Prof. Andrzej Dworak was born on November 30, 1945 in Zabrze. He graduated from the Technical University in Dresden in 1969. He obtained his doctoral degree at the Faculty of Chemistry of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice in 1980, and habilitation at the Faculty of Chemistry of the Warsaw University of Technology in 1998. The title of Professor in chemical sciences was awarded to him in 2006.

For over fifty years of his research work, he was associated with Polish Academy of Sciences. Initially, he worked at the Institute of Polymers PAN in Zabrze (since 1992, the Centre of Polymer Chemistry PAN), and then at the Institute of Carbon Chemistry PAN in Gliwice. Since 2007, he worked at the Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials in Zabrze.

Prof. Dworak was the director of the Centre for Polymer and Carbon Materials of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Zabrze (2007-2019) and the head of the Laboratory of Nano- and Microstructure Materials at the CMPW PAN from its establishment until 2020.

He was a member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Committee of Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Scientific Council of the Centre for Molecular and Macromolecular Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Łódź and Poland’s representative in the European Polymer Federation. He was the vice-president of the Polish Chemical Society (2016-2018), chairman of the Gliwice Division of the Polymer Section of PTChem (2013-2018).

Prof. Dworak initiated many national and European projects, in which he carried out research in the field of basic research, including the preparation and therapeutic use of various types of nanoparticles and polymer nanocontainers carrying various types of active substances. He also managed projects financed by the National Centre for Research and Development related to the development of polymer supports for the culture and transfer of cell sheets, which significantly accelerated the healing process of burn wounds.

In the years 2000-2012 he was an academic lecturer at the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Opole. He also lectured for students of doctoral studies. He promoted six doctoral students and over a dozen graduate students.

His scientific interests were focused on the study of the mechanisms of oxirane and cyclic imines polymerization and controlled radical polymerization of various types of monomers in order to obtain macromolecules with carefully planned properties, including stimuli responsive polymers. These studies were the basis for the use of such polymers for construction of various types of nanomaterials for applications in biology or regenerative and reconstructive medicine e.g. polymer supports for cell growth and cell sheet formation. Prof. Dworak has published nearly 140 publications in international journals, and he was the co-author of several patents.

Professor Andrzej Dworak was an undisputed authority in the field of chemistry of polymers and polymer materials, educator of many generations of polymer chemists. He devoted his whole life to science, science was also his passion. He was decorated with the Golden and Silver Cross of Merit and the Golden Badge of Honor of the Silesian Parliament for merits for the development of science. He presented a reliable scientific attitude and research passion. He dealt with people professionally, maintaining a healthy distance, peace, diligence and deep commitment to everything he did. He was a personality that is never forgotten.