European Latsis Prize

The European Science Foundation invites nominations for the European Latsis Prize 2008.

The Prize, of a value of 100,000 Swiss Francs, is presented each year by the International Latsis Foundation at the ESF Annual Assembly to a scientist or research group in recognition of outstanding and innovative contributions in a selected field of research. The research field for the 2008 Prize is ‘Astrophysics’.

Astrophysics

Astrophysics, unique in encompassing the application of physics as a whole, has been extraordinarily successful in revealing a consistent picture of the development of the Universe from a hot, dense almost homogeneous beginning to its enormously expanded and widely complex present state. Largely this has been achieved by close conjunction of theoretical analysis and observational evidence in complementary, supportive ways. In recent decades the advent both of new lines of thought and a wide range of powerful astronomical telescopes and instruments working from the ground and in space has led to fundamentally new understanding of events and processes occurring over substantial cosmic timescales. In this, much progress in defining the structural and chemical development of the Universe has come from tracing in detail the interplay of the stellar, galactic and intergalactic components. More locally, detections of planetary systems around other stars are well established. At the same time many new problems have arisen. High among them is the question of the natures of the so-called dark matter and dark energy that the evidence shows together account for 96% of the mass-energy content of the Universe and fundamentally influence its productive past development and its ultimate dissipation. The 2008 European Latsis Prize will be awarded for an outstanding contribution to astrophysics through studies either in observational or theoretical fields or a combination of both.

The criteria used in the selection procedure will be scientific excellence, societal impact and contribution to European progress.*

Nominations may be received for individual scholars or for research groups, but no self nominations will be accepted. All nomination forms should be clearly presented and include the detailed nomination statement (maximum 2 pages) setting out clear reasons for the submission, complete Curriculum Vitae and a full list of publications.

The nominations will be evaluated by a high-level committee of experts in the field.

The European Latsis Prize 2008 will be awarded on the occasion of the Annual Assembly of the European Science Foundation on Thursday 27 November 2008, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Former laureates of the European Latsis Prize

1999 "Research and/or Innovation in Education", Jürgen Baumert, Germany

2000 "Molecular Structure", Kenneth Holmes, Germany/United Kingdom

2001 "Climate Research", André Berger, Belgium

2002 "Cognitive Sciences", Annette Karmiloff-Smith, United Kingdom

2003 "Archaeology", Colin Renfrew, United Kingdom

2004 "Bioinformatics", Amos Bairoch, Switzerland

2005 "Nano-Engineering", Donal Bradley, United Kingdom

2006 "Immigration and Social Cohesion in Modern Societies", Rainer Bauböck, Austria

2007 "Medical Imaging", Willi Kalender, Germany

*All nominees will be considered irrespective of age, sex, religion or nationality.

Nominations

Nominations to be submitted online. Submission deadline is 30 June 2008.

You will be required to upload a file containing the nomination statement and complete Curriculum Vitae with full list of publications.

The Nomination Statement should cover:

(a) The merits of an individual or group's work on the present state of the topic.

(b) The impact on the scientific community of the work of the individual candidate or group nominated.

(d) Influence on practice in the field through publications and other means of dissemination, including teaching and training students in the field.

(e) Contributions made to scientific excellence, societal impact and European progress.

Click here to access the online nomination form

For further information contact:

Mrs.VeronicaSchauingerE-Mail: European Science FoundationStrasbourgFrance