Maria Wanda Jastrzębska facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maria Wanda Jastrzębska
Born	1924
Died	1988
Alma mater	Silesian University of Technology

Maria Wanda Jastrzębska (1924 – 1988) was a Polish electronics engineer and a university teacher. She taught at the Silesian University of Technology and the Opole University of Technology.

A Young Life Full of Changes

Maria Wanda Jastrzębska was born on October 18, 1924, in Sambir, a city in the Lviv region. Her parents were both teachers. Her father, Józef, was a headmaster, and her mother, Jadwiga, was also a teacher. Maria had an older brother, Stanisław, who sadly died fighting as a guerrilla, and a younger sister, Jadwiga.

Maria spent her early years in Sambir. She went to primary school there. She also attended a Gymnasium, which is a type of secondary school focused on academic learning.

When World War II started in 1939, Maria and her family faced tough times. In 1940, they were sent far away to Kazakhstan. There, she worked on a state-owned farm called a sovkhoz. Later, in 1944, she moved to Odessa in Ukraine and worked on a collective farm, known as a kolkhoz. Her father did not survive these difficult years.

After the war ended, Maria returned to her hometown of Sambir. In 1945, she and her mother and sister moved to Gliwice, Poland. Maria went back to school. In 1947, she passed her matura exams. These are important final school exams in Poland that allow students to go to university.

University Studies and Early Career

In 1947, Maria Jastrzębska began studying at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice. She was a very bright student. In 1949, one of her professors suggested she become a junior assistant in the Department of Fundamentals of Electronics.

In 1952, she finished her master's degree in electronics. Her thesis was about how to keep the voltage steady in a special type of electrical generator.

Maria continued working in the same department for six more years. She earned several promotions as she taught more and more. In 1960, she moved to a different department at the Silesian University of Technology. In the same year, she earned her PhD. Her research was about electrical currents and voltages when disconnecting long electrical lines. This earned her the title of Doctor of Technical Sciences.

Teaching at Opole University of Technology

Besides her work at the Silesian University of Technology, Maria Jastrzębska also taught at the Opole University of Technology. This university started as part of the Silesian University of Technology but became independent in 1966.

In 1967, she became the head of the Automation, Electronics, and Telemechanics Team. She led this team until 1987.

Maria wrote a textbook about automation and several other scientific books. She spoke French very well. This skill helped her translate textbooks for her students. She also guided many students through their master's and PhD research projects. She encouraged her colleagues to keep learning and growing in their careers. She did this by regularly organizing scientific seminars. She also helped start the Computing Machines Group, which later became the University Computing Centre.

In 1968, Maria was appointed an assistant professor. She also served as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. From 1970 to 1971, she was the Dean of the faculty. During her time as Dean, she helped create new experimental laboratories for automation, electronics, and telemechanics.

She was involved in many important university committees. For example, she helped choose students for studies. She also helped graduates find jobs. For many years, she was a member of the Senate of the Technical University in Opole. In 1985, she helped create rules for how a university could become partly independent.

Work Outside the University

Beyond her teaching and research at the university, Maria Jastrzębska also worked as a consultant. She advised the Office of Projects and Municipal Economy in Opole. She was also a member of the Polish Federation of Engineering Associations.

In 1987, Maria became very ill. She spent some time living with her younger sister, Jadwiga, in Pińczów. Maria Wanda Jastrzębska passed away in Pińczów in 1988. She was buried next to her mother, and her brother and father, who had a symbolic grave there.

Prizes and Awards

Maria Wanda Jastrzębska received many awards for her hard work and contributions:

• National Ministry of Science and Higher Education Prize (1969)
• Cross of Merit (1974)
• Badge of Merit in the Opole region (1977)
• Badge of Merit for the City of Opole (1980)
• Medal of the National Education Committee (1982)