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Prof. dr Tadeusz Molenda |
BIOGRAPHY
SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY
Tadeusz Molenda (1911—1975), after graduation from the secondary school with an extended curriculum of mathematics and natural sciences in Jędrzejów, studied forestry at the Poznań University in the years 1929 — 1933. He received a diploma of engineer in forestry in 1933. After graduation, in the years 1933 — 1937, he worked initially as an assistant lecturer at the Department of Dendrometry and next at the Department of Administration and Forest Policy. He received the scientific title of doctor of forestry sciences in 1936 at the Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry of the Poznań University. In 1937 he started his professional activity in practice at the State Forests. In the years 1938 — 1939 he worked as the economic counsellor at the National Directorate of the State Forests. During the Nazi occupation of WWII he was a forest district manager in private forests in the former Włoszczowa county. After the end of WWII in the years 1945 — 1947 he was a forest district manager at the Leszczyce State Forest District (OZLP Toruń). At the same time he continued his scientific and research work, interrupted by the war. In 1946 he completed the post-doctoral degree conferral procedure at the Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry of the Poznań University, receiving the scientific degree of assistant professor in economics and forest policy. In the same year he was appointed associate professor and head of the Department of Administration and Forest Policy of the Poznań University. Nine years later he was awarded the scientific title of full professor in forestry sciences by the Council of the State. Professor Molenda considered the matter of development of the Poznań scientific and teaching centre in forestry economics as highly important. In 1950 on his initiative the existing Department of Economics and Forestry Policy was transformed into the modern - both in the name and activity - Department of Forestry Economics. Professor Molenda headed the Poznań department for 15 years. In 1956 the Council of the Faculty of Forestry again appointed him to the position of dean. He served this function until 1961, i.e. the time he was appointed for the responsible position of undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Forestry and Wood Industry. He served the function of vice-minister of forestry and wood industry for eight years. Upon restoration of the Faculty of Forestry in Kraków he was an organiser and the first head of the Department of Forestry Economics there and from 1970 he was the first director of the Institute of Economics and Organisation of Forest Economy at the Agricultural University of Kraków. As an outstanding scientist, known both in Poland and abroad, he repeatedly represented Polish forestry at international congresses and scientific symposiums.
SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS
In the Poznań period of his scientific and teaching activity Professor Molenda published 22 scientific papers and two extensive academic textbooks. He was the scientific supervisor of 18 doctoral degree conferral procedures. In the years 1961 — 1969 he published 43 scientific papers and two other academic textbooks. In 1962 he organised the Laboratory of Economic Studies on Forestry and Wood Industry, operating within the framework of PAS. The scientific studies of Professor Molenda comprise over one hundred ten publications. They are mostly studies on macroeconomics of forestry and wood industry.
ORGANISATIONAL ACTIVITY
Major functions at the University:
- Head of the Department of Administration and Forest Policy of the Poznań University
- 1949/50—1953/54 dean of the Faculty of Forestry of the Poznań University
- The first rector of the Higher School of Agriculture in Poznań
- Head of the Department of Forestry Economics.
Major functions outside the University:
- from 1970 the first director of the Institute of Economics and Organisation of Forest Economy at the Agricultural University of Kraków
- undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Forestry and Wood Industry
- vice-minister of forestry and wood industry.
DECORATIONS
Professor Molenda received many state decorations, including e.g. the Commodore’s Cross of the Polonia Restituta.
He died on 17 August 1975 in Warsaw.
Source:
60 years of academic agronomy and forestry studies in Poznań. Rocznik Akademii Rolniczej w Poznaniu. Special issue vol. 135. Poznań 1981.
