Unscientific pursuits of TUL scientists: professor Jerzy Wojewoda

Prof. Jerzy Wojewoda is a graduate of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Lodz University of Technology (1980). He specialises in research into the behaviour of non-linear systems, especially in the mechanical systems vibration.

In 1984 he became an assistant at the Institute of Applied Mechanics (currently Division of Dynamics). Five years later he went to the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow in cooperation with Lodz University of Technology. His almost two-year stay ended in 1992 with his doctoral thesis, which was promoted by Prof. Ronald Barron and Prof. Tomasz Kapitaniak. He continues to work in the Division of Dynamics, currently as professor. He is an international sports judge in motorboat racing. His passions are motorboat racing, photography and classical music.

What interests accompanied you in your youth? What occupied your time after school?

The earliest thing in my life was photography. In primary school, in the fourth grade, my friend's father inspired me. He taught me how to take pictures and develop them. My first camera was an analogue Soviet Smiena, then Praktica. It was in the 1960s, when mainly black and white photos were taken. This passion accompanies me till today.

Later, as a school student of the 1st High School in Sandomierz, one of the oldest high schools in Poland, I became interested in sailing. My adventure began in a scouting team led by Mr Andrzej Obidowicz - an instructor who gathered a group of young enthusiasts around him. In order to sail we had to build  a yacht by ourselves.

We built a Beryl-type yacht made of hot bent wooden slats first in the garage by the school and then in a room rented in the city, for almost a year. In June 1970 we launched our yacht on the Vistula and went on a virgin two-week cruise towards the Vistula Lagoon. This hull later served as a form for the construction of the next vessels, already made of fibreglass.

When did you take up interest in classical music?

This interest came to me in the 1990s. I was collecting records, which was very difficult to obtain. And then there was an opportunity to participate in concerts initiated by Prof. Jan Krysinski "Music at Lodz University of Technology", which helped me a lot in developing this interest.

Nowadays, the Internet makes it very easy to listen to classical music. But nothing can replace live music. Each performance of the same piece, by different performers is different. I am particularly pleased to see the success of the young people who present themselves during musical evenings at the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra. For me, direct participation in concerts is much more important than listening to music from records or the Internet.

You have made several trips to the Baltic and North Sea. Have you had any interesting adventures at sea?

Working at Lodz University of Technology for a long time I encouraged my colleague from the department - Dr. Wladyslaw Kielbasinski, a captain of the great sailing - yacht, who for years trained young people in the Sailing Club of the Polish Sailing Association, to organize cruises for a group of "slightly older youth". And finally it worked.

With various chartered yachts we sailed all over the Baltic Sea, from St. Petersburg in Russia to Skagen in Denmark. And during the cruise from Copenhagen to Oslo, for the first time in my life, I fished and caught 19 mackerel, enough for 8 people for dinner, which I had to prepare myself. We had many sailing trips together. I have only the qualifications of a sailor myself, but it is more important to have an experienced captain, then you can feel safe even during a storm.

How did it happen that you became a sports referee in motorboat racing? How often do you take part in competitions as a refree?

In 1992 a colleague asked me to measure the noise at a motorboat competition, this activity turned out to be quite boring, but I liked the competition very much. And so in 1993 I made my first referee qualification. First I was a trainee referee. Then, in four years, I went through all the stages of development and in 2000 I became an international referee. I have had more than a hundred events from the Polish Championships to the European and World Championships, many of them as the main referee.

In 2007, I became a commissioner of the International Motorway Union (UIM), based in Monaco, and began to supervise championships across Europe and the world. I was even in South Africa. Working at Lodz University of Technology makes it easier for me to realise this passion. The start season in Europe runs from May to October. I always take a lot of pictures during the competition documenting the races and equipment, but also people connected with this sport. For several years I have also been a member of the Technical and Sports Committee and the UIM Council, where I represent our country.

There is a lot of competition in motorboat sport and a wide age range of participants. In smaller boats, young people from 12 to 16 years old and seniors over 70 years old start. The best Polish competitor is currently 70 years old, Mr Henryk Synoracki, who starts in the most crazy class - hydroplanes O-125 and O-250, where the only protection is a helmet and a waistcoat. His passion and experience helped me in the development of sport and reasonable evaluation of events on water.

For many years you have been participating in concerts "Music at Lodz University of Technology", not only as a listener. You also take pictures and films from concerts. And recently, during a pandemic, you have been involved in the production of online broadcasts?

During participation in the "Music at Lodz University of Technology" concerts I thought it was a unique opportunity to take pictures of the performers. Artists are an incredibly grateful object to be photographed. The first digital photos I have in my archive date back to 2005.

Later, I decided that the pictures were not enough, and you can also record images and sound. And since 2016 I have been recording video concerts. For me, participating in the "Music at Lodz University of Technology" concerts is a double pleasure, because I can listen to music and at the same time record interesting, unique photographs of the creators of culture while working.

Recently, the concerts are recorded earlier and then transmitted via the Internet. My son Michał, who has taken over the passion of looking at the world through the camera lens, helps me in recording and editing. He is much better at it than me.