EASST - Meet the board
Prof. Łukasz Wyrzykowski
President of the board
An astrophysicist, he works at the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Warsaw and the National Centre for Nuclear Research.
He studied astronomy at the Faculty of Physics of the University of Warsaw, where he also earned his PhD in astronomy (2005), habilitation (2012), and professorship (2021). He has held research and teaching positions at universities in Tel Aviv, Manchester, Geneva, Princeton, and Santa Barbara, California, but feels most connected to the University of Cambridge in the UK, where he spent 10 years.
Author and co-author of over 350 peer-reviewed scientific papers, including in Nature and Science. Principal investigator of numerous scientific grants, including those from the European Commission. In 2020, he chaired the Scientific Panel at the Polish Space Agency. His scientific interests include dark matter research, black hole observations, the use of gravitational microlensing, large sky surveys – especially the Gaia space mission – machine learning in astronomy, and the automation of astronomical and space research.
Privately, he is the husband of a PhD in biblical studies, father of three children, and owner of a dog named Alfa Sagittari.
Zbigniew Grabowski
Vice-president
Teacher and principal at the Public School in Sułkowice-Bolęcina. He studied Social Sciences at the Pedagogical University of Krakow, completed postgraduate studies in education management, computer science, local government administration, distance learning, personal data protection and coaching, training and tutoring courses. Trainer and coordinator of educational projects for young people and adults. Popularizer of science, knowledge and modern technologies. Organizer of a series of symposia for teachers and students entitled "The Art of Teaching and Learning". Since 2022, he has been organizing monthly workshops "Kosmiting" and an annual conference popularizing the teaching of astronomy and cooperation at the interface of education, science and participatory science entitled "Kosmiting Summit". Initiator of the construction and creator of the School Astronomical Observatory "Bolęcina" at the Public School in Sułkowice-Bolęcina.
Passionate about photography, astronomy and electronic music.
In the electronic reality of Second Life, as Zbig Shoreman, he attends lectures and gives talks at the Academia Elektronika of the Institute of Philosophy of the Jagiellonian University.
Author of the series of broadcasts “Pod niebem pełnym cudów” on the local Radio Andrychów. Member of the group of innovative teachers - Superbelfrzy RP. Privately, a husband and father of three adult children. He lives in the Beskid Mountains, in southern Lesser Poland.
Ela Łazarewicz-Wyrzykowska
Vice-president
Elżbieta's involvement with the European Astronomical Society of Small Telescopes Foundation reflects her longstanding commitment to interdisciplinary research, education and innovation.
She holds a PhD in Biblical Studies from the University of Manchester and currently serves as a Visiting Lecturer at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge.
Alongside her professional work, Elżbieta has developed and led educational and social initiatives, including an alternative education project supporting home education.
A native of Warsaw, she has lived, studied, and worked in Tel Aviv, Manchester, and Cambridge. She is married to an astronomy professor and is the mother of three teenagers.
Wieńczysław Bykowski
Board member
He studied Astronomy at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, where he defended his thesis, “Transit Timing Variations in the Search for Exoplanets,” in 2010. Afterward, he pursued a career in the private sector, where he developed expertise in space safety. Currently he is working at Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research.
At EASST, he is primarily responsible for space situational awareness projects, but he is always open to any bold or unconventional ideas!
Privately, he is married to a brilliant solar system researcher, Joanna and loves travelling. He visited almost all European countries and all inhabited continents apart from South America.