On 16 October 2026, a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Sylwester Kaliski Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) was held in Warsaw. The event brought together representatives of government authorities, universities and research institutions, as well as current and former IPPLM staff, partners, collaborators and friends. It was an opportunity to celebrate together, share memories and reflect on five decades of scientific research.
The official part of the ceremony began with a series of speeches. The first to address the guests was Dr hab. Monika Kubkowska, Director of IPPLM. In her speech, she recalled key stages in the Institute's development, from its early research in plasma physics and the use of high-power lasers to its expansion into new areas, including plasma propulsion technologies. She highlighted the contributions of successive generations of staff and IPPLM's involvement in international research initiatives. Looking to the future, she also emphasised the importance of supporting staff development and investing in modern research infrastructure.
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Speeches were also delivered by Dr Paweł Gajda, Director of the Nuclear Energy Department at the Ministry of Energy, and Ms Sylwia Sztark, a representative of the Office of the Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. Ms Sztark read out a congratulatory letter from Marshal Adam Struzik and presented a certificate of recognition.
The programme included the premiere of a film produced especially to mark IPPLM's 50th anniversary. The film traced the Institute's origins to pioneering laser fusion research conducted by a team led by Professor Sylwester Kaliski. It also presented subsequent stages of the Institute's development and its current research activities.
Watch the anniversary film on YouTube.
Dr Paweł Gąsior, Head of the Department of Thermonuclear Plasma Research and Space Technologies, then presented a broader perspective on the Institute's history and achievements, placing them in the context of changes in science and the wider world.
A particularly significant moment of the ceremony was the presentation of a state decoration. On the recommendation of the Minister of Energy, Miłosz Motyka, the President of the Republic of Poland awarded Dr Paweł Gąsior the Bronze Cross of Merit in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of science. The decoration was presented on behalf of the President by Dr Paweł Gajda.
Another important part of the anniversary celebration was the recognition of long-serving IPPLM staff members. Commemorative certificates of appreciation were presented to employees with at least 20 years of service at the Institute, including those who have helped shape its history almost since its establishment.
The official programme concluded with a musical performance. Afterwards, participants had the opportunity to talk, share memories and reconnect with colleagues with whom they had conducted research and worked on scientific projects over the years.
We would like to thank all our guests, current and former staff members, and friends of the Institute for joining us and celebrating this special anniversary together.
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Congratulatory letters
To mark IPPLM's 50th anniversary, we received congratulatory letters from a number of institutions and organisations. We sincerely thank them for their kind wishes and expressions of recognition.
The letters linked below are in Polish.
- Instytut Chemii i Techniki Jądrowej
- Instytut Ekologii Terenów Uprzemysłowionych
- Instytut Fizyki Jądrowej PAN
- Marszałek Województwa Mazowieckiego
- Naczelna Organizacja Techniczna
- Narodowe Centrum Badań Jądrowych
- Państwowa Agencja Atomistyki
- Politechnika Warszawska
- Politechnika Warszawska – Wydział Inżynierii Materiałowej
- „Postępy Techniki Jądrowej”
- Rada Główna Instytutów Badawczych
- Uniwersytet Warszawski
- Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna
Photos: Kuba Rodziewicz
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