Michal Bilewic is a professor of psychology at the University of Warsaw. Despite his accomplishments, his application for full professorship has been put in limbo, because the head of state will not approve of it, likely due to his research involving Poland and the Holocaust.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/05/27/polish-president-delays-academics-promotion
July 5, 2022
Andrzej Duda
President of the Republic of Poland
Krakowskie Przedmieście 48/50
Warsaw, 00-071 Poland
Dear President Duda:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
This communication concerns Michal Bilewic, a professor of psychology at the University of Warsaw, Poland. Professor Bilewic takes an objective non-biased approach to all his studies, including studies concerning the Holocaust, in a thorough manner. By any standard, he is considered a significant contributor in his field, with thousands of citations for his work since 2017.
Despite Professor Bilewic’s important academic contributions, and despite the support from a central committee of reviewers, there has been no signature from the head of state to approve his appointment to full professorship. Effectively, his appointment to full professorship has been blocked due to a conflict between political interests and Professor Bilewic’s honest evaluation of historical events.
Professor Bilewic should not be punished or held back for simply producing high quality and accurate work, no matter the political implications. For this reason, we strongly urge you to sign Professor Bilewic’s application for full professorship. Such a gesture could only be a sign of strength.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
cc:
Mark Brzezinski
Ambassador to Poland
U.S. Embassy Warsaw
Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31
00-540 Warsaw Poland
Phone: +48 22 504 2000
Marek Magierowski
Ambassador to the United States
2640 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 328-2152
Email: washington.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl
Antony J. Blinken
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
Phone: (202) 647-4000
Twitter: @ABlinken