This success should be treated as the result of continuous effort of the whole team of the Polish Hydrogeological Survey. The prize was awarded for contribution to sustainable management of groundwater resources.

Receiving the award for the Polish Hydrogeological Survey (PHS), PGI-NRI Deputy Director in charge of that survey said: This distinction is very important and honorable. Therefore, it is with great satisfaction that we accept this award for the whole Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute as contribution of hydrogeology and groundwater research in achievements of our institute has been remarkable throughout 96 years of its history. His special thanks went to the Ministry of Environment and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management for financial support for monitoring and groundwater research.

Green Laurels are awarded by the Polish Chamber of Commerce "Ekorozwój" (Ecodevelopment) each year to institutions, self-governments, companies and individual persons for outstanding proecological activities, especially those contributing to protection of air, water and soil quality and combating noise pollution.

On May 6 the Staszic Palace in Warsaw, the seat of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, hosted the 10th jubilee Green Laurel Prize 2015 ceremony.

Deputy Director dr Lesław Skrzypczyk thanks for the award. Behind him, left to right, are: Chairman of Green Laurel Chapter prof. Marek Gromiec, Deputy Minister of Environment dr Stanisław Gawłowski, Chairman of the Board of Polish Chamber of Commerce "Ekorozwój" Krzysztof Zaręba, prof. Andrzej Sadurski, dr Zbigniew Nowicki, dr Małgorzata Woźnicka, PGI-NRI Director Roman Smółka and dr Piotr Herbich

The Green Laurel was handed to the representatives of the Polish Hydrogeological Survey team by Deputy Minister of Environment dr Stanisław Gawłowski. As stated by Chairman of Green Laurel Chapter prof. Marek Gromiec – this Green Laurel was awarded for an outstanding contribution of the PHS team to sustainable groundwater management and protection. He also emphasized profound importance of research conducted in the PGI-NRI for improvements in environmental quality in the country. Therefore, this time Chairman Gromiec made an exception and invited all the attendees which contributed to this success of the PHS to step up the stage.

Green Laurel diploma and statuette

On the stage of the Looking Glass Room arrived: prof. Andrzej Sadurski, dr Małgorzata Woźnicka, dr Piotr Herbich, dr Zbigniew Nowicki, PGI-NRI Director Roman Smółka and PGI-NRI Deputy Director for the Polish Hydrogeological Survey dr Lesław Skrzypczyk. Accepting the award on behalf of the PGI-NRI, dr Skrzypczyk emphasized that this success is the result of continuous effort of the whole team of PHS hydrogeologists. –A profound experience of the team in research, implementation of projects and documentation, combined with a stable organization and years of experience in groundwater monitoring in the country were the basis of decision of the Ministry of Environment to entrust the role of the state hydrogeological survey to the PGI-NRI. This is the role of a state survey fulfilling tasks connected with documentation and assessment and protection of groundwater resources for their sustainable use by the community water systems and domestic economy.

The joy of winning Green Laurel. Left to right: PGI-NRI Deputy Director for the Polish Hydrogeological Survey dr Lesław Skrzypczyk, dr Małgorzata Woźnicka and dr Piotr Herbich

The jubilee ceremony was attended by high-ranking representatives of the parliament and government, including: Deputy Minister of Environment dr Stanisław Gawłowski, Member of the Parliament and Chairman of Parliamentary Commission on Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry Stanisław Żelichowski; Chairperson of the Senate Commission of Environment Jadwiga Rotnicka and Deputy Chairperson of that commission Alicja Zając, senator Zdzisław Pupa, Deputy Minister of Economy Jerzy Pietrewicz, Chief Inspector of Environmental Protection Jerzy Kuliński. The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management was represented by Anna Czyżewska, Deputy Director of Department of Water Protection and Management, and Jan Wiater of the Department of Strategy, Education and Development, and The State Forests National Forest Holding – by its Deputy Director General Janusz Zalewski, former Deputy Minister of Environment.

Attendees at the Green Laurel Prize 2015 ceremony. Front row (left to right): Chairman of Green Laurel Chapter prof. Marek Gromiec, Member of the Parliament Stanisław Żelichowski and Deputy Minister of Environment dr Stanisław Gawłowski

The PGI-NRI has been awarded the Green Laurel Prize for the second time. The first prize went to the PGI-NRI for compilation of geochemical maps and atlas of Poland in 2007 (see Przegląd Geologiczny, 2008, nr 2), also conducted thanks to support of the Ministry of Environment and funding from The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

Text and photos: Andrzej Rudnicki
Edition and translation: Wojciech Brochwicz-Lewiński