University of Latvia welcomes the President of Poland Andrzej Duda

The President of Poland, together with Professor Indriķis Muižnieks, Rector of the University of Latvia saw the collection of meteorites, which was created by Riga Naturalist Society at the end of the 19^th century – the collection is exhibited at the Museum of the University of Latvia. They also attended the room of clocks, where the correct time was determined and kept since 1869.

The custodian of the collections of the Museum of the University of Latvia Rūdolfs Rubenis, told the distinguished guests about the episodes relating to the students who were detained in the historical confinement cell and the reasons why the students used to end up in this place. Pictures with inscriptions, which once “adorned” the walls of the cell and which were left there by the detained students, today are displayed on the walls of the cell. Among these inscriptions, there are several in Polish language.

The Polish delegation was particularly interested in the studies of the former Polish President Ignacy Mościcki (he was the president of Poland in 1926–1939) in Latvia. The Museum of the History of Chemistry of the University of Latvia holds the original of the diploma thesis defended in 1891 by I. Mościcki. There is also a commemorative plaque to I. Mościcki by the former building of the University of Latvia Faculty of Biology on Kronvalda bulvāris in Riga, marking the time of his studies in Latvia.

The permanent collection of the Museum of UL includes the medal, which has been created to celebrate the centenary of Polish-Latvian diplomatic relations. The medal has been committed to the museum in 2021 by the Rector of the University of Latvia. The museum collection also includes other historical evidence that links Latvia and Poland.

The University of Latvia is deeply honoured by the visit of the President of Poland, affirming the close cooperation between the two countries in the fields of higher education and science.