| Name | Anna Ługowska |
| Field | High-energy physics, particle accelerator technology |
| Advocacy | Advocate for increased investment and support for scientific research in Poland |
| Occupation | Engineer • Scientist |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Notable work | Constructed Poland's first cyclotron particle accelerator in the 1950s • Pivotal role in building the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in the 1970s and 1980s |
Anna Ługowska is a Polish engineer and physicist who has made significant contributions to the field of high-energy particle physics and the development of particle accelerators. She is best known for leading the team that constructed Poland's first cyclotron particle accelerator in the 1950s, as well as her key role in the international collaboration that built the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in the 1970s and 1980s.
Ługowska was born in 1924 in Warsaw, Poland. From a young age, she demonstrated a keen interest in science, particularly physics and mathematics. After completing her secondary education, Ługowska enrolled at the University of Warsaw, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1947.
Following her graduation, Ługowska joined the newly established Polish Academy of Sciences, where she worked in the Institute of Nuclear Research. In the early 1950s, she was tasked with leading a team to construct Poland's first particle accelerator, a cyclotron capable of accelerating protons to high energies.
Under Ługowska's leadership, the Polish cyclotron project faced numerous technical and logistical challenges, including sourcing specialized equipment and materials during the post-war period. However, her expertise in electrical engineering and her ability to assemble a talented interdisciplinary team allowed the project to succeed. The cyclotron became operational in 1957, marking a major milestone for Polish science and technology.
In the 1970s, Ługowska was recruited to join the international collaboration that was planning the construction of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. Drawing on her extensive experience with particle accelerators, she played a pivotal role in the design and engineering of the LHC's complex systems, including its superconducting magnets and cryogenic cooling infrastructure.
Ługowska's contributions were crucial in ensuring the successful completion of the LHC project, which began operation in 2008 and has since made groundbreaking discoveries in particle physics, including the detection of the Higgs boson in 2012. She remained actively involved with the LHC project until her retirement in the late 1980s.
Throughout her career, Ługowska has been a vocal advocate for increased investment and support for scientific research in Poland. She has served on numerous government advisory boards and has been instrumental in securing funding for major research initiatives, including the construction of a new particle physics laboratory in Kraków.
Ługowska's pioneering work and her efforts to promote science have earned her numerous accolades and honors, including the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest civilian decoration, and membership in the Polish Academy of Sciences. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential Polish scientists of the 20th century and a role model for aspiring physicists and engineers in Poland and beyond.
Today, Ługowska continues to be a respected figure in the Polish scientific community and a sought-after speaker on the importance of scientific research and education. Her legacy as a trailblazing engineer and physicist who helped shape the course of particle physics in Poland and internationally continues to inspire new generations of scientists.
