REPOSITORY
THE NICOLAUS COPERNICUS UNIVERSITY
IN TORUŃ
is an institutional repository of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. The task of the Repository is to promote scientific achievements and research conducted at NCU and to support teaching.
Recent Submissions
Antarctic Security and Adequacy of Legal Regulations
(Elsevier, 2025-11-10) Szpak, Agnieszka
This paper critically examines the adequacy of the current legal framework governing Antarctica – the Antarctic
Treaty System (ATS) – in addressing emerging security-related risks in the region. With Antarctica facing
mounting environmental threats from climate change, increasing tourism, potential bioprospecting, and strategic
interest from global powers, the paper explores whether existing legal instruments are sufficient to mitigate these
challenges. The study identifies significant regulatory gaps and ambiguities using legal and content analysis of
relevant literature. These include unclear provisions on bioprospecting and resource use, limited enforcement
and inspection mechanisms, insufficient responses to maritime and human security risks, and the growing dualuse
nature of scientific activities with possible military applications. The analysis suggests that while the ATS has
thus far maintained peace and environmental protection, its effectiveness is undermined by geopolitical
competition and evolving global demands. The paper concludes that without legal and institutional reforms, such
as more precise definitions, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and enhanced transparency, the long-term stability
and credibility of the Antarctic governance regime may be at risk.
AI Images vs. Real Photographs: Investigating Visual Recognition and Perception
(2025) Osińska, Veslava; Kortas, Weronika; Szalach, Adam; Welter, Marc
Recently, the photorealism of generated images has improved noticeably due to the development of AI algorithms. These are high-resolution images of human faces and bodies, cats and dogs, vehicles, and other categories of objects that the untrained eye cannot distinguish from authentic photographs. The study assessed how people perceive 12 pictures generated by AI vs. 12 real photographs. Six main categories of stimuli were selected: architecture, art, faces, cars, landscapes, and pets. The visual perception of selected images was studied by means of eye tracking and gaze patterns as well as time characteristics, compared with consideration to the respondent groups’ gender and knowledge of AI graphics. After the experiment, the study participants analysed the pictures again in order to describe the reasons for their choice. The results show that AI images of pets and real photographs of architecture were the easiest to identify. The largest differences in visual perception are between men and women as well as between those experienced in digital graphics (including AI images) and the rest. Based on the analysis, several recommendations are suggested for AI developers and end-users.
"It's my fourth child." The affective and personal impact of community archives
(2025-10) Wiśniewska-Drewniak, Magdalena
The paper reports partial results of the research project “The impact of independent community archives” funded by the National Science Center in Krakow, Poland (grant no. 2022/47/D/HS3/00914; 2023-2026). The aim of the project is to describe the social and affective impact of Polish independent community archives on their creators, contributors, audiences, and the community they document. The project's goal is achieved through three in-depth case studies of contemporary independent archives. The primary source of information is qualitative interviews with people associated with the archives, particularly community archivists.
The paper addresses, in particular, the affective (emotional) impact and personal impact. The citation used in the title, 'It's my fourth child', comes from one of the interviewed community archivists (mother of three children) and shows an interesting way of describing archivist's personal and affective involvement in the archive.
The presentation includes: a short discussion on the Polish context of community archives; a description of the research process; partial results - several influences found in two Polish community archives studied so far: German Minority Research Center (Polish: Centrum Badań Mniejszości Niemieckiej) and Dogs Community Archive (Polish: Psie Archiwum Społeczne); reflections on the challenges of studying the affective and personal impact of archives. In terms of influences, the presentation discusses: trust/distrust, archival toil/burden, sense of mission, sensitivity/empathy, negative emotional impact, hard and educational personal impacts, and "soft" personal impacts.
Solvents for Green Pharmaceutical Liquid Chromatography - Possibilities and Limitations
(Elsevier, 2025-11) Bocian, Szymon; Studzińska, Sylwia
The pharmaceutical industry faces increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable practices, and liquid chromatography (LC), a cornerstone analytical technique in pharmaceutical analyses, is no exception. Traditional LC methods often rely on large volumes of hazardous organic solvents, posing significant environmental and health risks. This review explores the current landscape of eco-friendly solvent alternatives and strategies for their implementation in pharmaceutical analysis. We delve into the potential of green alternative solvents for reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP LC), aqueous mobile phases, bio-based solvents, and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), examining their chromatographic performance, compatibility with existing instrumentation, and regulatory acceptance. The review indicates the advantages of alternative solvents and their applicability. It also critically assesses the limitations of these green approaches, including challenges in method development, separation efficiency, and detection. Furthermore, it discusses the economic implications and the crucial role of analytical method transfer in transitioning to greener pharmaceutical LC. Ultimately, this article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the progress towards sustainable pharmaceutical analysis and highlight the future directions necessary for the widespread adoption of greener chromatographic practices.
Horyzont - w stronę kamienia granicznego"
(Galeria Sztuki Wozownia, 2025-11) Alicja Majewska; Stowarzyszenie Artystyczne "Otwarte"
Katalog wystawy „Horyzont – w stronę kamienia granicznego” w Galerii Sztuki „Wozownia” w Toruniu. Założeniem wystawy jest nie tylko przypomnienie postaci wybitnego rzeźbiarza prof. Adolfa Ryszki, (1935 – 1995), ale też twórczy dialog z jego koncepcjami. Punktem wyjścia dla artystów stała się problematyka rzeźby w krajobrazie – zagadnienie szczególnie bliskie Profesorowi. Jego dzieło „Kamień graniczny” stało się swoistym drogowskazem w poszukiwaniu współczesnych interpretacji tego tematu. Kuratorką wystawy jest A. Majewska (galeria Jacek Swiderski), głównym organizatorem Stowarzyszenie Artystyczne „Otwarte”, które zaprosiło do udziału w projekcie twórców i projektantów z Katedry Architektury Wnętrz i Rzeźby Wydziału Sztuk Pięknych Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu. Za aranżację wystawy odpowiada Aleksandra Truchel – architektka związana z katedrą.
W publikacji zaprezentowano dwa teksty: autorstwa Doroty Grubby-Thiede, historyczki i krytyczki sztuki, oraz Rafała Boetner-Łubowskiego, artysty sztuk wizualnych, zajmującego się również teorią sztuki i krytyką artystyczną.
Wydarzenie odbyło się pod honorowym patronatem Prezydenta Miasta Torunia Pawła Gulewskiego oraz JM Rektora Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu prof. dr hab. Andrzeja Tretyna. Patronat medialny objęło Radio PIK.
W wystawie biorą udział:
Katarzyna Adaszewska, Joanna Bebarska, Andrzej Borcz, Marcin Jędrzak, Stanisław Kośmiński, Ala Majewska, Grzegorz Maślewski, Krzysztof Mazur, Małgorzata Mazur, Sebastian Mikołajczak, Jarosław Perszko, Katarzyna Rudólff-Kanabaj, Bartłomiej Schmidt, Piotr Tołoczko, Aleksandra Truchel, Maciej Wierzbicki
Catalogue of the exhibition “Horizon – Toward the Boundary Stone” at the Wozownia Art Gallery in Toruń.
The aim of the exhibition is not only to recall the figure of the outstanding sculptor Prof. Adolf Ryszka (1935–1995), but also to engage in a creative dialogue with his concepts. The starting point for the participating artists became the issue of sculpture in the landscape – a theme particularly close to the Professor’s interests. His work Boundary Stone has served as a kind of signpost in the search for contemporary interpretations of this subject.
The exhibition is curated by A. Majewska (gallery Jacek Świderski) and its main organizer is the “Otwarte” Art Association, which invited artists and designers from the Department of Interior Architecture and Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, to take part in the project. The exhibition design was created by Aleksandra Truchel, an architect affiliated with the department.
The publication features two texts: one by Dorota Grubba-Thiede, an art historian and critic, and another by Rafał Boettner-Łubowski, a visual artist also engaged in art theory and criticism.
The event was held under the honorary patronage of Paweł Gulewski, Mayor of the City of Toruń, and Prof. Andrzej Tretyn, Rector of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.
Radio PIK served as the media patron.
The exhibition features works by:
Katarzyna Adaszewska, Joanna Bebarska, Andrzej Borcz, Marcin Jędrzak, Stanisław Kośmiński, Ala Majewska, Grzegorz Maślewski, Krzysztof Mazur, Małgorzata Mazur, Sebastian Mikołajczak, Jarosław Perszko, Katarzyna Rudólff-Kanabaj, Bartłomiej Schmidt, Piotr Tołoczko, Aleksandra Truchel, Maciej Wierzbicki