All for Love"
2008: "Jennie Let Me Love You"
2008: "Alone"
2009: "Baby Goodbye"
2009: "Youngblood"
2009: "Välkommen hem"
2010: "Save Tonight"
2010: "What Is Love"
JOSEF ZIELENIEC, Doc.Ing., CSc.
Dr. Josef Zieleniec has been a member of the European Parliament as well as the European People's Party and worked on Committees on Foreign Affairs and Economic and Monetary Affairs. He was also member of the SNK-ED (a conservative Czech political party). Though he is a Czech politician, he works mostly as an economist.
Before the communist invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1989, Zieleniec worked at the Institute of Research in Engineering Technology and Economics Research, and at the Institute of Economics of the Czechoslovak Academy of Science. He labored tirelessly in finding solutions to transform a centrally planned economy to that of market economy. His research was greatly influential after 1989 when discussions finally took place regarding economic reforms.
In 1990 Zieleniec was co-founder and director of The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education at the Charles University in Prague - the first Ph.D program of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, promoting American-style economics. He also became a member of the Scientific Council of the Faculty of Sciences.
Though Dr. Zieleniec was born in Moscow, Russia, and his nationality Czech, he is of Polish descent.
Education
Master's Degree
University of Economics, Prague (1974)
Postgraduate qualification " Candidate of Sciences:"
Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague (1986)
Senior Lecturer
(Charles University, Prague, 1991)
Accomplishments
1973-1989: Research fellow
since 1997: University teacher (1989-1992)
1998-2003: Businessman
since 1997: Economic advisor
1992-1997: Vice-Chairman of Civic Democratic Party (ODS)
since 2004: Political leader of SNK (Association of Independent Candidates)
1996-2000: Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic
2000-2004: Senator
1992: Minister for Foreign Relations of Czechoslovakia
1993-1997: Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic
1996-1997: Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
KRISTOFF RACZYNSKI
Kristoff Raczynski is a celebrated film producer, screenwriter and actor, who currently hosts his own television show called, aptly, Kristoff Presenta, broadcast by the Mexican television station TeleHit. He came a very long way from humble beginnings.
Born in Russia to Polish parents, the family immigrated to Mexico City in 1982. In a strange new world, young Kristoff struggled to overcome not only language barriers but found his first jobs as an elephant caretaker in a circus, as well as bagging groceries in supermarkets.
His experiences prepared him well. He was enrolled at the CEA, Televisa's school for the performing arts. And by the 1990s, Kristoff had written, produced and acted in the film Matando Cabos (2004). For the next several years, he performed supporting roles in telenovelas (the equivalent of soap operas) such as Vivo Por Elena (1998); Ramona (2000) and many others.
Kristoff enjoyed top ratings for his television shows, No Te Equivoques (2001) which he co-hosted with Tony Dalton on Televisa TV. It was the Mexican version of "Jackass". In 2005, he collaborated with Horacio Villalobos in TV programs, Valvula De Escape and Desde Gayola. A year later Kristoff hosted the program called ID, which stirred up a great deal of controversy which brought him greater success - his program in Telehit. In 2008 he hosted the show called El Show Del Polaco, which was cancelled several months later. Kristoff wrote a short film in 2012, Confesiones de un Teibol (Confessions of a Tabledance) which was featured in the Cannes Film Festival.
Filmography
"Matando Cabos" (2004)
"Confesiones de un Teibol" (2011)
Telenovelas
"Vivo Por Elena" (1998)
"Ramona" (2000)
TV Shows
"No Te Equivoques" (2000–2003)
"Sexo Con Kristoff" (2007-)
"Cine Con Kristoff"(2007-)
"Gargaras Con Kristoff"(2007-2012)
"El Show Del Polaco" (2008–2009)
ANDRE KUDELSKI
In 1995 he was nominated as "Global Leader for Tomorrow" by the World Economic Forum. A year later he received an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Arts and Sciences for his company's achievements regarding Pay-TV and scrambling systems. In 2002 his name was listed on the Forbes list of the World's Richest People. He was a billionaire. Can you guess his name? He is Andre Kudelski.
Born in Switzerland to a Polish father, Andre earned his engineering degree at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausaunne (1984), among one of the world' s most prestigious universities. He served as R&D Engineer at Kudelski SA as well as in Silicon Valley before he took over the reigns from his father, Stefan, at Kudelski Group, as President and CEO. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Strategy Committee.
Kudelski also sits on the boards of some of the most powerful and prestigious companies in the world, Edipresse Group of Nestle, Swiss International Air Lines, and Dassault Systemes (France) and the list goes on. Moreover he is a member of the Advisory Board of Credit Suisse as well as a member of the management committee of Economie Suisse.
EVA SACHIKO POPIEL
Eva Sachiko Popiel is a popular actress and model working in South Korea. She was born in Tokyo, Japan to a father of British-Polish heritage and Japanese mother. She studied at the prestigious University of Durham. ( It is the third oldest university in England, established in 1832 by an act of Parliament and granted a Royal Charter in 1837.). Eva was enrolled in a joint-honours program of Chinese and Business.
Before relocating to South Korea, she was selected to be the Japanese represenative for L' Oreal (Sept 2003 to August 2005). But it wasn't until 2006 that her popularity soared when she performed in the reality television series, Super Junior Full House.
A year later, Eva was chosen to replace the current English Speed Quiz teacher in the reality show, Star Golden Bell. She has made frequent appearances on Global Talk Show (Korean Broadcasting System) representing the United Kingdom.
Eva also appeared in the television series called Likeable or Not (2007) which reached the highest ratings of any Korean show since 2000 - 43% rating! The show received awards from the KBS network.
ADAM JEZIERSKI
Adam Jezierski has become one of the most successful and celebrated actors in Spain, though his origins are Polish. He was born in Warsaw and immigrated with his family when he was only seven years of age.
Jezierski has acted in theatre and films and television and is best known for the role of Gorka Martinez on the popular television series Fisica o Quimica. It received enormous acclaim as well as controversy for its subject matter, that is, teenage problems struggling to cope with drug abuse, addictions, anorexia, and sexual orientation.
He also acted in the television series Hospital Central, and Cuentame (2007). Among his films were Suenos (2003), Siete (2004), Gordos (2009), Tension sexual no resuelta, and Verbo (2010); Cheers (the Spanish version,2011) and Tormenta (2013.)
JANUSZ LEON WISNIEWSKI
Janusz Leon Wisniewski is a consummate storyteller - weaving scientific fact with thrilling fictional stories. He is a Polish scientist and writer. Among his most celebrated novels is, Samotnosc w sieci (2003) which has been translated into numerous languages including English (Loneliness on the Net.) It has also been made into a film in Poland, which has received rave reviews.
Wisniewski earned his Master Degrees in Physics and in Economics from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland. It's the first institution of higher education in Turin, founded in 1568. He also earned a PhD in Information Technology from Warsaw University of Technology and an Habilitation in Chemistry from the Technical University of Lodz. Incidentally, a PhD is not the highest academic qualification - it is actually the Habilitation, which is earned after a scholar has earned a PhD.
Furthermore, Wisniewski is one of the creators of AutoNom, a computer program which serves as a naming tool for organic substances in chemical compounds. He currently resides and works in Frankfurt, Germany.
Official Website (Polish) http://www.wisniewski.net/
Published Works
2012
Na feisie z moim synem (Wydawinctwo Wielka Litera) ISBN 978-83-63387-01-3
2011
Ukrwienia (WL, Wydawnictwo Literackie) ISBN 978-83-08-04655-5
Łóżko (Świat Książki, Wydawnictwo ) ISBN 978-83-247-2444-4
Zbliżenia (WL, Wydawnictwo Literackie ) ISBN 978-83-08-04456-8
2008
Arytmia uczuć (with Dorota Wellman, Wydawnictwo G +J) ISBN 978-83-60376-99-7
W poszukiwaniu Najważniejszego. Bajka trochę naukowa ( Nasza Księgarnia, Wydawnictwo Sp. z o.o. ) ISBN 978-83-10-11562-1
2007
Czy mężczyźni są światu potrzebni? (Wydawnictwo Literackie) ISBN 978-83-08-04101-7
2006
Molekuły emocji (Wydawnictwo Literackie) ISBN 83-08-03902-2
Opowiadania letnie, a nawet gorące Wydawnictwo Prószyński i S-ka SA ISBN 83-7469-328-2
2005
188 dni i nocy (with Małgorzata Domagalik, Wydawnictwo Santorski & Co) ISBN 83-60207-20-8
Opowieści wigilijne Wydawnictwo Prószyński i S-ka SA ISBN 83-7469-172-7
Intymna teoria względności (Wydawnictwo Literackie) ISBN 83-08-03738-0
10 x miłość Świat Książki ISBN 83-7391-784-5
2004
Los powtórzony Wydawnictwo Prószyński i S-ka SA ISBN 83-7337-756-5
2003
S@motność w Sieci. Tryptyk Wydawnictwa Czarne i Prószyński S-ka) ISBN 83-7337-477-9
Martyna (jako współautor, Wydawnictwo Platforma Mediowa Point Group) ISBN 83-918772-0-5
2002
Zespoły napięć (Wydawnictwo Prószyński i S-ka SA) ISBN 83-7337-887-1
2001
S@motność w Sieci (Wydawnictwa Czarne i Prószyński S-ka) ISBN 83-7255-925-2
KASIA SMUTNIAK
Kasia Smutniak is a popular actress and model. Though she was born in Poland (Katarzyna Anna Smutniak) she has worked in films throughout Europe. She speaks several languages fluently (Polish, Russian, English and Italian.)
Among her many films she appeared in a supporting role in From Paris with Love (2010) starring John Travolta, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers., When the film opened on February 5, 2010, it earned over $8.1 million on the first weekend and ranked #3 among over 2700 movie theatres. But it did not fare well at the box office or with critics. However, The Fourth State, a German film, was praised by Variety for its exceptional musical score and cinematography. Daniel Gottschalk, the cinematographer was nominated for a Deutschen Filmpreis.
Filmography
2000
At the Right Moment
2002
Haker
2004
Ultimo 3: L'infiltrato (movie for TV)
Radio West
Ora per Sempre
13dici a tavola
2006
Questa e la mia terra (TV mini series)
La moglie cinese (TV mini-series)
2007
Giuseppe Moscati (TV movie)
Questa e la mia terra vent'anni dopo (TV series)
Nelle tue mani
2008
Caos calmo
Rino Gaetano: Ma il cielo e sempre piu blu (TV movie)
Camera: The Walking Mountain
Il commissario De Luca (TV mini series)
2009
Goa! 3: Taking on The World
Freedom
Barbarossa (English title: Sword of War)
2010
From Paris With Love
Clash of Civilization over Elevator in Piazza Vittorio
La passione
2012
The Fourth State
2013
In Treatment (TV series)
SERGEY VLADIMIROVICH YASTRZHEMBSKY
“ President Yeltsin and the Russian leadership are convinced that NATO's plans to expand to the east, if realized, could be the West's biggest strategic mistake since the end of the Cold War. ”
Sergey Vladimirovich Yastrzhembsky (CNN World News)
Despite his Polish background, Sergey Vladimirovich Yastrzhembsky, became a high-ranking Russian official, a diplomat, and political spokesman for President Vladimir Putin. Sergey was groomed for the role at the highly prestigious Moscow State Institute for Foreign Relations (the MGIMO). Founded in 1944, it's reputation as an elitist institution quickly became known and prized around the world. The MGIMO has churned out professionals in the field of international relations and diplomacy. However, some are of the opinion that the MGIMO serves also as a fertile recruiting ground for the KGB, but I digress.
He also earned a Ph.D in history at the Soviet Academy of Sciences' Institute of the International Workers' Movement (1979).
Sergey was junior researcher at the Academy of Social Sciences for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. (1979-81) He was promoted to senior researcher, editorial adviser, and assistant executive secretary at the Global and Socialist Issues magazine, Prague, Czechoslovakia (1981-89) This was followed by a two-year stint as senior researcher at the Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
From 1990 to 1992 he worked as Deputy editor-in-chief Megapolis magazine, editor-in-chief of the VIP magazine, and served asdeputy general director of the Social and Political Research Fund.
In the period from 1992 to 1998 he served various diplomatic functions, such as director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian representative to Slovakia, Press Attache to President Putin, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Executive Office.
After a brief sojourn as Deputy Prime Minister of Moscow City (1998-2000) he returned to his position as aide to President Putin until 2008 when Dimitry Medvedev was elected to the Presidency.
Sergey served President Putin, as chief spokesperson regarding the Chechnya conflict, and was rewarded by a promotion in 2001 placing him squarely as head of the Kremlin's Information Policy Department, and co-ordinator of Putin's "external communications".
In 2004, Putin appointed Sergey Special Envoy to the European Union in Brussels. By the end of his post in 2008, Sergey warned the EU that the consequences of recognizing Kosovo's independence, would open a "Pandora's box" of separatism in Europe.
At the end of Putin's presidency, Sergey 's position was terminated, though some claim he left the Kremlin of his own accord. Others attest it was the fallout of the power shift.
Sergey has since embarked in the film industry. In 2009 he started his own film company called, Yastreb Film. Only a year later he directed his first film, a documentary called " Sacred Fire of the Himba" which was nominated for the Golden Eagle Award of the Russian National Academy of Motion Picture Arts.
He has also produced numerous documentaries, including a series entitled "Beyond the Passage of Time" which features the lives of traditional African peoples. Since 2011, he has worked as a television host of a Russian programme called Magic of Adventures
VLADEMAR TOMASEVSKI
Vlademar Tomasevski is a Lithuanian politician, member of European Parliament, and sits in the European Conservatives and Reformists Group. And he is of Polish descent.
In 1995 he was elected to the Council of Vilnius district for Electoral Action and in 1999 was elected President of the AWPL, the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania. A year later, Vlademar was elected to the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) winning an astounding 51% of the vote in the city of Salcinikai (near Vilnius). Soon after he became Deputy Major of Vilnius district which he served from 2000 to 2003. In 2004 Tomasevski was re-elected to the Seimas again with 63% of the vote and re-elected again in 2008 with 61% of the vote - eight times more than that of his competitors share.
In the May 2009 presidential elections, Vlademar Tomasevski was the first AWPL candidate entering the presidential race, but he came in fourth with 4.7% of the national vote, while the Dalia Grybauskatie, the Lithuanian Steel Magnolia, won with a landslide.
In June of the same year, Vlademar ran for election to the European Parliament and win 8.4 % of the vote, up from 5.7% in 2004. He was the first candidate of the AWPL to top the list and win election. Tomasevski was appointed to the bureau of the European Conservatives and Reformists, the fifth largest political party of the European Parliament.
For his outstanding accomplishments and commitment to Polish issues, Vlademar Tomasevski with the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
JAMES GIMZEWSKI
I have made one exception in this series, to acknowledge and honour a Scottish genious. Even though Scotland does not qualify as a "nation-state" per se, it warrants our attention and respect. James Gimzewski is a Polish-Scottish physicist who has pioneered research on electrical contact with single atoms and molecules, light emission and molecular imaging using STM. (Scanning Tunneling Microscope). The STM was invented by Gerd Binning and Heinrich Rohrer, which won them the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1986.
Among Gimzewski`s accomplishments, he succeeded in manipulating molecules through the use of STM; discovered molecular abacus using buckyballs; and single molecule rotors; developed nanomechanical sensors, and synthesized carbon nanotubes.
Gimzewski`s interest is in nanoarchitectronics of molecular systems and molecular and biomolecular machines, particularly those with quantum mechanical possibilities for information processing.
He has also conducted research into biophysics, or rather sonocytology (a term which he has coined.) James Gimzewski, and Andrew Pelling (a UCLA grad student) were the first to publish an article on this research in a 2004 issue of Science Magazine.
It was discovered, that by using a modified atomic force microscope (Bioscope AFM), it was possible to detect vibrations of the cell wall of a living cell. And that these vibrations, amplified through the use of specialized computer software, created audible sounds. Even more fascinating was the fact that cancerous cells emitted a sound slightly different from those of healthy cells. Gimzewski and Pelling expect that sonocytology will one day develop practical applications to aid in earlier detection and diagnosis of cancer in patients.
Gimzewski earned his PhD in 1977 from University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. He was group leader at IMB Zurich Research Laboratory where he researched nanoscale science. (1983-2001) He is currently a Professor at UCLA,'s departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and concurrently leads research in his PicoLab. He also serves as faculty director of the Nano Pico Characterization core lab at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA. He has published over 168 research papers, which appear in numerous journals such as Science, Nature, and has been featured in Discover Magazine, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Scientific American.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Fellow of the Royal Society (May 2009)
Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology (1997)
The Discover Award for Emerging Fields (1997)
Wires 25 Award (1998) (from Wired Magazine)
Duddell (2001) (from the Institute of Physics, prize for work in nanoscale science)
Two "Outstanding Innovation Awards" from IBM
Fellow of the Institute of Physics
Chartered Physicist
Elected Member to the Royal Academy of Engineering
Scientific Board of Carbon Nanotechnologies Inc
Scientific Board of Veeco Instruments
Albert Einstein once said, "I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."
James Gimzewski is an artist also.
ABOUT THE POLISH DIASPORA
Polish people have ventured throughout the world as early as the 17th century, when Polish missionaries arrived in Japan for the first time. Polish men crossed the treacherous Atlantic to join the fight for American Independence, and took part in establishing settlements on American soil. (read about Polish-American Hero Tadeusz Kosciuszko)
Throughout Polish history Polish men, women and children emigrated in vast numbers to escape the treachery of invaders from Russia, Prussia and Austria. With the onset of World War II, Poland had been partitioned a fourth time.
Statistics indicate that during the Cold War in Poland (1946 to 1982) there were 1,877,000 Polish people who emigrated. (However, the same data indicates that 1.3 million of them were Aussiedler, settlers in Poland who were of German origin.) Therefore the actual Polish emigration was exceedingly lower. For the most part, Polish emigration was due to either expulsion or the need to escape political terrorism.
While the population of the Republic of Poland is about 60 million people, there are approximately 20 million people of Polish heritage living and working in nations around the world. This make the Polish Diaspora one of the largest in the world.
After Warsaw, the second largest "Polish city" is Chicago, with 1.8 million Polish-Americans. There are 10.6 million Polish people living and working in the United States, 2 million in Germany, and 1.2 million in Brazil.
Whether their reasons, Polish people have emigrated to virtually every country in the world: Canada, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Russia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, Brazil, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Argentina, Czech Republic, Latvia, Italy, South Africa, the Netherlands, Spain, Hungary, Denmark, Romania, Norway, Uruguay, New Zealand, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Moldavia,Venezuela, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Mexico, Estonia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Bulgaria, Georgia,Chile, Peru, Ireland and Turkey. While the Polish population is much smaller in many of these countries, they also live albeit in minute numbers in countries such as Algeria, Tunisia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Jordan, Iceland and Oceania.
There is no region in the world where Polish people have not ventured forth and prospered.
If you missed any part of this special series, please click the link below for a complete index.
In the past few months I had posted a few blogs highlighting extraordinary Polish men and women - from Canada, the United States, Australia, France, Britain, and Brazil. Some of them may already be familiar to you, others not. Unfortunately I had to omit many personalities. The task of mentioning them all is literally impossible for the limitations of the blog.
Nevertheless, these stories are meant to enlighten and entertain readers about the lives and work of great Polish people around the world. Wherever Polish people have chosen to call home - they have contributed their skills and talent, fascinated us with their brilliant intellect, and charmed us with their intrinsic beauty and grace.
Look to your left. Look to your right. One of you is Polish!
ADAM GIEREK
Adam Gierek was born in Belgium, and is a Polish politician. He is a member of the European Parliament and sits on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. He is serves as substitute for the Committee on Culture and Education, as well as member to the Delegations of the EU to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees (for relations with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Mongolia) and substitute for the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.Gierek holds a Master's in Engineering, and Doctorate. Among his positions, he has been Professor at the Silesian University of Technology; from 1972 to 1982 he was the head of the Metallurgical Sciences and Technology Department and Director of the Institute of Materials Engineering; since 1973 he has been member of the Polish Academy of Sciences; from 1982 to 1989 he was visiting Professor at the Technische Universitat in Dresden; and member of the Polish Nuclear Society (PTN) among many other organizations.
AWARDS AND MEDALS
Order of the Banner of Labour, Second Class
Knight's Cross of the Order of Poland Reborn
Gold Medal for Merit for Defense of the Nation
National Education Medal
LUCIA TOPOLANSKY SAAVEDRA
(The MPP has been linked with the former guerilla movement known as the Tuparnaros. In the 1960s the Tuparnaros had launched a barrage of political kidnappings, armed propaganda and assassinations. However by 1971 the military unleashed violent bloody reprisals and crushed the movement. Jose Mujica was also a member of the MPP in its heyday.
Lucia Topolansky Saavedra became the first female President of Uruguay on November 26, 2010, albeit temporarily. According to a clause of the Uruguayan Constitution, in the event that the President and Vice-President are both absent from the country, the Presidency rests temporarily in the control of the leader of the largest elected group in the Senate, hence Mrs. Saavedra. However, it lasted only two days. On November 28th, the President and Vice-President both returned to Uruguay.
NADIA LUFTI
Nadia Lufti was born in Egypt - the daughter of an Egyptian father and Polish mother. Lufti became one of the most celebrated actresses in the Golden Age of Egyptian cinema. In fact she took her stage name from a character (Nadia Lotfy) of a smash hit film called La Anam, starring Omarr Shariff. Thus she made her first screen debut in 1958 when Omar Shariff and his beautiful wife, Faten Hamama, were the reigning couple of Arab cinema.
Lufti performed her first dramatic production entitled, Soultan. In her second film, Cairo Station, she took on a smaller role which brought it's director, Youssef Chahine, international acclaim when it was presented at the Berlin Film Festival.
Following this great success, Lufti performed in melodramas and musicals that were then much in demand by Arab audiences, films such as " Al Khataya" (1962). But she finally achieved distinction in the cinematic world by performing in several great films such as Naser Salah el Dine. In this film, she took the role of a Frankish warrior during the Crusades, wearing full armor in battle against her Christian-Arab lover.)
Also very noteworthy, and controversial was the film Lil-Rigal Faqat (1964) translated as For Men Only. In this film, Lufti and her co-star Su'ad Husni portrayed the roles of women geologists who disguise themselves as men in order to find work, and in the process struggle to suppress their romantic feelings to avoid discovery.
In the 1960s Lutfi's career skyrocketed when she starred in two films based on novels published by Naguib Mahfouz, a Nobel-prize winning author. Unfortunately, his novels, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed`, and "Children of Gebelawi" were both banned by religious authorities.
By the end of the 60s, Nadia performed one of her most sensational roles, that of an exotic dancer who seduces a much younger man, in Abi foq al-Shagara (My Father Atop a Tree)
Due to the increase in public demand for movies from the East and East, and that of home videos, Egypt's "Golden Age" of cinema petered out, and with it Lutfi's career sadly faded. In the first decade of her career she churned out almost 50 films, but in the decade that followed, she made only three, her last being in 1981.
Lutfi made an appearance in the press in 2004 when she came to the defence of her long-time friend, Omar Shariff. He was viciously berated by the Arab press when he confided that he intended to allow his grandchildren to decide on their own religious beliefs when they reached age of maturity. (One of them is Jewish).
DANNY SAUCEDO
Known as just " Danny " his three singles, "Tokyo, "Play it for the Girls" and "Radio" reached the top of Swedish music charts. The band won a Grammis (Swedish version of the Grammy Awards), for "Jennie Let Me Love You" (Song of the Year -2008). His first single released in the UK is "If Only You" also became a number one hit on the music charts in Russia and Poland.
Saucedos' talents are diverse: not only is he an accomplished musician but he has written songs for Alcazar and Pulse. He has also proven himself on the dance floor and was a contestant on Let's Dance 2008 (the Swedish version of Dancing With The Stars). Saucedon and his partner, Jeanette Carlsson (a professional dancer) won 12th place in the final of the Eurovision Dance Contest in Glasgow. He also made an appearance in a music video for "Victorious", by Swedish singers Velvet and Linda Bengtzing. In 2013, he hosted Melodifestivalen with Gina Dirawi, a Swedish-Palestinian celebrity.
Danny was born in Stockholm Sweden to a Polish father and Bolivian mother. He studied music at the prestigious Adolf Frederik's Music School, named after the great Swedish composer.
Discography as solo artist
Albums
2007 Heart Beats
2008 Set Your Body Free
2011 In the Club
Singles
2006
Oppna din dorr
Tokyo
Play It For the Girls
2007
If Only You (with Therese Grankvist)
Hey (I've Been Feeling Kind of Lonely)
2008
Radio
Need to Know
All on You
Emely (with Sasha Strunin)
Just Like That (with Lazee)
2011
In Your Eyes
In The Club
Tonight
2012
Amazing
All in My Head
Delirious
Todo Al Mundo (Dancing in the Streets).
Discography - As part of E.M.D.
Albums
2008: A State of Mind
2009: A State of Mind (Deluxe Edition)
2009: Välkommen hem
2010: Rewind
Singles
2007: "All for Love"
2008: "Jennie Let Me Love You"
2008: "Alone"
2009: "Baby Goodbye"
2009: "Youngblood"
2009: "Välkommen hem"
2010: "Save Tonight"
2010: "What Is Love"
JOSEF ZIELENIEC, Doc.Ing., CSc.
Before the communist invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1989, Zieleniec worked at the Institute of Research in Engineering Technology and Economics Research, and at the Institute of Economics of the Czechoslovak Academy of Science. He labored tirelessly in finding solutions to transform a centrally planned economy to that of market economy. His research was greatly influential after 1989 when discussions finally took place regarding economic reforms.
In 1990 Zieleniec was co-founder and director of The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education at the Charles University in Prague - the first Ph.D program of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, promoting American-style economics. He also became a member of the Scientific Council of the Faculty of Sciences.
Though Dr. Zieleniec was born in Moscow, Russia, and his nationality Czech, he is of Polish descent.
Education
Master's Degree
University of Economics, Prague (1974)
Postgraduate qualification " Candidate of Sciences:"
Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague (1986)
Senior Lecturer
(Charles University, Prague, 1991)
Accomplishments
1973-1989: Research fellow
since 1997: University teacher (1989-1992)
1998-2003: Businessman
since 1997: Economic advisor
1992-1997: Vice-Chairman of Civic Democratic Party (ODS)
since 2004: Political leader of SNK (Association of Independent Candidates)
1996-2000: Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic
2000-2004: Senator
1992: Minister for Foreign Relations of Czechoslovakia
1993-1997: Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic
1996-1997: Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
KRISTOFF RACZYNSKI
Born in Russia to Polish parents, the family immigrated to Mexico City in 1982. In a strange new world, young Kristoff struggled to overcome not only language barriers but found his first jobs as an elephant caretaker in a circus, as well as bagging groceries in supermarkets.
His experiences prepared him well. He was enrolled at the CEA, Televisa's school for the performing arts. And by the 1990s, Kristoff had written, produced and acted in the film Matando Cabos (2004). For the next several years, he performed supporting roles in telenovelas (the equivalent of soap operas) such as Vivo Por Elena (1998); Ramona (2000) and many others.
Kristoff enjoyed top ratings for his television shows, No Te Equivoques (2001) which he co-hosted with Tony Dalton on Televisa TV. It was the Mexican version of "Jackass". In 2005, he collaborated with Horacio Villalobos in TV programs, Valvula De Escape and Desde Gayola. A year later Kristoff hosted the program called ID, which stirred up a great deal of controversy which brought him greater success - his program in Telehit. In 2008 he hosted the show called El Show Del Polaco, which was cancelled several months later. Kristoff wrote a short film in 2012, Confesiones de un Teibol (Confessions of a Tabledance) which was featured in the Cannes Film Festival.
Filmography
"Matando Cabos" (2004)
"Confesiones de un Teibol" (2011)
Telenovelas
"Vivo Por Elena" (1998)
"Ramona" (2000)
TV Shows
"No Te Equivoques" (2000–2003)
"Sexo Con Kristoff" (2007-)
"Cine Con Kristoff"(2007-)
"Gargaras Con Kristoff"(2007-2012)
"El Show Del Polaco" (2008–2009)
ANDRE KUDELSKI
Born in Switzerland to a Polish father, Andre earned his engineering degree at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausaunne (1984), among one of the world' s most prestigious universities. He served as R&D Engineer at Kudelski SA as well as in Silicon Valley before he took over the reigns from his father, Stefan, at Kudelski Group, as President and CEO. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Strategy Committee.
Kudelski also sits on the boards of some of the most powerful and prestigious companies in the world, Edipresse Group of Nestle, Swiss International Air Lines, and Dassault Systemes (France) and the list goes on. Moreover he is a member of the Advisory Board of Credit Suisse as well as a member of the management committee of Economie Suisse.
EVA SACHIKO POPIEL
Before relocating to South Korea, she was selected to be the Japanese represenative for L' Oreal (Sept 2003 to August 2005). But it wasn't until 2006 that her popularity soared when she performed in the reality television series, Super Junior Full House.
A year later, Eva was chosen to replace the current English Speed Quiz teacher in the reality show, Star Golden Bell. She has made frequent appearances on Global Talk Show (Korean Broadcasting System) representing the United Kingdom.
Eva also appeared in the television series called Likeable or Not (2007) which reached the highest ratings of any Korean show since 2000 - 43% rating! The show received awards from the KBS network.
ADAM JEZIERSKI
Jezierski has acted in theatre and films and television and is best known for the role of Gorka Martinez on the popular television series Fisica o Quimica. It received enormous acclaim as well as controversy for its subject matter, that is, teenage problems struggling to cope with drug abuse, addictions, anorexia, and sexual orientation.
He also acted in the television series Hospital Central, and Cuentame (2007). Among his films were Suenos (2003), Siete (2004), Gordos (2009), Tension sexual no resuelta, and Verbo (2010); Cheers (the Spanish version,2011) and Tormenta (2013.)
JANUSZ LEON WISNIEWSKI
Wisniewski earned his Master Degrees in Physics and in Economics from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland. It's the first institution of higher education in Turin, founded in 1568. He also earned a PhD in Information Technology from Warsaw University of Technology and an Habilitation in Chemistry from the Technical University of Lodz. Incidentally, a PhD is not the highest academic qualification - it is actually the Habilitation, which is earned after a scholar has earned a PhD.
Furthermore, Wisniewski is one of the creators of AutoNom, a computer program which serves as a naming tool for organic substances in chemical compounds. He currently resides and works in Frankfurt, Germany.
Official Website (Polish) http://www.wisniewski.net/
Published Works
2012
Na feisie z moim synem (Wydawinctwo Wielka Litera) ISBN 978-83-63387-01-3
2011
Ukrwienia (WL, Wydawnictwo Literackie) ISBN 978-83-08-04655-5
Łóżko (Świat Książki, Wydawnictwo ) ISBN 978-83-247-2444-4
Zbliżenia (WL, Wydawnictwo Literackie ) ISBN 978-83-08-04456-8
2008
Arytmia uczuć (with Dorota Wellman, Wydawnictwo G +J) ISBN 978-83-60376-99-7
W poszukiwaniu Najważniejszego. Bajka trochę naukowa ( Nasza Księgarnia, Wydawnictwo Sp. z o.o. ) ISBN 978-83-10-11562-1
2007
Czy mężczyźni są światu potrzebni? (Wydawnictwo Literackie) ISBN 978-83-08-04101-7
2006
Molekuły emocji (Wydawnictwo Literackie) ISBN 83-08-03902-2
Opowiadania letnie, a nawet gorące Wydawnictwo Prószyński i S-ka SA ISBN 83-7469-328-2
2005
188 dni i nocy (with Małgorzata Domagalik, Wydawnictwo Santorski & Co) ISBN 83-60207-20-8
Opowieści wigilijne Wydawnictwo Prószyński i S-ka SA ISBN 83-7469-172-7
Intymna teoria względności (Wydawnictwo Literackie) ISBN 83-08-03738-0
10 x miłość Świat Książki ISBN 83-7391-784-5
2004
Los powtórzony Wydawnictwo Prószyński i S-ka SA ISBN 83-7337-756-5
2003
S@motność w Sieci. Tryptyk Wydawnictwa Czarne i Prószyński S-ka) ISBN 83-7337-477-9
Martyna (jako współautor, Wydawnictwo Platforma Mediowa Point Group) ISBN 83-918772-0-5
2002
Zespoły napięć (Wydawnictwo Prószyński i S-ka SA) ISBN 83-7337-887-1
2001
S@motność w Sieci (Wydawnictwa Czarne i Prószyński S-ka) ISBN 83-7255-925-2
KASIA SMUTNIAK
Among her many films she appeared in a supporting role in From Paris with Love (2010) starring John Travolta, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers., When the film opened on February 5, 2010, it earned over $8.1 million on the first weekend and ranked #3 among over 2700 movie theatres. But it did not fare well at the box office or with critics. However, The Fourth State, a German film, was praised by Variety for its exceptional musical score and cinematography. Daniel Gottschalk, the cinematographer was nominated for a Deutschen Filmpreis.
Filmography
2000
At the Right Moment
2002
Haker
2004
Ultimo 3: L'infiltrato (movie for TV)
Radio West
Ora per Sempre
13dici a tavola
2006
Questa e la mia terra (TV mini series)
La moglie cinese (TV mini-series)
2007
Giuseppe Moscati (TV movie)
Questa e la mia terra vent'anni dopo (TV series)
Nelle tue mani
2008
Caos calmo
Rino Gaetano: Ma il cielo e sempre piu blu (TV movie)
Camera: The Walking Mountain
Il commissario De Luca (TV mini series)
2009
Goa! 3: Taking on The World
Freedom
Barbarossa (English title: Sword of War)
2010
From Paris With Love
Clash of Civilization over Elevator in Piazza Vittorio
La passione
2012
The Fourth State
2013
In Treatment (TV series)
SERGEY VLADIMIROVICH YASTRZHEMBSKY
Sergey Vladimirovich Yastrzhembsky (CNN World News)
Despite his Polish background, Sergey Vladimirovich Yastrzhembsky, became a high-ranking Russian official, a diplomat, and political spokesman for President Vladimir Putin. Sergey was groomed for the role at the highly prestigious Moscow State Institute for Foreign Relations (the MGIMO). Founded in 1944, it's reputation as an elitist institution quickly became known and prized around the world. The MGIMO has churned out professionals in the field of international relations and diplomacy. However, some are of the opinion that the MGIMO serves also as a fertile recruiting ground for the KGB, but I digress.
He also earned a Ph.D in history at the Soviet Academy of Sciences' Institute of the International Workers' Movement (1979).
Sergey was junior researcher at the Academy of Social Sciences for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. (1979-81) He was promoted to senior researcher, editorial adviser, and assistant executive secretary at the Global and Socialist Issues magazine, Prague, Czechoslovakia (1981-89) This was followed by a two-year stint as senior researcher at the Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
From 1990 to 1992 he worked as Deputy editor-in-chief Megapolis magazine, editor-in-chief of the VIP magazine, and served asdeputy general director of the Social and Political Research Fund.
In the period from 1992 to 1998 he served various diplomatic functions, such as director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian representative to Slovakia, Press Attache to President Putin, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Executive Office.
After a brief sojourn as Deputy Prime Minister of Moscow City (1998-2000) he returned to his position as aide to President Putin until 2008 when Dimitry Medvedev was elected to the Presidency.
Sergey served President Putin, as chief spokesperson regarding the Chechnya conflict, and was rewarded by a promotion in 2001 placing him squarely as head of the Kremlin's Information Policy Department, and co-ordinator of Putin's "external communications".
In 2004, Putin appointed Sergey Special Envoy to the European Union in Brussels. By the end of his post in 2008, Sergey warned the EU that the consequences of recognizing Kosovo's independence, would open a "Pandora's box" of separatism in Europe.
At the end of Putin's presidency, Sergey 's position was terminated, though some claim he left the Kremlin of his own accord. Others attest it was the fallout of the power shift.
Sergey has since embarked in the film industry. In 2009 he started his own film company called, Yastreb Film. Only a year later he directed his first film, a documentary called " Sacred Fire of the Himba" which was nominated for the Golden Eagle Award of the Russian National Academy of Motion Picture Arts.
He has also produced numerous documentaries, including a series entitled "Beyond the Passage of Time" which features the lives of traditional African peoples. Since 2011, he has worked as a television host of a Russian programme called Magic of Adventures
VLADEMAR TOMASEVSKI
In 1995 he was elected to the Council of Vilnius district for Electoral Action and in 1999 was elected President of the AWPL, the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania. A year later, Vlademar was elected to the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) winning an astounding 51% of the vote in the city of Salcinikai (near Vilnius). Soon after he became Deputy Major of Vilnius district which he served from 2000 to 2003. In 2004 Tomasevski was re-elected to the Seimas again with 63% of the vote and re-elected again in 2008 with 61% of the vote - eight times more than that of his competitors share.
In the May 2009 presidential elections, Vlademar Tomasevski was the first AWPL candidate entering the presidential race, but he came in fourth with 4.7% of the national vote, while the Dalia Grybauskatie, the Lithuanian Steel Magnolia, won with a landslide.
In June of the same year, Vlademar ran for election to the European Parliament and win 8.4 % of the vote, up from 5.7% in 2004. He was the first candidate of the AWPL to top the list and win election. Tomasevski was appointed to the bureau of the European Conservatives and Reformists, the fifth largest political party of the European Parliament.
For his outstanding accomplishments and commitment to Polish issues, Vlademar Tomasevski with the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
JAMES GIMZEWSKI
Among Gimzewski`s accomplishments, he succeeded in manipulating molecules through the use of STM; discovered molecular abacus using buckyballs; and single molecule rotors; developed nanomechanical sensors, and synthesized carbon nanotubes.
Gimzewski`s interest is in nanoarchitectronics of molecular systems and molecular and biomolecular machines, particularly those with quantum mechanical possibilities for information processing.
He has also conducted research into biophysics, or rather sonocytology (a term which he has coined.) James Gimzewski, and Andrew Pelling (a UCLA grad student) were the first to publish an article on this research in a 2004 issue of Science Magazine.
It was discovered, that by using a modified atomic force microscope (Bioscope AFM), it was possible to detect vibrations of the cell wall of a living cell. And that these vibrations, amplified through the use of specialized computer software, created audible sounds. Even more fascinating was the fact that cancerous cells emitted a sound slightly different from those of healthy cells. Gimzewski and Pelling expect that sonocytology will one day develop practical applications to aid in earlier detection and diagnosis of cancer in patients.
Gimzewski earned his PhD in 1977 from University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. He was group leader at IMB Zurich Research Laboratory where he researched nanoscale science. (1983-2001) He is currently a Professor at UCLA,'s departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and concurrently leads research in his PicoLab. He also serves as faculty director of the Nano Pico Characterization core lab at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA. He has published over 168 research papers, which appear in numerous journals such as Science, Nature, and has been featured in Discover Magazine, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Scientific American.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Fellow of the Royal Society (May 2009)
Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology (1997)
The Discover Award for Emerging Fields (1997)
Wires 25 Award (1998) (from Wired Magazine)
Duddell (2001) (from the Institute of Physics, prize for work in nanoscale science)
Two "Outstanding Innovation Awards" from IBM
Fellow of the Institute of Physics
Chartered Physicist
Elected Member to the Royal Academy of Engineering
Scientific Board of Carbon Nanotechnologies Inc
Scientific Board of Veeco Instruments
Albert Einstein once said, "I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."
James Gimzewski is an artist also.
THE POLISH DIASPORA
ABOUT THE POLISH DIASPORA
Polish people have ventured throughout the world as early as the 17th century, when Polish missionaries arrived in Japan for the first time. Polish men crossed the treacherous Atlantic to join the fight for American Independence, and took part in establishing settlements on American soil. (read about Polish-American Hero Tadeusz Kosciuszko)
Throughout Polish history Polish men, women and children emigrated in vast numbers to escape the treachery of invaders from Russia, Prussia and Austria. With the onset of World War II, Poland had been partitioned a fourth time.
Statistics indicate that during the Cold War in Poland (1946 to 1982) there were 1,877,000 Polish people who emigrated. (However, the same data indicates that 1.3 million of them were Aussiedler, settlers in Poland who were of German origin.) Therefore the actual Polish emigration was exceedingly lower. For the most part, Polish emigration was due to either expulsion or the need to escape political terrorism.
While the population of the Republic of Poland is about 60 million people, there are approximately 20 million people of Polish heritage living and working in nations around the world. This make the Polish Diaspora one of the largest in the world.
After Warsaw, the second largest "Polish city" is Chicago, with 1.8 million Polish-Americans. There are 10.6 million Polish people living and working in the United States, 2 million in Germany, and 1.2 million in Brazil.
Whether their reasons, Polish people have emigrated to virtually every country in the world: Canada, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Russia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, Brazil, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Argentina, Czech Republic, Latvia, Italy, South Africa, the Netherlands, Spain, Hungary, Denmark, Romania, Norway, Uruguay, New Zealand, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Moldavia,Venezuela, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Mexico, Estonia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Bulgaria, Georgia,Chile, Peru, Ireland and Turkey. While the Polish population is much smaller in many of these countries, they also live albeit in minute numbers in countries such as Algeria, Tunisia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Jordan, Iceland and Oceania.
There is no region in the world where Polish people have not ventured forth and prospered.
VIVA IL MONDO! VIVA LA POLONIA!
If you missed any part of this special series, please click the link below for a complete index.
December 15, 2013
THE POLISH DIASPORA: PART 6 FAMOUS POLISH BRAZILIANS
ZBIGNIEW HENRIQUE MOROZOWICZ(alias HENRIQUE DE CURITIBA)
"Henrique de Curitiba".Morozowicz' success was largely due to the influence of his parents, who emigrated to Brazil in 1873. His father enjoyed a successful career in dancing and choreography, and performed often at the prestigious opera house La Scala, in Milan, Italy. Henrique's interest in music was nurtured by his mother, who was a pianist. Her influence lead him to study music at the Curitiba Music and Arts School from which he graduated in 1953. He played the organ at the city cathedral but soon relocated to Sao Paulo to study piano and composition at the Escola Livre de Musica. In 1960 he traveled to Poland to embark on further studies. In 1981 Henrique earned his Master's Degree at Cornell University, and under the guidance of his mentor of Karel Husa. Morozowicz had composed more than 150 works, many of them choral arrangements.
During the 1980s and 1990s he taught at the UFPR (Federal University of Parana) and UFG (Universidade Federal de Goiás). He once described his music as a blend of elements from Western and Brazilian ethnic cultures. The interpretation of his compositions are as fearless and powerful as are the Polish eople who have suffered centuries of invasions, massacres, and political repression. Morozowicz was a true Polish patriot.
Among his great works are Ja Vem a Primavera, Pingos d'agua, A minha cidade, Canto ao sol, Da importância de viver, Parábola, Romance, Filosofia, and Ante uma tarde bonita que finda, among many other wonderful compositions. Sadly he died in Curitiba on February 22, 2008
To read about the history of Polish in Brazil please click on the following link. It is a thesis written by Deloise Chagas Lima in the Graduate School at Florida State University: entitled, Henrique de Curitiba Morozowicz: A Biography and Discussion of Selected Vocal and Instrumental Works with Piano.
(Editors Note: The Ragamuffin War was the one of the bloodiest uprisings in the war for independence against the Brazilian empire. The rebels, led by Generals Bento Goncalves da Silva, and Antonia de Sousa Neto fought with the support of Italian freedom fighter Giuseppe Garibaldi, but they failed to usurp the imperial powers and surrendered in 1945.)
Motobrás - Dia da Mulher_Letícia Wierzchowski (00:00:16sec)
Before I Was a Supermodel: Alessandra Ambrosio (00:01:38m)
"Henrique de Curitiba".Morozowicz' success was largely due to the influence of his parents, who emigrated to Brazil in 1873. His father enjoyed a successful career in dancing and choreography, and performed often at the prestigious opera house La Scala, in Milan, Italy. Henrique's interest in music was nurtured by his mother, who was a pianist. Her influence lead him to study music at the Curitiba Music and Arts School from which he graduated in 1953. He played the organ at the city cathedral but soon relocated to Sao Paulo to study piano and composition at the Escola Livre de Musica. In 1960 he traveled to Poland to embark on further studies. In 1981 Henrique earned his Master's Degree at Cornell University, and under the guidance of his mentor of Karel Husa. Morozowicz had composed more than 150 works, many of them choral arrangements.
During the 1980s and 1990s he taught at the UFPR (Federal University of Parana) and UFG (Universidade Federal de Goiás). He once described his music as a blend of elements from Western and Brazilian ethnic cultures. The interpretation of his compositions are as fearless and powerful as are the Polish eople who have suffered centuries of invasions, massacres, and political repression. Morozowicz was a true Polish patriot.
Among his great works are Ja Vem a Primavera, Pingos d'agua, A minha cidade, Canto ao sol, Da importância de viver, Parábola, Romance, Filosofia, and Ante uma tarde bonita que finda, among many other wonderful compositions. Sadly he died in Curitiba on February 22, 2008
To read about the history of Polish in Brazil please click on the following link. It is a thesis written by Deloise Chagas Lima in the Graduate School at Florida State University: entitled, Henrique de Curitiba Morozowicz: A Biography and Discussion of Selected Vocal and Instrumental Works with Piano.
LETICIA WIERZCHOWSKI
Leticia Wierzchowski is a popular Polish-Brazilian author who has written sixteen novels most centered on historical fiction, as well as writing children's literature. Her stories weave elements set on a stage of war and revolution from her European heritage and that of life in her new home, Brazil. She was born in Brasil and is the granddaughter of a Polish emigrant. Her most successful book is A Casa das Sete Mulheres (House of the Seven Women) (2002) which tells the story of the lives of women whose husbands joined the uprising in the Ragamuffin War in the mid-19th century. House of Seven Women has been translated into five languages and adapted for television miniseries aired in 23 countries.
(Editors Note: The Ragamuffin War was the one of the bloodiest uprisings in the war for independence against the Brazilian empire. The rebels, led by Generals Bento Goncalves da Silva, and Antonia de Sousa Neto fought with the support of Italian freedom fighter Giuseppe Garibaldi, but they failed to usurp the imperial powers and surrendered in 1945.)
Motobrás - Dia da Mulher_Letícia Wierzchowski (00:00:16sec)
http://www.leticiawierzchowski.com.br/
Leticia Wierzchowski has writted other books such as:
.
O dragão de Wawel e outras lendas polonesas
The Wawel Dragon and Other Polish Tales
(Stories about Polish culture)
Uma ponte para Terebin
A Bridge to Terebin
(The story of Jan Wierzchowski, her grandfather, who emigrated to Brazil just before World War II broke out.)
Cristal Polônes
Polish Crystal
O Anjo e o Resto de Nós
The Angel and the Rest of Us (1998)
Prata do Tempo
Time Silvery (1999)
eu@teamo.com.br
I@loveyou.com.br (1999)
O Pintor que Escrevia
The Painter Who Writes ( 2003)
Um Farol no Pampa
A Lighthouse on the Pampa (2004)
De um Grande Amor e uma Perdição Maior Ainda
A Great Love and A Great Doom (2007)
Os Aparados - 2009
Children books
Todas as Coisas querem ser Outras Coisas
All the Things who want to be Other Things (2006)
O Menino Paciente
The Patient Boy (2007)
Era uma Vez um Gato Xadrez
Once there was a Checkered Cat (2008)
PAULO SZOT
Paulo Szot has stolen the hearts of music aficiandos around the world, and has garnered the reputation of being quite a heart throb, often referred to as a "Barihunk". Were it not for a knee injury he suffered at the age of 21, the world would never know his great talent and remarkable baritone voice.
Szot was born in Brazil of Polish parents who emigrated after the end of World War II. A prodigy at the age of five, he began his musical training in earnest, quickly progressing to violin and classical ballet. After his knee injury put an end to his dancing ambitions, he embarked on a career in singing, upon the encouragement of his instructor-mentor.
Paulo Szot made his operatic debut in 1997at the famous Metropolitan Opera. A year later he made his Broadway debut in South Pacific, performing the role of Emile De Becque - it won him the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, and he was bestowed with a string of other awards, honours, and nominations. Having won a Tony is impressive, but only more so because Szot is the first Brazilian, that is Polish-Brazilian, to achieve such a lofty honour.
He studied at the prestigious Jagiellonian University in Poland and began singing professionally in 1990. He performed at the Municipal Theatre of Sao Paulo, New York City Opera, Palm Beach Opera, the Canadian Opera Company, Opera de Marseille, and Vlaamse Opera, among others.He also performmed at La Scala in Miln, Italy. Among his operatic performances were L'elisir d'amore, La Boheme, Don Giovanni, Cavalleria rusticana, I Pagliacci, Carmen, Cosi fan tutte, Le nozze di Figaro, Maria Golovin, The Nose.
paulo szot (00:04:13m)
paulo szot (00:04:13m)
Awards and Nominations
Best Vocal Performance (2000)
Premio Carlos Gomes
Best Actor in a Musical (2008)
Winner of the Theatre World Award
Best Actor in a Musical (2008)
Winner of Drama Desk
Best Actor in a Musical (2008)
Winner Outer Critics Award
Best Actor in a Musical (2008)
Winner Tony Award
Medal Zasłużony Kulturze (Medal for Merit to Culture)
"Gloria Artis" Highest Honorary Mention
Jornal Globo
Winner Prêmio Faz Diferença
Best Actor in a Musical (2012)
Nomination of Laurence Olivier Award
STAGE PRODUCTIONS
1996
Teatro Paulo Eiró- São Paulo The Barber of Seville
1997
Sesc Ipiranga- São Paulo Gianni Scchicchi
Teatro Municipal de Santo André The Barber of Seville
1998
Teatro Alfa Real- São Paulo La Bohème
Teatro Municipal de São Paulo Carmen
Teatro Municipal de São Paulo La Bohème
Festival Ópera de Manaus L’Elisir d’Amore
1999
Teatro Alfa Real- São Paulo Don Giovanni
Teatro São Pedro-SP The Barber of Seville
Municipal de São Paulo Don Giovanni
Teatro São Pedro de Porto Alegre The Barber of Seville
Teatro São Pedro de Porto Alegre The Barber of Seville
Teatro Amazonas O Guarani
2000
Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro Carmen
Teatro Alfa Real- São Paulo Cavaleria Rusticana
Teatro Alfa Real- São Paulo I Pagliacci
Teatro Rio de Janeiro Die Fledermaus
Teatro Municipal de São Paulo Cavaleria Rusticana
Teatro Rio de Janeiro Die Fledermaus
Teatro Municipal de São Paulo Cavaleria Rusticana
Teatro Municipal de São Paulo I Pagliacci
2001
Municipal do Rio de Janeiro Tanhäuser
Teatro Alfa- São Paulo Carmen
Teatro Municipal de São Paulo Carmen
Teatro Amazonas Don Giovanni
Teatro Amazonas Don Giovanni
Teatro Amazonas La Bohème
Teatro Municipal de São Paulo Hansel and Gretel
Teatro Municipal de São Paulo Hansel and Gretel
2002
Teatro Amazonas Manon
Teatro Alfa - São Paulo Manon
Teatro Amazonas I Pagliacci
2003
Teatro Municipal de São Paulo Hansel and Gretel
Teatro Amazonas Cavaleria Rusticana
Teatro São Pedro- SP Don Pasqual
Teatro Municipal de Santo André Don Pasquale
Porto Alegre Merry Widow
New York City Opera Carmen
Michigan Opera Don Giovanni
2004
New York City Opera Le Nozze di Figaro
Palm Beach Opera Carmen
Ópera de Marseille Eugene Onegin
Teatro Sérgio Cardoso Orfeo
2005
New York City Opera L’elisir d’Amore
Festival de Campos do Jordão Rita
Opera de Marseille Dido and Aeneas
Opera de Toulon Don Giovanni
Opera de Bordeaux Don Giovanni
2006
Opera de Marseille Cosi Fan Tutte
Opera de Marseille Maria Golovin
2007
Opera de Nice Cosi Fan Tutte
Boston Le Nozze di Figaro
Spoleto Opera Festival - Italy Maria Golovin
Liceo de Barcelona Le Portrait de Manon
Vlaamse Opera- Antwerp Le Nozze di Figaro
2008
Vlaamse Opera - Ghent Le Nozze di Figaro
Lincoln Center Theater- New York South Pacific
Opera de Marseille Merry Widow
2009
Lincoln Center Theater - New York South Pacific
2010
Metropolitan Opera New York The Nose
Lincoln Center Theater - New York South Pacific
2011
Metropolitan Opera New York Carmen
Opera Garnier de Paris Cosi Fan Tutte
Barbican - London South Pacific
San Francisco Opera Carmen
Oxford South Pacific
2012
Metropolitan Opera House New York Manon
Aix En Provence Festival Le Nozze di Figaro
Washington Opera Don Giovanni
2013
Opera di Roma The Nose
Teatro Alla Scala A Dog's Heart
Metropolitan Opera The Nose
Metropolitan Opera Die Fledermaus
ALESSANDRA CORINE AMBROSIO
Alessandra began modelling classes at the tender age of 12 and within three years was modelling professionally for Dilson Stein. Her career skyrocketed when she competed in Brazil's Model Look landing her a photo cover for Brazilian Elle Magazine, followed by a string of dream jobs: photo ads for Guess, Revlon, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, and many others, as well as runway modelling for Prada, Chanel, and Oscar de la Renta, just to name a few.
Ambrosio has made numerous appearances on television talk shows, as had a cameo role in the movie Casino Royale (Tennis Girl#1).
In 2004 she launched her label of swimwear called Alessandra Ambrosio by Sais (a division of Rosa Cha). In its first month on the market, her label sold 10,000 units.
But she is best known for being one of the Victoria Secret Angels, and is the first spokesmodel for the company's PINK line. Ambrosio is the symbol behind the Brazialian sportswear label Colcci and appeared in a very hot, very sexy ad with Ashton Kutcher.
Forbes Magazine ranked Ambrosio Number 5 on the list of The World's Top-Earning Models. Her annual earnings (for the year 2010-2011) was estimated to be $ 5 Million Dollars!
Ambrosio also appeared in the Closing Ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics, as part of the Brazilian contingent in the handover ceremony.
Before I Was a Supermodel: Alessandra Ambrosio (00:01:38m)
Alessandra also devotes her time as ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Ambrosio was born in Erechim, Brazil. Though her parents are Italian, and Polish-Brazilian, she is still the pride and joy of Polish fans everywhere!
ANSELMO VENDRECHOVSKI JUNIOR
In Brazil football is a religion, and where top players are worshiped as national heroes. All the more true when Anselmo is playing. He is a Brazilian football player whose great-grandparents were Polish. Poland - the second country where football reigns Supreme. What a great heritage!
Juninho, as he is affectionally called plays for Liga MX club Tigres de la UANL. He is central defender and his ability to score goals is nothing less than sublime. Previously he played for the Sao Paulo team, but in 2009 signed back with club Botafogo. However, Tigres would have none of that and offered him a more lucrative contract. Since then he plays for Tigres. His first goal was scored against Santos, 1-0 on a free kick in the 8th minute!
Anselmo has received many honours in his career, such as:
Club Tigres UANL
Primera Division de Mexico
Winner 1. Apertura 2011
Club Coritb
Parana Stte League
Winner 2: 2003, 2004
Club Botafogo
Taco Rio
Winner 1: 2007
Taca Guanabara
Winner 1: 2009
Club Sao Paulo
Brazilian Serie A:
Winner 1: 2008
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