The BUP PhD Award 2022 winners

The Baltic University Programme (BUP) PhD Award supports high-quality research promoting sustainable development in a Baltic Sea region context. The award is established in two research areas, one award for each:

• Natural Sciences, Technology and Engineering
• Social Sciences and Humanities

Winner within research area Natural Sciences, Technology and Engineering

Krzysztof Piotrowski, who defended the dissertation Development of a strategy or the cultivation of energy crops with ecological methods in the conditions of global climate and environmental changes at University of Lodz, is the winner. The motivation for the award is the following:

Dr. Krzysztof Piotrowski, in broad and multidisciplinary approach, justified the use of biological agents in agriculture considering climatic and environmental aspects, biological development of energy crops, physical properties of biomass and economic balance. The reviewer stressed global importance of the selection of research issues, innovative approach and novelty of the dissertation regarding environmentally friendly use of biological agents in modern agriculture instead of fertilizers and synthetic agents. 

The Thesis shows opening for significant reduction of chemical fertilizers, hazardous to humans and the environment with simultaneous reduction the production costs of energy crops.

The novelty of the doctoral dissertation has also a source in original research methods; methodology of controlling variables related to climatic conditions and parameters for assessing the effects of the impact of biopreparations on the development and yielding of plants.

The supervisor was:

• Prof. Zdzisława Romanowska-Duda, Department of Ecophysiology and Plant Development, University of Lodz

Winner within research area Social Sciences and Humanities

(Image removed) Photo: Anna Hartvig

Ignė Stalmokaitė, who defended the dissertation New Tides in Shipping: Studying incumbent firms in maritime energy transitions at Södertörn University, is the winner. The motivation for the award is the following:

In the thesis PhD Ignė Stalmokaitė in a skillful way takes an interdisciplinary approach to the research problem of big actors’ behavior in the realm of sustainable development in the shipping business in the Baltic Sea. With the study Igne contributes to new knowledge, and conducts research meticulously when it comes to connecting the stated research questions to the final conclusions. In adapting different disciplinary methods, Igne undertakes the necessary assessment of the various methodologies. Also, Stalmokaitė’s work is clearly structured and well readable also for a public outside this specialty.

The doctoral dissertation directly addresses the issue of sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region. Interdisciplinary issues are undertaken, combining the issues of sustainability, strategic management and maritime transportation. The issues raised are new and up to date. An innovative method is used and a coherent connection to the Baltic Sea Region sustainability development is present. 

This doctoral dissertation is prepared on the basis of a series of three co-authored scientific articles and one manuscript, which distinguishes the work from the others.

The supervisors were:

• Prof. Björn Hassler, School of Natural Sciences, Technology and Environmental Studies, Södertörn University, Sweden
• Dr. Johanna Yliskylä-Peuralahti, Brahea Centre at the University of Turku,Centre for Maritime Studies, Turku University, Turku, Finland
• Dr. Tommy Larsson Segerlind, Department of Business Studies, School of Social Science, Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden

Read the full thesis.

The prize

The winners will receive a prize in the form of a diploma and support of up to a maximum of 1000 Euro for either attending a scientific conference or publishing in a peer-review scientific journal.

The winners have also been invited to present their research at the BUP PhD Training 2022 which will be held in Lodz, Poland on 23-26 November 2022.