History of the Faculty of Chemistry

The Faculty of Chemistry, formerly housed in a building that was built in 1908 (the history of the old building of the Faculty of Chemistry), dates back to September 1945. On 24 September 1946, the State Higher School of Pedagogy (PWSP) was transformed into a three-year State Higher School of Pedagogy (SHSP), and in 1952 into a Higher School of Pedagogy (HSP).

The major in chemistry was established in the academic year 1950/51 at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the Academy of Sciences, and the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry was created in the academic year 1951/52. In the authorities of this faculty with three faculties, chemists played a significant role. Its deans were Zofia Matysik (1953-1956), Janusz Sokolowski (1956-1958), Franciszek Puchaczewski (1960-1964), Gotfryd Kupryszewski (1964-1968) and Edmund Kwiatkowski (1968-1970).

The Council of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry of the WSP on April 21, 1967 obtained the right to confer the degree of Doctor of Chemical Sciences. On March 20, 1970, the University of Gdansk was established on the basis of HSP and Higher School of Economics, whose founder and rector for the first four terms (1970-1981) was Prof. Janusz Sokolowski. The functioning of the University of Gdansk began on July 1, 1970.

On June 30, 1970, the Institute of Chemistry was established within the structure of the Faculty of Mathematics Physics and Chemistry still in the former HSP. Thanks to the scientific activity of chemists, the Council of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry of UG was authorized to confer the degree of doctor of chemical sciences in 1975. Chemists also served as deans: Edmund Kwiatkowski (1970-1972), Gotfryd Kupryszewski (1972-1978), Zbigniew Grzonka (1987-1990). In turn, the directors of the Institute of Chemistry were Tadeusz Latowski (1970-1978), Zygfryd Smiatacz (1978-1981), Zbigniew Grzonka (1981-1987) and Jerzy Blazejowski (1987-1990).

In 1990, a major in environmental protection was established, thanks to the efforts of Prof. Jerzy Blazejowski.
The Council of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry was growing in number, and its meeting room could not accommodate all those eligible. Faculty Council members representing the Institute of Chemistry commuted from Sobieski Street to Wita Stwosza Street for meetings. At that time, physicists and mathematicians put forward a proposal to establish a Faculty of Chemistry, which, as an independent unit, would not lose the right to confer doctoral and postdoctoral degrees in chemical sciences. The few dissenting voices to the proposed division of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry were explained by the very close and cordial personal relations of the Faculty Council members.

Finally, on September 1, 1991, the Faculty of Chemistry of UG was established, with Prof. Jerzy Blazejowski as its first dean (1991-1996). Subsequent deans were Prof. Bernard Lammek (1996-2002), Prof. Lech Chmurzynski (2002-2008), Prof. Andrzej Wisniewski (2008-2012), Prof. Piotr Stepnowski (2012-2016), Prof. Mariusz Makowski. Currently, the position of dean is held by Dr. Beata Grobelna, Prof. UG.