This is the 3341st most frequent Polish word.
uważany
"Considered" or "regarded."
The word 'uważany' is used here as a past participle meaning 'considered', describing someone's reputation or perception by others.
Jan jest uważany za znakomitego pianistę.
Jan is considered an excellent pianist.
Again, 'uważany' is used to express a common opinion or valuation about the subject, the object being a movie.
Ten film jest uważany za jedno z najlepszych dzieł reżysera.
This movie is considered one of the director's best works.
In this sentence, 'uważany' indicates the perception of Professor Nowak's expertise by people in the past, reflecting a judgment or esteem.