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Zbigniew
Piesik, D professor of the
Pomeranian
Pedagogical
University
in Słupsk, editor of Baltic Coastal Zone passed away on
the 2nd
August 2004
at the age of 56.
Professor Zbigniew Piesik was born on
the
4th
January 1948
in Maliniec near Szczecinek. There he received his education completing
Princess
Elisabeth
High
School
in 1966. His interest in biology was a family heritage as his father was
a biologist working for the Fishing and Hunting Institute in
Bydgoszcz,
the
University
of
Poznań
until 1939 and after the II World War he taught biology at school.
Professor Piesik graduated from the Faculty of Biology and Earth
Sciences of the Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznań in 1972 earning the
degree of Master of Science in Zoology. Still as student, he broadened
his biological knowledge in the
Academic Circle
of Nature Lovers where he did his first fauna related works concerning
epizoic Infusoria and the gammarids of
Gammarus
genus. His degree thesis “Epizoic Infusoria on gammarus of Karaman
Rivulogammarus sub-genus in the streams
surrounding the city of
Poznań”
was supervised by Prof. Jan Rafalski of the
Animal Morphology
Unit of the
Poznań
University.
In summer 1971, he had a month
long practical training in the Marine Fisheries Institute in
Gdynia,
which was very much in line with his interests.
He
started his scientific career at the Chair of Hydrozoology of the Marine
Fisheries Faculty at the
Agriculture
Academy
in
Szczecin,
headed by Prof. Lech Szlauer. There he carried out several works
regarding the taxonomy and the phenomenon of the epizoics among
Peritricha. His epizoic works were pioneer quantitative surveys on
Gammarus and Asellus. He described one completely new genus and 6
species among epizoic Peritricha occurring on various hosts. At the same
time he was conducting research on applied hydrobiology, biology and the
ecological role of hydrobions, molluscs in particular (Dreissena
polimorpha).
The applied hydrobiology works concerned the possibility of using
epiphytic complexes (periphyton) for water, aquaculture and mariculture
final clearing up. Further, Prof. Piesik was also involved in
the implementation processes, particularly those regarding molluscs
fighting that overgrow water structures and also turning invertebrates
into fish feed.
During his sea voyages (marine training trips) on board m/t “Sejno” and
“Bonoto” trawlers in 1980 and 1984 (SW Atlantic) he was concerned with
the biology and parasitic fauna of kalmar and the possibilities of its
artificial spawning for the purpose of reconstructing that
over-exploited population.
In
1978, before the Faculty Council of the
Agriculture
Academy
in
Szczecin,
he presented his dissertation entitled “The role of plastic net barriers
applied for the final clearing up of waste matter and dissolved
biogenes” which he had written under the supervision of Prof. Lech
Szlauer thus earning the title of Doctor of Philosophy in Nature
Sciences.
From
March to May 1987, Prof. Piesik was staying in
Naples
as a scientific trainee with the Zoology Station (one of the first
oceanography research stations in the world) where he had the
opportunity of conducting some of the research indispensable for his
doctor habilitatus degree. Working for
the Faculty of Marine Fisheries he acted as tutor of the academic
Hydrobiologists Circle.
He supervised students’ works concerning their research covering the
biology of mollusc inhabiting the Odra river estuary and the impact of
detergents on the aquatic fauna. Those works were awarded at national
students scientific conferences.
The
year 1988 saw many changes in Professor’s scientific life. He was
employed by the newly formed
University
of
Szczecin
where he started and headed the
Institute
of
Water
Protection
and Reconstitution. The research conducted in that unit focused on
marine biology and applied hydrobiology. Professor Piesik was very keen
on his work and for this reason he went to sea (1990/1991) on board of
m/s Kopalnia Sośnica for six months to collect material for his
Institute from the
Atlantic
and the
Mediterranean Sea.
In the period of 1993-1995 he participated in the international Research
Exchange Programme Greifswalder Boden und Oderästuar Austausch (GOAP).
As a
lecturer, he supervised research by his undergraduates and the members
of the
Interuniversity Marine Biology Scientific Circle
of the Maritime League. The work carried out within the activities of
those students involved fouling and bottom fauna ecology in the
Odra
River
estuary (Dąbie lake, the Szczecin Lagoon, the
Gulf
of
Pomerania).
At that period of time, Prof. Piesik gave lectures on biologic
oceanography, mariculture for the students of Marine Biology and also
commissioned lectures, seminars and arranged laboratories for the
Szczecin
Agriculture
Academy
undergraduates.
In 1994, professor Piesik was
awarded
doctor habilitatus
in agricultural sciences by the Faculty Council of the Agriculture
Academy Faculty of Fisheries in
Szczecin.
His dissertation dealt with “The Biology and the Ecological Role of
Perifiton Organisms Inhabiting Artificial Medium in Various Water
Types”.
In
1995, Prof. Piesik decided he wanted to join the
Pomeranian
Pedagogical
University
in Słupsk. On his arrival he set to establishing a new Biology and Sea
Protection Institute, which
was combined with the
Institute
of
Ecology
soon afterwards. Prof. Piesik conducted courses for biology, geography
and physics students; both stationary and extramural ones. He also acted
as supervisor for the
Marine Biologist
Circle
of the Maritime League which specialised in research on the impact of
the Pomeranian rivers pollution on the Baltic coastal zone.
What
characterised Prof. Piesik’s scientific work was his urge to find
practical application for his findings. He was always trying to put his
ideas to practice yet on few occasions did they meet understanding of
those who were responsible for the funds, as they were usually terrified
by Professor’s boldness and the swinging range of his actions. Many
conferences, the facility of getting acquainted with the city
authorities and other scientists made our ideas well known among the
citizens of our region and scientific staff of other academic centres.
One of the major subjects handled by Professor’s fellow-hydrobiologists
was working out a concept of shore lakes reconstitiution (Jamno, Serbsko)
and the development of the adjacent areas for the sake of the local
society. On many occasions was Professor invited to speak on the subject
of water bodies reconstitution. The last research that he was trying to
extend in Słupsk was protection of the water against the blue-green
algae blooms. Until the last moment, Prof. Piesik was working on the
details of his concept concerning the rescue of endangered
lake
Trzesiecko
– a place close to his heart in his family area.
Professor Piesik loved the sea and he did his best to make his students
share his attitude. As a result many of them submitted their degree
theses on the mid-coast offshore Baltic zone. In 1996 and 1999 he
organized an international symposium entitled: “Ecology, protection,
shaping of the coastal zone of the
Baltic Sea”.
His opinion was that owing to its geographical location, Słupsk must
concentrate on educating biologists. From the very start, it had been
Professor’s dream to establish the study area of Marine Biology as part
of the degree study course. He did not manage to achieve that goal until
just before his death. Unfortunately, he will not see any of his own
students graduate as marine biologists. It is due to his efforts that
our students have the opportunity to learn at courses run by the
Baltic
University
and receive an international certificate of completion. Owing to
Professor’s personal engagement, in 1996
Baltic Zone
Coastal appeared. So far the only
academic scientific magazine in English in the
Pomeranian
Pedagogical
University.
There have been
8 issues and just before Professor’s death it was included in the KBN
(Scientific Reserach Committee) list as scored magazine.
As a
scientist, Prof. Piesik published 15 scientific articles, was co-author
of 27 other articles and a number of publications in conference
proceedings. As a teacher he had supervised 43 graduates, two of whom
specialised in marine fisheries and 41 in biology. Until his death Prof.
Piesik had opted for the development of young scientists which was
confirmed by 4 PhDs who learned from him (3 at
University
of
Szczecin
and 1 in
Pomeranian
Pedagogical
University
in Słupsk). The Council of the Faculty of Science of the Academy in
Słupsk had asked him to supervise two other post-graduates. As a member
of University staff, Prof. Piesik participated in the works of the
Senate in the
Agriculture
Academy
in
Szczecin
(1984-1987) and in
Pedagogical
University.
Since 1996 he had been Head of the Senate Publication Commission of the
University in Słupsk.
Since
1972 he had been member of the Polish Hydrobiologists Society, where he
was President of the
Szczecin
section from 1993 to 1995. Since 1993 he had been member of the Polish
Society of Malacologists. He was also active in the Polish Union of
Coast Protection (EUCC Poland), where for some time he was Member of the
Board. He was awarded III. Award of the Minister of Higher Education,
Science and Technology (1987), the Cross of Honour
(2004) and awards by
the Rector of the Agriculture Academy in Szczecin (3 times), of the
University of Szczecin
(3 times), of the Pedagogical University (3 times) and in the eighties
Honorable Maritime Activist and Bronze Cross of Honour.
Krystian Obolewski
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