The UW Press and the UW Museum received the Grand Prize in the ACADEMIA 2024 competition for the publication “The Emblem of the University of Warsaw. The History of the Symbol on the Seals from the University Museum”. The winner was announced at the Warsaw International Book Fair. The UW Rector’s Award for the best academic publication in the social sciences and humanities was also presented.

The publication “The Emblem of the University of Warsaw. The History of the Symbol on the Seals from the University Museum” was published jointly by the University of Warsaw Press and the Museum of the University of Warsaw. The book introduces the history and symbolism of the University emblem and University seals. It also investigates the University’s sphragistic system and presents a catalogue of seal matrices stored at the UW Museum. “This book is a proof that something that is niche can be presented in an attractive way and get awarded,” Prof. Hubert Kowalski, the Director of the UW Museum, said during the award ceremony.

UW Rector’s Award

The University of Warsaw Rector’s Prize for the best academic publication in the social sciences and humanities was also awarded in the competition. This year, it was given to the Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute for the publication “Warszawski teatr 1918. Silva rerum” by Tomasz Mościcki. “It is a privilege and an honour to present, on behalf of His Magnificence, the award and distinctions of the Rector of the University of Warsaw for the best publication in the social sciences and humanities,” said Prof. Ewa Krogulec, the UW Vice-Rector for Development.

This year, the ACADEMIA awards were given for the 17th time. For this year’s edition, 58 publishers submitted 167 titles.

The awards are given as part of the competition: The ACADEMIA Main Prize, the Prize of the Rector of the University of Warsaw for the best academic publication in the social sciences and humanities, and the Prize of the Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology for the best academic publication in the technical and exact sciences.

The organisers of the competition for the best academic and scientific book are: the University of Warsaw Press, Publishing House of the Warsaw University of Technology, and the History and Culture Foundation.

Detailed information about the competition and the publications nominated for this year’s awards is available on the website of the Warsaw International Book Fair.