Maria Skłodowska-Curie – born in 1867 in Warsaw, died in 1934 in Sancellemoz (France)

A graduate of the Sorbonne (University of Paris), from 1906 she was a lecturer and professor of physics at that university. In July 1898, collaborating with her husband Pierre Curie, she obtained a fraction containing an increased amount of the first radioactive element, which they named polonium, via fractional crystallization of pitchblende (uranium ore waste). In December of the same year, she obtained the chloride of another, more strongly radioactive element named radium, which constituted a significant admixture of the barium chloride separated from the pitchblende. The Curies received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903, together with Antoine Henri Becquerel. In 1902, they isolated pure radium chloride. For this achievement, Maria Skłodowska-Curie received a second Nobel Prize in 1911, this time in Chemistry. Maria Skłodowska-Curie developed the science of radioactivity and contributed to the establishment of the Radium Institutes in Paris (1914) and Warsaw (1932), which she directed. She was among the founders of the Polish Chemical Society (in 1919). In 1924, she received the dignity of Honorary Member of the PTChem. In 1995, the ashes of Maria Skłodowska-Curie were transferred to the Paris Panthéon. The Sejm of the Republic of Poland established 2011 as the Year of Maria Skłodowska-Curie.

Jędrzej Śniadecki – born in 1768 in Żnin, died in 1838 in Vilnius

A graduate of the Medical Faculty of the Main Crown School in Kraków, and after a few years in Italy and Scotland (1797–1822), a professor of chemistry at Vilnius University. In the years 1825–1839, he was the head of the Therapeutic Clinic in Vilnius. Author of the first Polish textbook on Lavoisierian chemistry, "Początki chemii" ("The Beginnings of Chemistry"), published in 1800, 1807, and 1816/1817. One of the creators of Polish chemical terminology. Author of the physiology textbook "Teorya jestestw organicznych" ("Theory of Organic Beings") (1804, 1811) and writings on medical content, among them "O fizycznem wychowaniu dzieci" ("On the Physical Upbringing of Children") (1822). Many of his students took up chairs of chemistry and medicine at Polish and Russian universities. He is considered the "father of Polish chemistry" and the most outstanding physician in Poland. Author of satirical writings mocking the vices of Polish society.

Wiktor Kemula – born in 1902 in Ismail (Bessarabia), died in 1985 in Warsaw

A graduate of the Jan Kazimierz University in Lviv, where he studied under the supervision of Stanisław Tołłoczko. In the years 1936-1941, he was a professor of physical chemistry at the University of Lviv, in the period 1945-1968 a professor of inorganic chemistry at the University of Warsaw, and in the years 1954–1985 the creator and head of the Department of Physicochemical Analytical Methods at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) in Warsaw. From 1950 a member of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, and from 1956 a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences. In the years 1955–1959 and 1972–1974 president, and in the period 1976–1985 – Honorary President of the Polish Chemical Society. In the years 1969–1971 chairman of the Analytical Chemistry Division of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). Honorary member of many chemical societies. In the years 1950–1985 editor of "Roczniki Chemii" (from 1972 "Polish Journal of Chemistry"), and in the period 1956–1969 of "Chemia Analityczna". He dealt with photochemistry and spectroscopy. He created the Polish school of polarography in Warsaw, which he developed in the direction of chromatopolarography. Author of over several hundred publications and scientific reports as well as the monograph "Spektralna analiza emisyjna" ("Spectral Emission Analysis") (1956) published jointly with Adam Hulanicki. In the years 1948–1970, he re-edited and modernized the textbook "Chemia nieorganiczna" ("Inorganic Chemistry") six times.

Jan Zawidzki – born in 1866 in Włuki (Daniszewo parish), died in 1928 in Warsaw

A graduate of the Baltic Polytechnic School in Riga. He was an assistant and docent at this university in the years 1892–1906. He obtained his doctorate under Wilhelm Ostwald in Leipzig. In the years 1907–1916 professor at the Agricultural Academy in Dublany near Lviv, and subsequently at the Jagiellonian University (1916–1917), the University of Warsaw (1917), and the Warsaw University of Technology (1917–1928). He was the rector of the latter university in the years 1917–1919. Organizer of chemistry faculties in reborn Poland. He dealt with chemical kinetics, thermochemistry, and the history of chemistry. He was the author of monographs in the field of inorganic chemistry and chemical kinetics. In 1918, he was appointed by the Regency Council as a member of the Council of State of the Kingdom of Poland. In the years 1924–1925, he served as the head of the Ministry of Religious Denominations and Public Enlightenment in the cabinet of Władysław Grabski. He was active in numerous social organizations. In 1923, he was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. He was a member of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences and a number of domestic and foreign scientific societies. He was one of the initiators of the establishment of the Polish Chemical Society – serving as vice-president in 1919–1921, and as president in 1922.

Bogusława Jeżowska-Trzebiatowska – born in 1908 in Stanisławów, died in 1991 in Wrocław

She studied and worked at the Faculty of Chemistry of Lviv Polytechnic until the outbreak of World War II. At this university, she obtained her doctoral degree (1935) based on a thesis concerning pentavalent rhenium compounds. During the war, she worked at the "Galikol" chemical factory in Lviv. In 1945, she moved with her husband to Wrocław. She took an active part in the post-war reconstruction of the Wrocław scientific and academic center, in particular the University of Wrocław. She is a co-founder of the Wrocław school of coordination chemistry. She made an enduring contribution to the development of inorganic chemistry, structural physical chemistry, spectroscopy, magnetochemistry, as well as nuclear and radiation chemistry. She chaired the Wrocław Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences in the years 1978–1991. She was honored with the dignity of doctor honoris causa of the Lomonosov University in Moscow, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, and the University of Wrocław, the dignity of Honorary Member of the Polish Chemical Society, and the Jędrzej Śniadecki Medal of the PTChem. For hiding the future professor of Gdańsk University of Technology, Emil Taszner – a person of Jewish origin, an employee of the "Galikol" factory in Lviv – she was awarded the "Righteous Among the Nations" medal by the Yad Vashem Institute (1991). She was a member of the Home Army. For participation in underground activities, she was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit with Swords by the Polish Underground State.

Włodzimierz Trzebiatowski – born in 1906 in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, died in 1982 in Wrocław

He completed his studies at the Faculty of Chemistry of Lviv Polytechnic in 1929. He subsequently became an assistant in the Department of Inorganic Chemistry directed by Wiktor Jakób at that university. At Lviv Polytechnic, he obtained the degree of doctor of technical sciences in 1930, and habilitated in the field of physical chemistry in 1934. He worked as a professor of inorganic chemistry at the Jan Kazimierz University in Lviv in the years 1938–1939 and briefly at the Ivan Franko University (1944–1945). In 1945, he arrived with his wife in Wrocław. He co-created the Departments of Inorganic Chemistry at Wrocław University of Science and Technology and the University of Wrocław. From 1952 he was a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and in the years 1972–1977 – the president of PAN. He was a co-founder of the Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Wrocław and the organizer and director of the International Laboratory of High Magnetic Fields and Low Temperatures in Wrocław (1968–1982). He was the author of repeatedly reprinted and revised textbooks in the field of inorganic chemistry. He was a recognized authority in the field of inorganic chemistry, solid-state physical chemistry, magnetochemistry, and structural chemistry. He was honored with the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Jędrzej Śniadecki Medal of the Polish Chemical Society, and the Marian Smoluchowski Medal of the Polish Physical Society, as well as the dignity of doctor honoris causa of Wrocław University of Science and Technology and Honorary Member of the PTChem. In 1948, he organized the first post-war Congress of the Polish Chemical Society in Wrocław, and in the years 1949–1950, he was the vice-president of PTChem.

Stanisław Kostanecki – born in 1860 in Myszaków near Słupca, died in 1910 in Würzburg (Germany)

After completing chemical studies at the Polytechnic in Berlin, he worked for several years in the team of C. Liebermann, a known specialist in the field of synthetic dye chemistry. From this period of his scientific activity comes the well-known "Liebermann-Kostanecki rule". During his stay in Berlin, he encountered the issues of natural dye chemistry, including the dye known as "cochineal red". In 1883, he began work at the University of Mulhouse (France), and after four years received a nomination for the position of professor at the University of Bern (Switzerland). He worked there until the end of his life. He is considered one of the founders of the Faculty of Chemistry at the latter university. He was one of the founders of the Swiss Chemical Society. In Bern, he developed work on natural yellow dyes, among other things establishing the structures of chrysin and curcumin. He developed the foundations of the science of flavones and flavonoids. In organic chemistry, the "Kostanecki-Robinson reaction" is known, leading, depending on the conditions used, to chromone or coumarin derivatives. Shortly before his death, in 1910, he received a nomination for the position of professor of organic chemistry at the Jagiellonian University, which he never took up.

Jan Harabaszewski – born in 1875 in Radom, died in 1943 probably in Komorów near Warsaw

A graduate of the Faculty of Technical Chemistry of the Polytechnic School in Lviv, chemistry teacher at the Tadeusz Czacki High School in Warsaw, adjunct at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), doyen of chemistry teaching methodology in higher education, organizer of chemical education and the system of teacher training in Poland. The main subject of his interests was teaching chemistry through student experiment, which finds application in contemporary chemistry didactics throughout Europe. He believed that chemistry is the best school of inductive reasoning and develops the student's personality. He was the editor of the magazine for teachers "Fizyka i chemia" ("Physics and Chemistry"). In 1936, he published the work "Dydaktyka chemii" ("Chemistry Didactics"). Founder of the Didactic Section of the Polish Chemical Society, and its chairman in the years 1924–1926. The assimilation of teaching to the research process initiated by him is currently recognized as the most effective education technique.

Ignacy Mościcki – born in 1867 in Mierzanowo, died in 1946 in Versoix (Switzerland)

A chemistry graduate of the University of Dorpat. As an assistant at the Department of Physics at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland), he designed a thermoelectric furnace for obtaining nitrogen oxides directly from the air, which found practical applications. In connection with this project, he developed glass capacitors withstanding high voltage, commonly used for over a dozen years. In 1912, he was invited by the Senate of Lviv Polytechnic to organize the Department of Technical Electrochemistry and Physical Chemistry. He was the main organizer of the nitrogen industry in reborn Poland, as well as the METAN Company, the nucleus of the Chemical Research Institute moved to Warsaw in the years 1922–1926 (today the Ignacy Mościcki Institute of Industrial Chemistry). One of the founders, and in 1923 president, of the Polish Chemical Society. In the years 1926–39, Ignacy Mościcki was the President of the Republic of Poland.

Zofia Matysikowa (née Tomasiewicz) – born in 1917 in Odessa, died in 1997 in Gdańsk

She studied at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of Stefan Batory University in Vilnius starting from 1935, then at Vilniaus Universitetas, and after World War II at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, where in 1946 she obtained a master of philosophy degree in the field of chemistry. She obtained her doctorate at UMK in 1950. In 1970, she was appointed docent. In 1952, she moved with her husband to the coast and became associated with the Higher Pedagogical School, and subsequently the University of Gdańsk (from 1970). For most of her active academic period, she developed chemistry didactics and methodology. She is the author or co-author of numerous scientific studies in this field. For years, she actively participated in shaping chemistry teaching curricula and organizing the Chemistry Olympiad. She was active in the Toruń and Gdańsk Branches of the Polish Chemical Society. She was honored with the Jan Harabaszewski Medal of the Polish Chemical Society, the Title of Meritorious Teacher, and the Medal of the Commission of National Education. She was a co-creator of chemistry didactics in Poland and one of the pioneers of university chemistry in Gdańsk. She was a recognized pedagogue, academic teacher, popularizer of chemistry, and social activist.

Bronisław Znatowicz – born in 1851 in Lublin, died in 1917 in Warsaw

He studied chemistry at the University of Warsaw in the years 1869–1873. He subsequently worked at the Technical Academy in Lviv (1873–1874) and at the University of Warsaw (until 1889). He ran an independent chemical laboratory dealing with environmental analytics, phosphorescence, electrolysis, reduction of organic compounds, and separation of dyes from coal tar. He was a well-known lecturer, social activist, and popularizer of natural sciences. Co-founder and editor of "Pamiętnik Fizjograficzny" (1881–1900), "Wszechświat" (1882–1914), and "Chemik Polski" (1901–1906). Author of the textbook "Zasady chemii" ("Principles of Chemistry"). In 1881, he was one of the forty-five founding members of the Józef Mianowski Fund – A Foundation for the Promotion of Science in Warsaw. He developed educational and popularizing activities at the Museum of Industry and Agriculture in Warsaw. He was an advocate and defender of the Polish language in public life and the strengthening of the professional and social position of Polish teachers – under the conditions of the partition reality.

Aleksander Zamojski – born in 1929 in Poznań, died in 2004 in Warsaw

He studied at the Faculty of Chemistry of Lodz University of Technology, where he obtained the professional title of engineer in 1952, and master two years later. He obtained his doctorate (1959) and habilitation (1965) at the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Warsaw. In 1965, he became associated with the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. His research concerned the chemistry of antibiotics and monosaccharides. He proposed a new route for obtaining racemic monosaccharides – via diastereoselective transformation of cycloadducts of the Diels-Alder reaction: methoxybutadiene and butyl glyoxalate – which enabled efficient synthesis of compounds with complex structures. He was also the initiator of the application of the Mitsunobu reaction in sugar chemistry. He was one of the pillars of Polish sugar chemistry, an outstanding academic teacher, and a recognized scholar. He was actively involved in the Polish Chemical Society, of which he was president in the years 1989–1991.

Jacek Rychlewski – born in 1947 in Poznań, died in 2003 in Poznań

He completed studies in the field of chemistry and mathematics at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, obtaining master's degrees. He obtained his doctorate in 1975 at the University of Warsaw (supervisor – Włodzimierz Kołos), and habilitated in 1985 at AMU. He obtained the title of professor of chemical sciences in 1992. He linked his scientific career with the Adam Mickiewicz University as an adjunct, docent, and full professor. He also worked at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences as a full professor (1995–2003). His scientific research made an enduring contribution to the development of quantum and computational chemistry and applications of mathematics in chemistry. Among other things, he was the author of a general method for solving the electronic Schrödinger equation for multi-electron molecules based on exponentially correlated Gaussian functions, as well as unique approaches to studying the interaction of matter with electric and magnetic fields, or understanding the nature of chemical bonds. He actively participated in the social changes taking place in Poland in the 1990s – also from the organizational side at the national level and international cooperation. He was a co-creator of the IT network in Polish science. In 1995, he was honored with the Team Scientific Award of the City of Poznań for the initiative to create, the development of substantive and organizational assumptions, and the contribution to the establishment of the Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center. He is the patron of one of the streets in Poznań.

Jacek Gawroński – born in 1943 in Jutrosin, died in 2020 in Poznań

He completed studies in the field of chemistry at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, obtaining the professional title of master in 1966. He obtained his doctorate in 1972, and habilitated in 1977 at the Adam Mickiewicz University, with which he linked his scientific career. He obtained the title of professor of chemical sciences in 1993. From 2013 he was a corresponding member, and from 2020 a full member of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and sat in the Presidium of the Main Board of the Polish Chemical Society. In the meantime, he completed a number of scientific internships, e.g., at Kansas State University, the University of Nevada, Florida State University, Tohoku University, the University of Groningen, and the University of Basel. Jacek Gawroński's scientific interests covered stereochemistry, natural product chemistry, and stereocontrolled organic synthesis with particular emphasis on stereoselective macrocyclization reactions. Jacek Gawroński, together with Michał Kiełczewski, are recognized as pioneers of structural studies of optically active compounds using circular dichroism spectroscopy. In addition to over 200 scientific papers, Jacek Gawroński was the author or co-author of 3 monographs (including the globally highly-rated position: "Tartaric and Malic Acids in Synthesis – A Source Book of Building Blocks, Ligands, Auxiliaries, and Resolving Agents"), over a dozen chapters in English-language books, as well as highly popular academic textbooks ("Stereochemistry in Organic Synthesis" and "Contemporary Organic Synthesis – A Selection of Experiments"). Jacek Gawroński was honored with many distinctions, e.g., the S. Kostanecki Medal of the PTChem, the Medal of the Commission of National Education, the M. Skłodowska-Curie Scientific Award of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and the Prime Minister's Award.

Włodzimierz Kołos – born in 1928 in Pińsk, died in 1996 in Warsaw

A graduate of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. He obtained his doctorate at the Faculty of Physics of the University of Warsaw. In the years 1961–1966, he led a research group at the Institute of Nuclear Research in Świerk, and in 1965 he became the head of the Department of Theoretical Chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Warsaw. In 1969, he became a full professor and a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The calculations of the hydrogen molecule dissociation energy performed by him were the first case in history where modeling using quantum chemistry methods yielded results significantly more accurate than those derived from spectroscopic experiments. in the 1980s, he was intensively involved in theoretical modeling of tritium beta decay. The result of these calculations was data crucial for establishing the electron neutrino mass.

Jan Czochralski – born in 1885 in Kcynia, died in 1953 in Poznań

He studied at the Polytechnic in Charlottenburg near Berlin, where in 1910 he obtained a diploma as a chemical engineer. There he also worked for four years in the team of Wichard von Moellndorff, with whom he published his first paper concerning metal crystallography, specifically the foundations of dislocation theory. Many of his works concerned metallography, and in particular the applications of aluminum in electronics. He gained the greatest fame for the method of controlling the crystallization rate of metals discovered in 1916, which was used in 1954 to obtain silicon single crystals and the first silicon transistor. Named after the discoverer, the Czochralski method today constitutes the basis for the production of integrated circuits. He was also the inventor of a tin-free alloy (the so-called metal B) used for manufacturing plain bearing shells – commonly used until the 1960s. He is the most frequently cited scholar associated with Poland in the contemporary world of technology. After years of ambiguity regarding his attitude during World War II, he gained full recognition from the scientific community and a rightful place in the pantheon of Polish scholars. The Sejm of the Republic of Poland established 2013 as the Year of Jan Czochralski.