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The patron of the Polish research network is Ignacy Łukasiewicz, born 1822 in Zaduszniki, a Polish pharmacist, entrepreneur, community activist, patriot, philanthropist, and the inventor of the kerosene lamp.
In 1852, together with his colleague Jan Zeh, he used a scientific method to distil the world’s first oil. A year after that breakthrough, the first kerosene lamp was lit up. It may now be hard to imagine the magnitude of his discovery, but the brightness of Łukasiewicz’s kerosene lamp was equivalent to the light provided by some 10 to 15 candles.
In partnership with Tytus Trzecieski, he opened the first ever oil mine in Bóbrka near Krosno in 1854.
In 1856, he founded the world’s first oil distillery in Ulaszowice near Jasło, which is still in operation today. He donated part of his income to charity, for to Łukasiewicz people were as important as science and scientific progress.