Jan Marian Kaczmarek
Encyclopedia
Jan Marian Kaczmarek was a Polish engineer and University Professor.
. He was wounded; next – upon treatment at a military hospital in Vilnius – he joined the Lithuanian Resistance Movement, and in 1942 – the Polish underground Home Army (Armia Krajowa
) where he served till the end of the war.
In 1945, he moved to Cracow to resume his studies at the Academy of Mining (currently: AGH University of Science and Technology
. While still a student, he was employed by Professor Witold Biernawski as a teaching assistant. In 1948, Kaczmarek received the M.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering
, and started his professional career in Cracow industry.
While practicing engineering, he earned his Ph.D. degree (1958) and D.Sc. degree (1962), and was appointed to the Reader (1959), Associate Professor (1962) and Full Professor (1969) positions. In the period 1957–1968, he acted as the Managing Director of the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies in Cracow; he fostered the quick growth of this institution and strengthened its role in the development of new technologies.
In 1965–1968, he also acted as a Vice-Rector and Rector in 1968 of Cracow University of Technology
.
Among his numerous publications, which appeared around this period, three books are worth being mentioned, viz.: “Principles of Machine Cutting” (1956, in Polish), “Principles of Cutting” (1969, in Polish; 1976, in English), and “Abrasion and Erosion” (1969, in Polish; 1976, in English). Due to their fundamental and innovative character, those books have been for years considered research and teaching classics in many branches of production engineering; the total number of their readers has exceeded half a million. Their English editions quickly gained recognition in many countries; therefore, shortly after their appearance, Kaczmarek was invited to the US National Academy of Engineering
.
In 1961, he became a member of International Institution of Production Engineering Research (CIRP) where he served as President in 1973–1974, and received the title of Honorary Fellow in 1990. In 1965, he was elected a Corresponding Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
In 1968, Kaczmarek moved to Warsaw. In the period 1969–1974, he acted as Chairman of the National Committee for Technical Progress, and next as Minister of Science, Higher Education and Technology.
He fostered the policies aimed at broader use of research outcomes and inventions in Industrial and social practice: several complex research programmes were initiated at that time, and international co-operation was partly re-established. Poland started to be perceived as a country with important potential of science and higher education – thus, becoming an important country for Europe of the future.
In the next nine years, Kaczmarek served at the Polish Academy of Sciences as its Scientific Secretary. It was a period when numerous research institutes of the Academy attained the highest European recognition and prospects for further development.
In 1981, Kaczmarek returned to research work in the area of surface-layer engineering at Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences. His direct contributions to the development of this area – in the form of books, papers and applications – are exceptional.
Kaczmarek research activities have been always closely connected with measurement science and technology. The development of a system for measuring machine tools vibrations was his first metrological project (inspired by Professor Stanislaw Ziemba) that he completed just after graduation. He continued to work on measurement-related issues at Cracow University of Technology, at Institute of Metal Cutting, and later – at the Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences.
In this field, he co-operated with many researchers, to mention only most prominent Professors: Witold Biernawski, Andrzej Sadowski, Leszek Nawara and Bogdan Nowicki. Special interest was given by him to the metrology of surface layer; he contributed – in particular – to the establishment of the first Polish standard in this domain.
By the end of the XXth century, referring to the Abbott-Firestone curve analysis, he proposed the application of the symmetrical curve for a geometrical contact. The total literary output of Kaczmarek includes 14 scientific books, almost 200 research papers, and more than 230 journal papers for general public.
Among his former students and co-workers, 29 are holders of D.Sc. degrees and six are holders of the Professor title. He directly supervised a few dozens of Ph.D. students. Kaczmarek is the author of highly appreciated technical solutions and patents applied mainly in manufacturing of machine elements, especially in their forming and refining by cutting, erosion and implantation.
He is one of the founders of the Polish Academy of Engineering (1992) – being an institution similar to the National Academy of Engineering
in USA. He was its Vice-President (1994–1999), and since 1998 has been its Honorary Member.
The international recognition of Kaczmarek's achievements has been confirmed by entrusting him the highest positions in international scientific and engineering organizations, and by honoring him with awards and distinctions. He received honorary doctorates from Bauman Moscow State Technical University (1973), Chemnitz University of Technology (1974), Poznan University of Technology (2001) and Koszalin University of Technology (2003). He is the holder of French Medaille des Palmes d’Or Academiques and Grand Officier de la Legion d’Honneur, as well as Polish Crosses: Polonia Restituta Commander’s Cross, Polonia Restituta Officer’s Cross, Polonia Restituta Knight Cross, a series of Medals of Merit, military medals, Copernicus Medal, and Award of National Commission of Poland.
Kaczmarek was the founder of several scientific schools of world–wide importance. He is an international scientific authority and – at the same time – an exceptional man of personal qualities, such as creativity, diligence, reliability, persistence, culture and organisational efficiency, kindness and determination, optimism and cheerfulness. Such people set standards and examples for us to follow.
Kaczmarek was married to Olga; he has two children (Elzbieta and Andrzej), four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Polish Academy's
Life
He was born in the town of Pabianice, Poland. He obtained a pilot license prior to starting his studies in Warsaw (1938). He took part in 1939 homeland defense against German aggression as a pilot of the Polish Air ForcePolish Air Force
The Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...
. He was wounded; next – upon treatment at a military hospital in Vilnius – he joined the Lithuanian Resistance Movement, and in 1942 – the Polish underground Home Army (Armia Krajowa
Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa , or Home Army, was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland. It was formed in February 1942 from the Związek Walki Zbrojnej . Over the next two years, it absorbed most other Polish underground forces...
) where he served till the end of the war.
In 1945, he moved to Cracow to resume his studies at the Academy of Mining (currently: AGH University of Science and Technology
AGH University of Science and Technology
AGH University of Science and Technology is the second largest technical university in Poland, located in Kraków. The university was established in 1919, and was formerly known as the University of Mining and Metallurgy...
. While still a student, he was employed by Professor Witold Biernawski as a teaching assistant. In 1948, Kaczmarek received the M.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
, and started his professional career in Cracow industry.
While practicing engineering, he earned his Ph.D. degree (1958) and D.Sc. degree (1962), and was appointed to the Reader (1959), Associate Professor (1962) and Full Professor (1969) positions. In the period 1957–1968, he acted as the Managing Director of the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies in Cracow; he fostered the quick growth of this institution and strengthened its role in the development of new technologies.
In 1965–1968, he also acted as a Vice-Rector and Rector in 1968 of Cracow University of Technology
Cracow University of Technology
Tadeusz Kościuszko University of Technology is a university located in downtown Kraków, Poland, established in 1946 and, as an institution of higher learning granted full autonomy in 1954....
.
Among his numerous publications, which appeared around this period, three books are worth being mentioned, viz.: “Principles of Machine Cutting” (1956, in Polish), “Principles of Cutting” (1969, in Polish; 1976, in English), and “Abrasion and Erosion” (1969, in Polish; 1976, in English). Due to their fundamental and innovative character, those books have been for years considered research and teaching classics in many branches of production engineering; the total number of their readers has exceeded half a million. Their English editions quickly gained recognition in many countries; therefore, shortly after their appearance, Kaczmarek was invited to the US National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
.
In 1961, he became a member of International Institution of Production Engineering Research (CIRP) where he served as President in 1973–1974, and received the title of Honorary Fellow in 1990. In 1965, he was elected a Corresponding Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
In 1968, Kaczmarek moved to Warsaw. In the period 1969–1974, he acted as Chairman of the National Committee for Technical Progress, and next as Minister of Science, Higher Education and Technology.
He fostered the policies aimed at broader use of research outcomes and inventions in Industrial and social practice: several complex research programmes were initiated at that time, and international co-operation was partly re-established. Poland started to be perceived as a country with important potential of science and higher education – thus, becoming an important country for Europe of the future.
In the next nine years, Kaczmarek served at the Polish Academy of Sciences as its Scientific Secretary. It was a period when numerous research institutes of the Academy attained the highest European recognition and prospects for further development.
In 1981, Kaczmarek returned to research work in the area of surface-layer engineering at Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences. His direct contributions to the development of this area – in the form of books, papers and applications – are exceptional.
Kaczmarek research activities have been always closely connected with measurement science and technology. The development of a system for measuring machine tools vibrations was his first metrological project (inspired by Professor Stanislaw Ziemba) that he completed just after graduation. He continued to work on measurement-related issues at Cracow University of Technology, at Institute of Metal Cutting, and later – at the Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences.
In this field, he co-operated with many researchers, to mention only most prominent Professors: Witold Biernawski, Andrzej Sadowski, Leszek Nawara and Bogdan Nowicki. Special interest was given by him to the metrology of surface layer; he contributed – in particular – to the establishment of the first Polish standard in this domain.
By the end of the XXth century, referring to the Abbott-Firestone curve analysis, he proposed the application of the symmetrical curve for a geometrical contact. The total literary output of Kaczmarek includes 14 scientific books, almost 200 research papers, and more than 230 journal papers for general public.
Among his former students and co-workers, 29 are holders of D.Sc. degrees and six are holders of the Professor title. He directly supervised a few dozens of Ph.D. students. Kaczmarek is the author of highly appreciated technical solutions and patents applied mainly in manufacturing of machine elements, especially in their forming and refining by cutting, erosion and implantation.
He is one of the founders of the Polish Academy of Engineering (1992) – being an institution similar to the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
in USA. He was its Vice-President (1994–1999), and since 1998 has been its Honorary Member.
The international recognition of Kaczmarek's achievements has been confirmed by entrusting him the highest positions in international scientific and engineering organizations, and by honoring him with awards and distinctions. He received honorary doctorates from Bauman Moscow State Technical University (1973), Chemnitz University of Technology (1974), Poznan University of Technology (2001) and Koszalin University of Technology (2003). He is the holder of French Medaille des Palmes d’Or Academiques and Grand Officier de la Legion d’Honneur, as well as Polish Crosses: Polonia Restituta Commander’s Cross, Polonia Restituta Officer’s Cross, Polonia Restituta Knight Cross, a series of Medals of Merit, military medals, Copernicus Medal, and Award of National Commission of Poland.
Kaczmarek was the founder of several scientific schools of world–wide importance. He is an international scientific authority and – at the same time – an exceptional man of personal qualities, such as creativity, diligence, reliability, persistence, culture and organisational efficiency, kindness and determination, optimism and cheerfulness. Such people set standards and examples for us to follow.
Kaczmarek was married to Olga; he has two children (Elzbieta and Andrzej), four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Memberships
Foreign Academy's- National Academy of EngineeringNational Academy of EngineeringThe National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
, USA, Foreign Associate since 1977 - The Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of BelgiumThe Royal Academies for Science and the Arts of BelgiumThere are two Royal Academies for Science and the Arts in Belgium, corresponding to the two main languages of the country, Dutch and French . The Academies are located in the Palace of Academies in Brussels....
(BRASLA), foreign Associate since 1978 - Bulgarian Academy of SciencesBulgarian Academy of SciencesThe Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members...
, Foreign Associate since 1977 - Central European Academy of Science and Arts (CEASA), member since 1998
- International Institution for Production Engineering Research (CIRP), Paris: member in 1961-90, honorary fellow since 1990; vice-president and president in 1972-75, member of Senat „for life” since 1976
- Groupement pour l’Avancement de la Mécanique Industrielle (GAMI), France, honorary fellow since 1979.
Polish Academy's
- Polska Akademia Umiejętności (PAU), since 1989
- Akademia Inżynierska w Polsce: member 1992-98, vice-president 1994-98, honorary fellow since 1998.
- Polish Society of Mechanical Engineers and Technicians : member since 1949; vice-president 1961-63, president 1980-87, honorary fellow since 1978, honorary president since 1998.
- Polish Federation of engineering associations - NOT: vice-president 1972-74, chairman 1975-78; Board vice chairman 1980-84, president 1984-90.
- SIGMA-NOT publishing house, Chairman of the Board, since 1992.
Honours
- Honoris causa:
- Chemnitz University of TechnologyChemnitz University of TechnologyChemnitz University of Technology is located in the town of Chemnitz in Germany. With over 10000 students it is the third largest university in Saxony and around 750 international students from 100 universities all over the world are enrolled each year...
, Germany (1973) - Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Russia (1974)
- Poznan University of TechnologyPoznan University of TechnologyPoznań University of Technology, PUT is a university located in Poznań, Poland. Poznań University of Technology is known as one of the best technical universities in Poland...
, Poland (2001) - Koszalin University of Technology, Poland (2003)
- Chemnitz University of Technology
- Honorary Scholar - International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, IIASA, Luxemburg (1993)
Awards
- Officier, Golden order, Ordre des Palmes Académiques, France (1971)
- Grand Officer Legion of Honour, France (1972)
- Order of Marin DrinovMarin DrinovProfessor Marin Stoyanov Drinov was a Bulgarian historian and philologist from the National Revival period who lived and worked in Russia through most of his life...
, Bulgarian Academy of SciencesBulgarian Academy of SciencesThe Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members...
, Bulgary (1969) - Order of Polonia Restituta, Poland
- Commander's Cross (1974)
- Knight's Cross (1962)
- Medal im. M. Kopernika, PANPANPan and panning can have many meanings as listed below in various categories.-Prefix:* Pan- as a prefix , e.g.:** Pan American** Pan-Americanism...
, Poland (1977)
- Honorary citizenship
- PabianicePabianicePabianice is a town in central Poland with 69 648 inhabitants . Situated in the Łódź Voivodeship, it is the capital of Pabianice County...
, Poland
- Pabianice
Sources
- Michal Czajka, Marcin Kamler, Witold Sienkiewicz, Leksykon historii Polski, WP, Warszawa 1995. ISBN 83-214-1042-1
- Janusz Mroczka, The 90TH Anniversary of Jan Marian Kaczmarek