Professor Marek Szablewski, a professor of physics at Durham, received the Order of Polonia Restituta during a ceremony at the Polish Presidential Palace in Warsaw in July.
The award, Poland’s second-highest civilian state honour, recognises his decades of voluntary service with the Polish Scouting Association, which supports Polish youth globally.
Professor Szablewski said: “This award is a wonderful recognition of our scouting organisation, and of all the hundreds of volunteer leaders and helpers around the world who give up their time for the good of young people.
“Personally, it’s not something I ever expected to receive and I’m still very pleasantly surprised.
“It feels like the culmination of many years’ work and receiving the award at the Presidential Palace was particularly poignant for me.”
The Polish Scouting Association operates in 14 countries across four continents, serving around 7,000 members through camps, jamborees, and educational activities.
Professor Szablewski has volunteered with the organisation for more than 40 years and currently serves as its president.
He recently attended the Association’s 10th World Jamboree in North Carolina, which gathered more than 1,200 participants.
Karen O’Brien, vice-chancellor and warden of Durham University, said: “Marek’s extensive work with the scouting movement, supporting so many young people to develop skills and knowledge for life, is highly deserving of this prestigious national award.”
The association promotes teamwork, resilience, leadership, practical skills, and a connection to Polish culture, history, and traditions among young people of Polish heritage.
Professor Szablewski said the award holds personal significance, as his family once sheltered beneath the Presidential Palace during the bombing of Warsaw in 1939.