An interuniversity team comprising experts from the Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk University of Technology, and the University of Gdańsk was recognised for a grassroots initiative that has impacted the communities of all three universities and demonstrates enduring significance. The innovative method is based on fundamental research in molecular spectroscopy and enables non-invasive estimation of time of death, age, and biological sex.
The initiative, entitled A method for non-invasive estimation of time of death, age, and biological sex (PL. Sposób bezinwazyjnego szacowania czasu zgonu, wieku oraz płci biologicznej) has already produced both scientific and applied outcomes – it has been validated in experimental studies, and its theoretical foundations and results have been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal (DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2025.127057). The developed method provides a basis for further research on the application of molecular spectroscopy techniques in the analysis of post-mortem changes in biological material. It will facilitate the development of interdisciplinary studies combining molecular spectroscopy with forensic sciences. The winning team comprises: Prof. Łukasz Balwicki from the Department of Public Health & Social Medicine at the MUG; Prof. Michał Kaliszan from the Department of Forensic Medicine at the MUG; Prof. Mattia Pierpaoli from the Centre for Future Materials at the Gdańsk Tech; Prof. Aneta Lewkowicz from the Department of Forensic Studies at the UG; and doctoral candidates at the UG: Martyna Czarnomska and Emilia Gruszczyńska. – This is an example of research in which science responds to concrete societal needs, and where collaboration between universities enables results that would be impossible to achieve individually, says Prof. Łukasz Balwicki.
Among the teams invited to the second stage of the Fahrenheit University Award competition, another received an honorary distinction: NeuroGDA – a series of scientific seminars submitted by Aleksandra Rutkowska, M.D, Ph.D., D.Sc. from the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the MUG, Krzysztof Basiński, Ph.D. from the Department of Quality of Life Research at the MUG, Prof. Michał Kucewicz from the Multimedia Systems Department at the Gdańsk Tech, and Prof. Grzegorz Węgrzyn from the Department of Molecular Biology at the UG. NeuroGDA is an initiative which integrates researchers in the nervous system, and in 2025 it organised seven seminars and a four-hour conference involving representatives from the three universities, the Tri-City area, and international guests (from Tokyo and Copenhagen). The organisers have already planned subsequent meetings, and interest in the initiative is growing, as neurobiology is an interdisciplinary field encompassing researchers in biology, medicine, psychology, physics, computational sciences, artificial intelligence, and other domains.
– NeuroGDA is an initiative led by scientists for scientists. We regard this award as a testament to the fact that grassroots scientific initiatives effectively strengthen the academic community and promote the advancement of research, emphasises Aleksandra Rutkowska. M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc.
Following the competition segment, members of the Assembly of the Association reviewed applications that contributed to conference funding, discussed the
planned launch of a grant program, and considered the organization of an event for the communities of the three universities in the spring. The formal awarding of the FarU Prize will take place on May 24 during the 5th Fahrenheit Science Picnic.
fot. K. Zygmunt
