Professor Jan Stankowski was born in 1934 in Poznań in the Wielkopolska region, Poland. He graduated in physics from the University of Poznań in 1956 and obtained a Doctorate in Mathematical-Physical Sciences in 1960.
Prof. Stankowski was active in many scientific affairs, serving as a member and chairman of the Central Commission for the Degrees and the Scientific Title (1990–2009), as well as member and chairman of the Physics Committee Polish Academy of Sciences (1990–1999). He served on numerous editorial boards and held editorial positions for the following international and national journals: Ferroelectrics, the Acta Physica Polonica, Physics B (Netherlands), Applied Magnetic Resonance, Superconductivity Review (USA) and Bulletin of Magnetic Resonance. He was also the member and Vice-president of AMPERE (1990–2002) group.
During his career, Stankowski published over 350 research papers in collaboration with 759 numerous different co-authors and worked informally with many more. In the period 1971–2004 he promoted 28 PhD students and the topics of their theses reflected his interest in molecular physics and the physics of condensed state. Inspired by Prof. A. Piekara he launched one of the most exciting projects in quantum electronics: the ammonia beam maser. With the extensive usage of ex-radar microwave plumbing, electronics and other elements dismantled from the navy surplus and later the custom made ammonia gas distillery, the small “maser group” lead by Stankowski successfully demonstrated the stimulated emission signal at 24 GHz, in 1964. As one of his younger colleagues I enjoyed this period of time, which we all had spent designing microwave instrumentation and performing experiments in magnetic resonance. Shortly after the publication of the first article on electron paramagnetic resonance EPR, he organized the Conference on Radio and Microwave Spectroscopy (RAMIS). Since 1964 RAMIS has continued every second year as a multidisciplinary conference, gathering leading experts from the international scientific community, providing a forum for discussing the most recent advances in magnetic resonances.
Professor Stankowski was an excellent lecturer—he enjoyed teaching and his lectures were always accompanied by well designed experiments. Always generous with his time and knowledge, he was much appreciated by the many doctoral students whom he helped, as well as by those of us who had the great opportunity to be his colleague and friend. Jan Stankowski published a number of books which mark his involvement in the quantum electronics, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, low temperature physics and superconductivity, respectively.
He was involved in industrial research at Odolanów Polish Oil and Gas Company (POGC), the Polish national gas company. As The Director of the Institute of the Molecular Physics he established the Low Temperature Laboratory of Radiospectroscopy, based on the premises of the helium recovery plant in Odolanów.
In 1975 at the Low Temperature Laboratory of Radiospectroscopy he initiated and arranged the first “Summer with Helium” workshop. Here members of Scientific Circle of Physics at A. Mickiewicz University meet every summer in Odolanów at the helium recovery plant, where the coldest cryogenic liquid is obtained, to experiment, learn and discuss the methods of cryogenics, their cooling and their applications in research. Several prominent scientists contributed lectures sharing their learning with the young enthusiasts and talented students from the local school.
Professor Jan Stankowski was the promoter of the Institute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznań and its director in years 1975 through 1985. He was a pioneer and later Nestor of the Electron Paramagnetic Spectroscopy in Poland, a scientist of great accomplishments who was widely recognized in the scientific community.
Memorial Minute
Jan Stankowski, physicist: born Poznań, Poland 1 January 1934; Assistant at Piekara Chair of Physics, Poznań University 1956–1960, Research Assistant, Doctor of Physics, Doctor of Science 1968, Docent, Professor 1974, Full Professor 1979 Institute of Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences 1979, Corresponding Member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences 1993, Full Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences 1998, Fellow of Institute of Physics (London); died Poznań 4 September 2009. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Tomasz, and two daughters, Małgorzata and Agnieszka.
Pawel B. Sczaniecki
Institute of Molecular Physics
Polish Academy of Sciences
Poznań Poland