The buzz surrounding Polish student and Rafał Brzoska Foundation scholar Martyna Łuszczek continues to grow. On March 17, she appeared on TVN24’s “Wstajesz i weekend,” where she opened up about her dreams, noting that “they are constantly resonating and evolving into something new.”

Martyna is currently pursuing degrees at two world-class institutions: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the U.S. and Kozminski University in Warsaw. In 2024, she was named one of the top 50 students in the world in the Global Student Prize competition. But that is just the beginning of her list of accolades.

Recently, she took the stage as the youngest-ever laureate of the “Polish Woman of the 21st Century” award – and the only one born after the year 2000 – standing alongside icons such as Olympic champion Otylia Jędrzejczak and director Dorota Kobiela-Welchman.

From Microplastics to Government Halls

Reflecting on her early breakthroughs, Martyna highlighted the “Aqua Collector” – a device for collecting and disposing of microplastics from water bodies, which she developed in high school.

“It was a pivotal moment in my scientific career. I learned so much – from industrial design and innovation to a research approach on a topic that was still brand new in Europe at the time” – she emphasized.

Her professional journey is equally diverse. Martyna’s work ethic was forged through helping on her parents’ farm and working as a waitress, experiences that eventually led to an internship at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. After her high school exams, she joined the Ministry of Digital Affairs.

“I had the honor of becoming the youngest assistant to the Minister of Digital Affairs in Polish history, conducting ‘Cyber-lessons’ in small towns across the country” – she recalled.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Tech

As one of the world’s top students, Martyna also addressed the challenges women face in male-dominated fields.

“I often joke that when I entered this field, I learned to give a firmer handshake when walking into a room full of men. They often want to test a woman’s knowledge before engaging in further discussion” – she remarked.

A Future Rooted in Poland

What’s next for Martyna? Despite her international success, her heart remains in her home country.

“I definitely want to stay in Poland. My greatest inspiration in both science and business is the Polish entrepreneur Rafał Brzoska, who, in a way, mentors my career. I have already guaranteed that I will stay in Poland, or return the moment I truly spread my wings. This is the place where I want to continue utilizing my potential” – she declared.