The Polish Association of Geomorphologists (Stowarzyszenie Geomorfologów Polskich, SGP) has just announced the results of its annual competition for the best student thesis. The Leszek Starkel Award is given in two categories: bachelor’s/engineering theses and master’s theses defended in a given calendar year.
We are delighted to announce that in the bachelor’s thesis category, first place was awarded to our alumna and current master’s student, head of the Student Geographic Society – Anastazja Mastylak. In the master’s thesis category, third place went to Aleksandra Orłowska, our colleague who is currently working on her doctoral dissertation. We are incredibly proud of you both and so glad you continue to work with us!
Anastazja’s thesis, entitled “Assessment of the Usefulness of Detrital Zircon Dating in Provenance Studies of Glacial Tills in the Southwestern Part of the Last Scandinavian Glaciation Area” (pol. Ocena przydatności datowania detrytycznych ziaren cyrkonów w badaniu proweniencji glin lodowcowych w południowo-zachodniej części obszaru objętego ostatnim zlodowaceniem skandynawskim), was prepared under the supervision of Damian Moskalewicz. In her thesis, Anastazja addressed the reconstruction of Scandinavian ice sheet dynamics – a key aspect of research into Pleistocene glacial processes. The study investigated whether U-Pb dating of detrital zircons could serve as an effective tool for determining the provenance of glacial tills. The results demonstrated that zircon ages make it possible to reconstruct ice transport directions and correlate them with source areas in Fennoscandia, confirming existing models while also revealing previously unrecognized transport pathways. This confirms the method’s considerable potential for reconstructing the dynamics of the Pleistocene ice sheet.
Aleksandra’s thesis, “Fire and Vegetation History Recorded in the Annually Laminated Sediments of Lake Lehmilampi (Finland)” (pol. Historia pożarów roślinności zapisana w rocznie laminowanych osadach jeziora Lehmilampi (Finlandia)), was prepared under the supervision of Alicja Bonk. Aleksandra investigated fire activity – an important component of the functioning of many ecosystems. Notably, long-term fire reconstructions in the boreal zone remain scarce. The study reconstructed a 3300-year fire history based on high-resolution analyses of a sediment core from Lake Lehmilampi, enabled by precise varve chronology. The results indicate that the reconstructed fire events were of low intensity and did not significantly affect the stability of local vegetation. Macrocharcoals showed no persistent association with any particular vegetation type, suggesting the ecosystem’s high resilience to both fire and climate variability. Significant environmental changes appeared only with the onset of local agricultural activity.
We warmly congratulate the award recipients and their supervisors! Our congratulations go out to all those recognized by the SGP!