The event, „Explorateurs polonais du Nouveau Monde et des îles du Pacifique : prédécesseurs et successeurs de Sir Paweł Edmund Strzelecki” aimed to highlight the role of Polish travellers in exploring Oceania and the Pacific Islands, and to emphasise their contribution to the development of natural sciences and anthropology.
The central figure of the event was Paweł Edmund Strzelecki, whose scientific work earned him international recognition and numerous distinctions. He was the author of „Physical Description of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land” (1845), which was positively reviewed by Charles Darwin. The event also recognised his opposition to slavery and his support for Indigenous peoples.
The profiles of other Polish researchers who made significant contributions to the study of Oceania were presented alongside Strzelecki, including:
– Jan Stanisław Kubary: a pioneer of ethnographic research in Micronesia who left behind an extensive documentary legacy, including a description of the Nan Madol site, which is now inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List;
– Jerzy Zubrzycki: a sociologist and adviser to the Australian government who is regarded as the father of Australia’s multiculturalism model;
– Kazimierz Antoni Wodzicki: an eminent ornithologist who studied animal ecology in New Zealand and organised aid for Polish war refugees.
The event held scientific and symbolic significance, reminding audiences of Poland’s research heritage and the courage and curiosity that drove Polish explorers to the farthest corners of the globe. The contributions of these explorers to the development of science, cartography, ethnography and nature conservation were emphasised, as were the humanistic values that accompanied their work.
The meeting offered an opportunity to reflect on how, despite the challenging circumstances of emigration, Polish explorers were able to combine a passion for science with a sensitivity to the fate of other nations.
The exhibition will be available to visit at the Polish Academy of Sciences Scientific Centre in Paris (74 Rue Lauriston, 75116 Paris) from 27 November to 29 December 2025. Visitors are welcome between 9:45 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and again between 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to discover the contributions of Polish travellers, explorers and scientists who helped expand knowledge of Oceania and the Pacific!
The exhibition is in French.
