Where did the idea for archaeology come from?

Szymon’s interest in the past began with films, games and history programmes. He was particularly inspired by programmes on National Geographic, the Uncharted series of games and the Indiana Jones films. It was these that sparked his curiosity and, over time, influenced his choice of degree course.

Career path

Szymon became interested in underwater archaeology during his first year of his bachelor's degree. After obtaining his diving qualifications, he actively participated in projects run by CUA in Biskupin, Ostrów Lednicki, Puck, and the Masiurian Lakeland. During his undergraduate and postgraduate studies, he was president of the Academic Club for Underwater Research. H His involvement in underwater projects in the Turkish part of the Mediterranean, including surveys of the Kumluca and Adrasan shipwrecks and the port of Çamçalık, as well as underwater surveys in Croatia, inspired him to choose his PhD topic. In the meantime, he has obtained his professional diver and scuba diving instructor qualifications, which have opened up new prospects for his future career. He is currently a PhD student at the Doctoral School of Humanities, Theology and the Arts.

Research interests

One of Szymon’s academic interests is galleons. He wrote his bachelor’s thesis on Swedish galleon shipwrecks and his master’s thesis on Spanish ones. More recently, he has focused on seafaring and shipbuilding in the Mediterranean region in antiquity.

Non-academic interests

From a very young age, Szymon’s greatest passion has been basketball, a sport in which he enjoyed success for many years. To this day, he likes to spend his free time at the sports hall or on the court. He is also interested in photography. His passion for diving means that outside of work, he actively participates in diving trips.

Role within the team

Since the start of his studies, Szymon has been actively involved in the Centre for Underwater Archaeology's work, taking part in archaeological research, assisting with diving courses, and, for many years, supervising the Academic Underwater Research Society. He can most often be found underwater, and when he does emerge, he usually has a camera in his hand.