The International Amber Association awarded dr. Elzbieta Sontag with a title of the Amber Personality of the Year. A formal giving of the award took place on 12th March at the Amberif fair.
 The title is given annually to a person who deserves a special distinction and respect because of his or her behavior, culture and achievements in the amber trade. In accordance with the rules the title of the Amber Personality of the Year is awarded on the basis of candidacies proposed by the Chapter composing of the Amber Personalities of the Century: prof. dr. Barbara Kosmowska-Ceranowicz and Wieslaw Gierlowski, the previous winners of this title: Mariusz Drapikowski (1999), Kazimieras Mizgiris (2001), Ewa Rachon (2002), Adam Pstragowski (2003), Wojciech Kalandyk (2004), Marek Gutowski (2005) and Andrzej Wiszniewski (2006), honorary members of the association. The Chapter awards the title by the majority of votes of the members in a direct vote during its meeting or by mail.
The Chapter justifies its choice stating that doctor Elzbieta Sontag, an entomologist and an outstanding expert of inclusions in amber, conducting her scientific, social, collecting and educational activity is a person who in an exceptional way gains prestige for amber and inclusions in amber. Her thorough scientific work throws a new light on, among other things, a creation of amber, a determination of inclusions types, a recognition of new flora and fauna set in amber. She runs the Museum of Inclusion in Amber at the Department of Invertebrate Zoology of the Gdansk University, which has a consistently increasing collection of inclusions (13 000 specimen), but also a considerable collection of other fossil resins from all over the world. The museum’s exposition, moved to a new premises last year, constitutes a permanent element of classes on a scientific theme for pupils. She is also an exceptionally active member of the Amber Association and an editor-in-chief of the “Bursztynisko” bulletin. The activity and scientific achievements of doctor Elzbieta Sontag are, in the opinion of the Chapter, significant arguments for awarding her with a title of the Amber Personality of the Year 2007.
The award – a statuette – was given by Jan Wiszniewski, the Amber Personality of the Year 2006. The prizewinner thanked among others prof. Ryszard Szadziewski, who showed her a mosquito in amber for the first time – since that time her love for amber has lasted.
Photo (left to right): Wojciech Kalandyk (Amber Personality of the Year 2004), Kazimieras Mizgiris (Amber Personality of the Year 2001), Wiesław Gierłowski (Amber Personality of the Century) i Elżbieta Sontag (Amber Personality of the Year 2007). Photo by Michał Kosior 2008-03-18 | 
