Włodzisław Duch

Professor Włodzisław Duch was born in 1954 in Kwidzyń. He graduated in theoretical physics from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in 1977, where three years later he defended his PhD thesis in quantum chemistry. In 1987, a degree of Doctor of Science was conferred upon him by this University (his postdoctoral thesis was dedicated to applied mathematics). He was awarded a professorship in 1997. In addition to theoretical physics and applied computer science, he is also involved in cognitive science, neurocognitive computer science and philosophy of the mind.
He is the author or co-author of over 300 publications in professional journals, co-editor of more than 20 books, a member of numerous scientific societies and editorial boards of more than 20 international specialist journals. He has worked at many universities, including the University of Southern California in Los Angeles (1980-1982), the Max Planck Institutes (of Astrophysics and Psychology) in Munich (1984-2001), several universities in Japan, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (2003-2008, 2010-2012) as well as at several other scientific institutions in Europe and the USA. For two terms he held the position of the President of the European Neural Network Society. He is a fellow of the International Neural Network Society and a member of technical committee of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society. He was an expert as regards the EU’s Fifth and Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP5 and FP7) and a member of three Committees on the Polish Academy of Sciences, namely: (1) Computational Physics, (2) Informatics (Automatic Control, Robotics, Neuron Networks and Fuzzy Logic) and since 2007 (3) Neurobiology. Since 2012 he has been serving as the Vice-Rector of the Nicolaus Copernicus University for Research and Computerization.
The Professor’s scope of duties includes computerization, functioning of the POL-on system and dealing with matters related to science and investments in large research infrastructure. Professor Duch will also manage procedures connected with examining applications for financing statutory activities from the funds for supporting science; in addition, he will be responsible for substantive assessment of these tasks’ fulfilment. On behalf of the Minister, he will supervise the National Centre for Research and Development, National Centre for Science, Information Processing Centre and the Research and Academic Computer Network.