The Dehnel-Petrusewicz Memorial Fund — an experiment in international cooperation

Abstract

Following World War II, two Polish mammalogists emerged as founders of outstanding programs of research and teaching, one in ecology (K. Petrusewicz) and the other in more traditional mammalogy (A. Dehnel). Both were also leaders in international cooperation, and K. Petrusewicz in particular was effective in making Poland a center of international scientific activities. This exciting and productive situation was curtailed, starting in the mid-1970’s, by political and economic constraints. In response to this development, the Dehnel-Petrusewicz Memorial Fund was established, effectively in 1983 and formally in April 1985, to help active Polish scientists continue with their research and especially to attend international meetings. Until the Fund was dissolved in April 1999, it dispensed $12,485 in 41 grants to 33 recipients. It also helped in many other ways to encourage and facilitate the role of Polish scientists in fostering international cooperation and as effective communication bridges between the West and Soviet bloc countries.