Prof. Paolo Giubellino awarded honorary doctorate by WUT

Professor Paolo Giubellino, an outstanding particle physicist who has played a key role in shaping contemporary research in nuclear and particle physics, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Warsaw University of Technology. The distinction recognizes the Professor’s contribution to the development of this field of science, as well as his many years of fruitful and successful cooperation with the Warsaw University of Technology. The honorary doctorate was conferred during a ceremonial session of the Senate of the Warsaw University of Technology held on 6 May 2026 in the Main Building of the University.

Prof. Krzysztof Zaremba, Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology, emphasized the special significance of the occasion on which Prof. Giubellino received the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the University. “This honour and great joy are further enhanced by the fact that we are meeting at a special time – during the bicentenary celebrations of the Warsaw University of Technology, which we commemorate as the direct successor of the Preparatory School for Technical Studies established by Stanisław Staszic in 1826,” said Prof. Krzysztof Zaremba. However, this is not the only important anniversary being celebrated this year.

“Prof. Giubellino is an exceptional scholar who has made an outstanding contribution to the development of his scientific discipline. He has joined the distinguished group of honorary doctors of the Warsaw University of Technology, which also includes Nobel Prize laureates, among them Prof. Maria Skłodowska-Curie. I mention this because this year also marks the centenary of the awarding of an honorary doctorate of our University to this eminent Polish scientist, who laid the foundations of the field in which Prof. Giubellino works. It all began with her,” emphasized Prof. Krzysztof Zaremba, Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology.

Prof. Zaremba also emphasized the importance of the cooperation and friendship that Prof. Giubellino has maintained with the University for many years, particularly with the Faculty of Physics, whose researchers he has repeatedly had the opportunity to work closely with on various projects.

“Your support for the staff and students of this Faculty translates into opportunities for cooperation with the world’s leading experimental teams in nuclear physics,” said the Rector of the Warsaw University of Technology.

A scientific friendship

The laudation in honour of the new honorary doctor of the Warsaw University of Technology was delivered by Prof. Hanna Zbroszczyk of the Faculty of Physics at the Warsaw University of Technology. In her speech, she highlighted the special relationship linking the University, the Faculty of Physics and its researchers with Prof. Giubellino. Their scientific cooperation began many years ago, shortly after the Warsaw group joined the ALICE experiment at CERN. At that time, Professor Giubellino served as Deputy Spokesperson of the experiment.

“This moment is not only a formal academic celebration, but also – for me personally – one of deep significance. It reflects many years of professional cooperation, mutual trust, and what I proudly call a true scientific friendship. Our paths first crossed more than two decades ago, when the Warsaw University of Technology was taking its first steps in large-scale international collaboration in high-energy physics,” recalled Prof. Hanna Zbroszczyk. “From the very beginning, Professor Giubellino combined scientific excellence with openness and generosity. His support – both institutional and personal – played a crucial role in integrating our community into the global scientific research landscape. Over the years, our cooperation evolved into a lasting partnership that produced not only significant scientific results, but also educated new generations of researchers.”

Over the years, this cooperation has resulted in significant achievements, including an extensive body of joint publications as well as numerous master’s, engineering, and doctoral theses. Perhaps even more importantly, it has contributed to the development of a new generation of young researchers who are now active members of the international scientific community. Professor Giubellino made this one of his priorities both within ALICE and at GSI/FAIR, for which he coined the term “Talent Factory.”

Prof. Hanna Zbroszczyk delivered the laudation in honour of the new WUT honorary doctor

From today’s perspective, a particularly important and groundbreaking stage of this cooperation was the moment when Professor Giubellino assumed leadership positions at the GSI Helmholtz Centre and FAIR. The expansion of the collaboration was accompanied by significant institutional steps. The memorandum of cooperation signed in 2020 between the Warsaw University of Technology and GSI/FAIR, followed by agreements enabling the exchange of students and staff, created a solid framework for long-term cooperation. It is worth emphasizing that all these initiatives were able to develop thanks to the strong support and personal commitment of Professor Giubellino. Today, the Warsaw University of Technology actively participates in three major international projects: ALICE at CERN, HADES at GSI, and CBM at FAIR.

“From my perspective, the evolution of this cooperation – from its beginnings at CERN to its current strong presence at GSI and FAIR – perfectly illustrates how long-term scientific collaboration can grow, adapt, and open up new horizons. It is a partnership based not only on shared research goals, but also on trust, continuity, and a unique spirit of cooperation,” added Prof. Zbroszczyk. “Today’s ceremony is therefore not only a recognition of an outstanding scientific career. It is also a celebration of many years of collaboration, shared achievements, and enduring friendship. It symbolizes the profound impact that one person can have – not only on the development of a scientific field, but also on an entire community of colleagues and students.”

Prof. Angela Bracco, President of the Italian Physical Society, also addressed the audience. She emphasized that the title awarded to Prof. Giubellino is a great source of joy for the Italian physics community, for whom the Professor is a role model, mentor, and inspiration.

Contribution to the development of high-energy physics

In the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Professor Paolo Giubellino played an important role in the pioneering CERN programme on relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Within this programme, he made significant contributions to the NA34 (HELIOS) and NA50 experiments. Over time, he assumed increasing responsibility – from the development of advanced silicon detector systems to participation in experiment design and data analysis. His work on detector technology was particularly important at a time when silicon tracking systems were becoming essential tools for precision measurements in high-multiplicity collisions. The NA50 experiment became a milestone in high-energy nuclear physics. Professor Giubellino also played a key role in shaping the ALICE experiment from its earliest stages through its construction and commissioning.

“Receiving this distinction, I feel deeply honoured, especially because it comes 100 years after Maria Skłodowska-Curie received the same distinction. She was an outstanding scientist – she created our field of knowledge, she created this world and described what we do. She is an iconic figure in our work,” emphasized Prof. Paolo Giubellino during the ceremony.

The Professor referred to the fact that the scientific discoveries initiated by Maria Skłodowska-Curie, particularly in the field of radiation, continue to be developed and applied in ever new areas, influencing everyday life. They are present in new technologies, medicine, therapies, and energy production. According to Professor Giubellino, a contemporary challenge for universities is to create opportunities for future generations of young people so that they can continue to develop technologies and expand knowledge in these fields. In this context, he used the phrase he coined himself – “talent factories” – referring to universities, while also pointing to his cooperation with the Warsaw University of Technology, researchers from the Faculty of Physics, and international institutions as an excellent example of such an environment.

Prof. Paolo Giubellino’s lecture at WUT

Following the ceremonial session of the Senate, Prof. Paolo Giubellino also delivered an open lecture entitled Frontiers of Experimental Nuclear Physics. The lecture took place at the Faculty of Physics of the Warsaw University of Technology and attracted a large audience of students and University staff.