Bialystok is the capital of Podlaskie Voivodeship (administrative region) and the biggest city in northeastern Poland. It has a population of almost three hundred thousand. The city is the regional center of administration, science, business, and culture. Bialystok is also a student city. The region’s leading and best academy is the Medical University of Bialystok. There are almost 35 thousand active students in the region's capital. In 2016, the Eurobarometer of the European Commission recognized Bialystok as the best city to live in Poland. This is because the city has plenty of green areas and cycling routes and is famous for the local people's hospitality. Bialystok also offers numerous cultural attractions and leisure opportunities. It was the birthplace of Ludwik Zamenhof, the author of the international Esperanto language, and of Albert Sabin, who developed the polio vaccine.