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In Memory of Jerzy Lewandowski
Jerzy (Jurek) Lewandowski has been a towering figure of Polish and international Relativity. He graduated under the supervision of Andrej Trautman, and he worked extensively on isolated horizons and near horizon geometries, loop quantum gravity, CR structures and spacetimes, Einstein equations and the twistor equation. He is credited among the researchers who most contributed to the development of Loop Quantum Gravity, having put his skills as mathematical physicist to the service of many different aspects of the theory. He is equally cherished in the quantum gravity community as somebody who served the community by organizing many conferences and schools, that turned out of particular importance. He has also been the first and long-serving president of the Polish Relativity Society, supporting the study of Einstein's theory in Poland. He has been cherished by colleagues and students for his kind and cheerful spirit, and a unique sense of humor.
Two seminars were recently held in memory and honourof Jurek:
Prof. Jerzy Lewandowski memorial seminar, November 8, 2024, University of Warsaw. This seminar was devoted to the life and scientific achievements of professor Jerzy (Jurek) Lewandowski, who passed away on October 8th2024. Speakers of the seminar were: Abhay Ashtekar, Hanno Sahimann, Pawel Nurowski, Yongge Ma, Wojciech Kamiñski and Denis Dobkowski-Rytko. The seminar was organised by Marek Demiańśki (IFT FUW), Jacek Jezierski (KMMF), Wojciech Kamiński (IFT FUW), Jerzy Kowalski-Glikman (UWr & NCBJ), Andrzej Okołow (IFT FUW), Włodzimierz Piechocki (NCBJ), Adam Szereszewski (IFT FUW) and Jacek Tafel (IFT FUW). The seminar has been recorded and is available on YouTube:
An International Loop Quantum Gravity Seminar Honoring Jerzy Lewandowski, December 3, 2024. Summary by Hal Haggard, chair of this seminar: As many members of the ISLQG will know, Professor Jerzy Lewandowski died on October 8th, 2024 at the age of 65 . In recognition of this extraordinary member of the Loop Quantum Gravity community, the December 3rd International Loop Quantum Gravity Seminar was devoted to remembrances of Jurek. Three brief presentations were given by Profs. Wojciech Kaminski, Yongge Ma, and Abhay Ashtekar. These presentations gracefully combined discussion of the many contributions that Jurek made to the field of quantum gravity and personal recollections of his indomitable character and strengths. After the presentations, several members of the community read thoughtful accounts and told impromptu stories about Jurek. A recurring theme was the striking way in which Prof. Lewandowski acquitted himself-so often rigorous, precise and confident, and yet also managing to be jocular and to invite young researchers into the community through his interest in their work and his own strong sense of that community. Jurek's good friend Paweł Pliszka related many wonderful stories and communicated Jurek's sincere desire to write an accessible book introducing black hole horizons. Jurek hoped that this project would be a resource and benefit to the community, and Pawel expressed his own hope that we would find a way to carry the idea forward. If you were not able to attend the seminar and would like to hear more about our dear colleague, you can find a recording of the seminar at https://relativity,phys.Isu,edu/ilggs/. To his wife, Elzbieta, and to Pawel Lewandowski go the deepest condolences and our thanks for sharing in the camaraderie that Jerzy Lewandowski brought to the Loop Quantum Gravity community.
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