Our graduate – Justyna Małuszyńska, M.Sc. won the first prize in the 41st National Competition of the Polish Information Processing Society for the best master's theses in the field of information technology. Congratulations! The topic of her thesis was "Methods of Detecting Fake Images Generated by Artificial Intelligence," and the supervisor was Prof. Adrianna Kozierkiewicz.

Justyna Małuszyńska's thesis was among 106 works from 20 universities that were accepted into the 41st National Competition of the Polish Information Processing Society. The competition committee, selected the winners taking into account 222 opinions from the theses reviewers. Our graduate was awarded the first prize.

– I am surprised, I did not expect such a verdict. To be honest, it was my supervisor who convinced me to do this. I lacked the confidence to submit my work myself, but I think it was worth it – admits our laureate.

This edition of the competition attracted twice as many submissions as the previous one. And among them there were as many as 21 from Wrocław University of Science and Technology. And the first prize went to Justyna Małuszyńska. Her work was given very high notes in three substantively justified reviews,” emphasises Prof. Zygmunt Mazur, honorary chairman of the competition committee appointed by the Main Board of PTI.

The official award ceremony was held on 27 January 2025 at the John Paul II Hotel in Wrocław.

Not only for scientists

Our laureate wrote about methods for detecting fake images generated by artificial intelligence. Contrary to what one might think, this issue is important not only for scientists. Everyone may come across such materials on the internet. These fake images are so-called deepfakes. They can be recordings or photos.

– It is certainly interesting, and sometimes amusing, that you can generate images at will, but this possibility comes with significant risks. For instance, the technology can be used to easily prepare evidence for a court case. Or it might be used for scams known as the 'grandchild' trick – explains the award winner.

Deepfake detection methods are becoming essential in the protection against disinformation.

– Although we have detection methods, fake image generation is a very rapidly developing area. For now, the best approach is to take everything with a large dose of caution. Do not believe all the pictures or videos you see on the internet. It's also advisable to cross-check this information against other sources – adds Małuszyńska.

Like a doctoral thesis

Justyna Małuszyńska, M.Sc. had her master's thesis supervised by Prof. Adrianna Kozierkiewicz from the Department of Applied Computer Science at WUST.

– The Polish Information Processing Society's Award is the best proof that Justyna Małuszyńska's effort, dedication, and passion have been recognised. I am pleased that I was able to support her in this process – says her supervisor.

– The student paid much attention to formally defining the problem and formulated research hypotheses, which she proved in her work. This element is more commonly found in doctoral theses than in master's theses – adds Prof. Kozierkiewicz.

According to the supervisor, the award can enhance the laureate's recognition among organisations operating in the IT sector or attract the attention of recruiters and companies seeking experts in a particular field. This is also an ideal starting point for further academic career or research.

Justyna Małuszyńska, M.Sc. does not rule out the possibility of pursuing doctoral studies.

Long-standing tradition

The competition for the best master's theses in computer science has been conducted since 1984 by the Lower Silesian Branch of the Polish Information Processing Society.

Its aim is to raise the quality of master's theses in the field of computer science and IT, to exchange and compare experiences and educational achievements of various academic IT communities by showcasing the best master's theses, as well as to promote the Society among students and to establish connections between the organisation and graduates.

The first equal prize in the 41st National Competition for the best master's theses was also awarded to Bartłomiej Sobieski, M.Sc. from Warsaw University of Technology. The winners of the main and honorary prizes received financial rewards. The total prize pool amounted to 40,000 PLN.