Dr Olha Tkachenko Awarded an NCN SONATA Grant

 

We are pleased to announce that Dr Olha Tkachenko’s project, “Decolonization 2:0: digital
capitalism and epistemic mobilization in Ukrainian YouTube in 2021-2025,” has received
funding under the SONATA programme of the National Science Centre (NCN).

The project explores the role of YouTube as a key space for epistemic mobilization and
decolonial transformation in Ukraine between 2021 and 2025. It addresses an important
research gap concerning the significance of digital media in decolonization processes, which have so far been studied primarily from historical, cultural, and political perspectives.

Dr Olha Tkachenko will examine how Ukrainian content creators use YouTube to challenge imperial narratives, dismantle Russian colonial myths, and promote Ukrainian culture and history. The project will analyze both the creators and the content they produce, as well as audience responses, which reflect broader processes of national identity formation and cognitive change within Ukrainian society.

Launch of the New PLLuM Language Models

We are pleased to announce the release of 11 new PLLuM models. Their primary advantage lies in their exceptional proficiency in the Polish language – including official/administrative styles – as well as a deep understanding of native cultural, historical, and legal contexts. These models are designed to support public administration, businesses, and individual users. Crucially, they have been released under open licenses that are fully compliant with the requirements of the EU AI Act.

The Specificity of the New PLLuM Models

The new PLLuM variants can significantly enhance the efficiency of public administration. They are capable of generating texts in over 20 types of official documents, supporting office and operational tasks, interpreting the context of administrative procedures, simplifying complex legal language, and working with standardized legal document templates.

Based on an analysis of real user interactions with PLLuM Chat, we have also developed mechanisms that enable the generation of safer and more precise responses.

Four Model Sizes

The new model family includes four sizes: refreshed versions of 8B, 12B, and 70B, along with a brand-new 4B category:

  • 4B – The smallest and fastest models with low computational requirements, ideal for task-specific fine-tuning.
  • 8B and 12B – Providing an excellent balance between speed and quality; recommended for production deployments, such as serving as the engine for RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) systems.
  • 70B – The largest and most advanced model, designed to handle complex tasks effectively without the need for additional fine-tuning.

All versions are available under open licenses with full documentation compliant with the AI Act, including detailed descriptions of the models, data sources, training methods, and quality evaluation metrics.

Model Training

The models were developed in 2025 commissioned by the Ministry of Digital Affairs as part of the HIVE AI project. The project was implemented by a consortium consisting of: NASK PBI (leader), ACK Cyfronet AGH, Centre for Information Technology (COI), Institute of Computer Science PAS, Institute of Slavic Studies PAS, OPI PIB, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, and the University of Łódź.

The training process was based on a new, rich, and diverse corpus of text materials. The data was collected legally through licensing agreements, public domain sources, and Creative Commons resources.

Representing the Institute of Slavic Studies PAS, the project was coordinated by Dr. hab. Roman Roszko, Prof. IS PAS, with a team including Mgr. Tomasz Bernaś and Mgr. Valéry Trân Thiên, bridging the fields of computer science and linguistics.

Information about the premiere of new models is also available on the website of the Ministry of Digital Affairs.

   

Conferment of the Title Professor honoris causa on Dr. Pavlo Levchuk

On November 27, 2025, the Donbas State Pedagogical University hosted a solemn ceremony to confer the prestigious title of Professor honoris causa on Dr. Pavlo Levchuk. This distinction was awarded in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of Ukrainian–Polish scientific cooperation, his efforts in promoting the Ukrainian language abroad, and his consistent support for the University’s academic community during the war and the relocation of the institution.

The meeting was led by Her Magnificence the Rector, Professor Svitlana Omelchenko.

Among the invited guests were:

  • Vasyl Malnychuk, Third Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine in Poland
  • Professor Roman Roszko (Institute of Slavic Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences)
  • Professor Przemysław Gębal (University of Gdańsk)
  • Professor Lesia Demska-Budzuliak (Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine)
  • Dr. Anna Mikulska (Paris-Sorbonne University)
  • Monika Stąpor (Oslo Metropolitan University)

The ceremony brought together representatives of the academic community, international partners, and students engaged in the development of linguistic and educational research.

During the ceremony, as a gesture of respect for the audience, Prof. Roman Roszko delivered his speech in Ukrainian, thanking the hosts for the invitation. Addressing the Madam Rector, the staff of the Donbas State Pedagogical University (DSPU), the Presidium, and the Members of the Scientific Council, he expressed deep appreciation for their perseverance and resilience in continuing their educational mission. He emphasized the exceptional importance of providing education during this extremely difficult time of war for Ukraine. He wished all those gathered good health, scientific achievements, and the quickest possible peace.

Subsequently, addressing all participants and the main honouree of the meeting – Dr. Pavlo Levchuk – Prof. Roszko expressed profound respect and appreciation for his outstanding scientific accomplishments. He presented the Laureate’s key research areas, after which he specifically emphasized that Dr. Levchuk is the architect of a unique bridge that effectively connects Poland and Ukraine. His work fosters deeper mutual understanding and the joint construction of a better future.

Congratulations!

Dr. Pavlo Levchuk – Recipient of the title Professor honoris causa. Photo: Dr. Olena Kolhan.
The diploma for Dr. Pavlo Levchuk. Photo: Dr. Olena Kolhan.
The ceremonial conferment of the title Professor honoris causa to Dr. Pavlo Levchuk. Photo: Dr. Olena Kolhan.

Dr Katarzyna Taczyńska Awarded a Prestigious Fellowship

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Katarzyna Taczyńska has received the prestigious Manya Friedman Memorial Fellowship for the implementation of her project “A Soldier and a Doll: The Holocaust in Post-Yugoslav Memory”.

As part of the fellowship, Dr. Taczyńska will conduct research at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. The Mandel Center works to enhance the visibility, significance, and development of Holocaust studies in the United States and around the world, as well as to sustain and deepen the relevance of Holocaust memory.

Learn more about the project and its author here:
https://www.ushmm.org/research/about-the-mandel-center/all-fellows-and-scholars/dr-katarzyna-taczynska

Warm congratulations!

Dr Karolina Panz will realize NCN SONATA grant

We are pleased to announce that Dr Karolina Panz’s project, entitled “Faces of smuggling in the Polish-Slovak borderland between 1918 and 1949” has received funding under the SONATA 19 competition of the National Science Center.

The SONATA 19 competition, which is aimed at researchers with a doctoral degree obtained 2 to 7 years prior to the year of application, is designed to support those beginning their scientific careers in conducting innovative research. In this edition of the competition, 1148 applications were submitted to NCN, 218 projects were qualified for funding.

The ranking list is available on the NCN website: https://www.ncn.gov.pl/aktualnosci/2024-05-24-485-projektow-w-konkursach-opus-26-i-sonata19

Congratulations!

Dr Karolina Panz. Photo: private archive.

MINIATURA grant for dr Olha Tkachenko

We are happy to inform that dr Olha Tkachenko was awarded a MINIATURA 8 grant from the National Science Centre (NCN). Dr Tkachenko received funding for a project „Decolonization Processes in Ukraine’s YouTube Segment after February 24, 2022”.

The aim of the MINIATURA call is to support scientific activities to prepare for a future research project that will take part in NCN competitions or other national and international calls.

The ranking list is available on the NCN website: https://www.ncn.gov.pl/aktualnosci/2024-05-20-pierwsi-laureaci-konkursu-miniatura-8

Congratulations!

HR Excellence in Research evaluation at ISS PAS

On Thursday 29 June 2023, the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences hosted the Evaluators visiting on behalf of the European Commission. The visit was related to the renewal of the ‘HR Excellence in Research’ logo – the certificate is awarded by the Commission to institutions which provide researchers with the best working and development conditions, foster mobility and pursue a policy of equal opportunities. ISS PAS joined the group of Polish institutions entitled to use the HR logo in 2017.

The June meeting and discussions were successful, and the Experts provided the Commission with their recommendations. The official report confirms the positive assessment of the Institute, expressed, among other things, in the following passage from the report: “ISS-PAS is actively supporting academic and non-academic staff at their professional growth using own resources and externalfunding. The institute strived to ensure its strategy actually responds to the needs of its constituency (…). Although the action plan was quite ambitious and challenging, they have invested significant efforts in implementing the HR strategy. (…) The approach of ISS-PAS towards HRS4R is remarkable”.

We are therefore pleased to announce that the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences – after some minor adjustments, which should be implemented in the near future – is still entitled use the “HR Excellence in Research” logo. This is a recognition which we are very happy about!

Read more about the procedure at: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/hrs4r.

 

Two NAWA “Polonista” Fellows at the Institute of Slavic Studies PAS

 

 

We are pleased to announce that two projects will be carried out at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences within the fifth edition of the Polish National Agency of Academic Exchange (NAWA) programme POLONISTA:

From 1 September this year until 29 February 2024, Dr Vadzim Shkliaryk from Belarus will be implementing the project “Little-known Polish-Belarusian texts in manuscripts from the 18th century: linguistic description in the context of historical dialectology” at the ISS PAS. Prof. Alena Rudenka will be the project supervisor on behalf of the Institute.

Dr. Vadzim Shkliaryk. Photo: private archive.

In turn, from 1 April to 30 September 2024 Doc. Dr. Olena Pelekhata from Ukraine will conduct a project at the Institute entitled “The influence of linguistic ideologies on the value of the Polish language and Polish identity”. Dr Gabriela Augustyniak-Żmuda will be the project supervisor.

POLONISTA is a scholarship and fellowship programme of the Polish National Agency of Academic Exchange (NAWA) addressed to students and researchers. The objective of the Programme is to promote Polish language in the world by enabling foreigners interested in Polish language and Polish culture to study or carry out research projects in Poland.

Doc. dr Olena Pelekhata. Photo: private archive.

For more information on the programme, visit the NAWA website:
https://nawa.gov.pl/en/the-polish-language/programme-for-students-of-polish-studies

 

Dr Karolina Ćwiek-Rogalska nominated for AcademiaNet

We are proud to announce that our researcher, Dr Karolina Ćwiek-Rogalska, has been nominated for AcademiaNet – European Database of Outstanding Women Academic (https://www.academia-net.org/). AcademiaNet is a portal run by the Swiss National Science Foundation containing database of profiles of outstanding female scientists from all fields.

Dr Karolina Ćwiek-Rogalska. Photo: Leszek Zych/Polityka

Outstanding female researchers are nominated for the database by more than 40 prestigious partner organisations (it is not possible to apply directly – a nomination is required). The selection criteria are rigorous and include scientific excellence and outstanding achievements in the discipline represented by the researcher.

Dr Karolina Ćwiek-Rogalska’s profile can be found by following the link: https://www.academia-net.org/profile/karolina-cwiek-rogalska/85735

AcademiaNet aims to create a database containing profiles of female experts from all disciplines. The platform should make it easier to find outstanding female representatives from the respective fields and contribute to the increased selection of female scientists for scientific committees and their more frequent invitations by universities and other institutions.

MINIATURA grant for dr Marzena Maciulewicz

We are happy to inform that dr Marzena Maciulewicz was awarded a MINIATURA 6 grant from the National Science Centre (NCN). Dr Maciulewicz received funding for a research project entitled: „Komšiluk w wielkim mieście? Relacje sąsiedzkie w Nowym Belgradzie” („Komšiluk in the city? Neighbour relations in New Belgrade”.

The aim of the MINIATURA call is to support research activities leading to the preparation of assumptions for a research project, which will be submitted to NCN calls or other national and international calls.

Congratulations!

Institute of Slavic Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies, in accordance with the current browser settings. Privacy policy

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close