Prizes, Grants

PRIZES AND AWARDS TO YOUNG SCIENTISTS

Awards based on competition of works are granted to Master’s degree students or post-graduate students, or young scientists who have defended their Master’s or Doctoral thesis recently. Only papers written individually by scientists not older than 30 years at the moment of application are admissible.

The papers for the young scientists’ contest should be submitted by 30 September every year at the secretariat or scientific divisions of the LAS, Akadēmijas laukums 1, 2nd floor, Rīga, LV 1524.

Ludvigs and Māris Jansons Prize — for the best work in physics

LUDVIGS and MĀRIS JANSONS — Ludvigs Jansons (1909–1958) and his son Māris Jansons (1936–1997) — Latvian physicists and pedagogues. Ludvigs Jansons worked at the Department of Physics, University of Latvia, from 1934 till the end of his life, performing the duties of Vice-Dean and Dean of the Faculty at various periods. After the war, he established faculties of physics both at the University of Latvia and at the Pedagogical Institute. His study-book for students titled Practical Studies of Physics (1947) has been republished in 1954, 1961, 1971, and 1979. Māris Jansons — full member of the LAS, professor. After graduation from the University of Latvia, he worked there all his life. Head of the Department of Spectroscopy (1979–1993), and also Head of the Department of the Experimental Physics (1989–1993). Since 1994 — Director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics and Spectroscopy.

The prize has been awarded to H. Rjabovs (1999), A. Kuļšs (2000), O Nikolajeva (2001), J. Alnis (2002), O. Docenko (2003), O. Starkova (2004), K. Blušs (2005), Z. Gavare (2006), B. Poļakovs (2007), A. Vembris (2008), E. Laizāne (2009), Z. Gavare, A. Šarakovskis (2011), L. Kalvāns (2012), A. Kaļinko, J. Zavickis (2013), A. Šutka, D. Zablockis (2014), J. Timošenko (2015), R. Zabels (2016), E. Nitišs (2017), J. Šmits (2018), A. Antuzevičs (2019), K. Pudžs (2020), E. Butanovs (2021), A. Zolotarjovs (2022), I. Pudža (2023), I. Ošiņa (2024).

Mārtiņš Straumanis–Alfrēds Ieviņš Prize — for the best work in chemistry

Mārtiņš STRAUMANIS and Alfrēds IEVIŅŠ — prominent Latvian chemists, authors of the fundamentally new and widely used in due course roentgenographic (asymmetric) method for determination of crystal lattice parameters (1935). Mārtiņš Eduards Straumanis (1898–1973) — graduate from the University of Latvia (1925), lecturer at the University of Latvia (1927–1944), professor of the University of Missouri (USA). Well-known investigator of the metal corrosion, of complex compound chemistry and electrochemistry. M. Straumanis studied also the properties of metals applied in the novel technologies, his achievements in this field being recognised internationally. Alfrēds Ieviņš (1897–1975) — graduate from the University of Latvia (1924), Doctor of Chemical Sciences (1938), full member of the LAS (1960). His scientific and pedagogical activities were connected with the University of Latvia (till 1958) and the Rīga Polytechnic Institute. Scientific interests of A. Ieviņš have been very wide — he has worked in roentgenography, in analytic chemistry, in chemistry of boron compounds. A. Ieviņš has paid great attention to work with young chemists; during nineteen years (1956–1974), he headed the organisation of the contests on chemistry for pupils, lectured for the teachers of chemistry. He was one of the founders of the LAS Institute of Chemistry being also the first Director of the Institute (1946–1953, 1959– 1962).

The prize has been awarded to M. Turks (1999), T. Ivanova (2000), V. Mihailovs (2001), R. M. Meri (2002), K. Zihmane (2003), I. Juhņeviča (2004), K. Edolfa (2005), L. Černova (2006), E. Erdmane (2007), E. Kolodinska (2008), J. Petuškova (2009), L. Grigorjeva, A. Maļeckis (2010), K. Traskovskis (2011), D. Rasiņa (2012), E. Priede (2013), O. Stepanova (2014), M. Skvorcova (2015), A. Grigaloviča (2016), R. Aleksis (2017), M. Sējējs (2018), A. Trimdale (2019), R. Melngaile (2020), G. Stakanovs (2021), K. Gulbe (2022), A. Čižikovs (2023), M. Jurinovs (2024).

The Emīlija Gudriniece Prize – for the best work in chemistry or technology of chemistry

Emīlija GUDRINIECE (1929–2004) — LAS Full Member, professor of the Rīga Technical University — outstanding chemist and teacher, founder of the Chair of Organic Synthesis and Biotechnology (1963–1989). Under her leadership the Chair prepared more than 800 specialists of biologically active compounds chemistry, 28 specialists have worked out doctoral thesis. The scientific work of E. Gudriniece was dedicated to heterocyclic compounds, to the investigation of their biological activity, as well as to the possibility of practical usage of the oil from plants in fuel production.

The laureates of the prize are A. Kotova (2007), D. Lubriks (2008), K. Jaudzems (2009), V. Rjabovs (2010), P. Ostrovskis (2011), I. Novosjolova (2012), J. Mackeviča (2013), J. Lugiņina (2014), E. Rolava (2015), D. Posevins (2016), A. Stikute (2017), K. Suta (2018), A. Sebris (2019), M. Puriņš (2020), J. M. Zaķis (2021), A. Jeminejs (2022), L. Lapčinskis (2023), R. Melngaile (2024).

The Solomon Hiller Young Scientists Prize - for outstanding achievements in biomedicine and the design of new medications

Solomon HILLER (1915–1975) — professor, full member of the LAS, founder and long-standing director of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, excellent organiser of Latvia’s chemical and pharmaceutical science and industry. The prize was established in 2004 together with the JSC “Grindex”, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, and the Biomedical Research and Study Centre of the University of Latvia. Since 2015 together with JSC “Olainfarm” the Solomon Hiller’s Prize to young scientists was established.

Recipients of the prize are V. Rjabovs, G. Šmits (2015), L. Grigorjeva (2016), I. Sokolovs (2018), A. Kinēns (2019), E. Vāvers (2021), E. Līdumniece (2024).  

Zenta Mauriņa Prize — for the best work in literary studies and philosophy

Zenta MAURIŅA (1897–1978) — specialist in literature, cultural philosopher, writer, internationally recognised lecturer, one of the brightest and most tragic personalities in the cultural history of Latvia.

The prize has been awarded to Z. Šiliņa (1999), I. Zepa (2000), D. Balode (2002), D. Oļukalne (2003), R. Ceplis (2004), S. Stepena (2005), A. Gaigala (2006), P. Daija (2007), D. Ratinīka (2008), K. Šlihta (2009), Z. Borga (2010), I. Deigele (2011), A. Hiršs (2012), H. Akatova (2014), A. Koroševskis (2016), K. Lācis (2017), S. Raudive (2018), A. Skutelis (2019), M. Stāde (2023), R. Vilciņš (2024).

The Vitauts Tamužs Prize — for the outstanding research work in mechanics

Vitauts TAMUŽS (1935–2019) — full member of the LAS, specialist in polymer and composite materials mechanics. Most of his career Vitauts Tamužs spent in the Institute of Polymer Mechanics (founded in 1963), promoting its reputation and establishing the Riga scientific school of materials mechanics. Worked in the Editorial Board of the peer-reviewed international scientific journal "Mechanics of Composite Materials”, as well as headed the Latvian National Mechanics Committee (1992-2008). The prize has been awarded to A. Freimanis (2020), I. Vaicis (2023), D. Mironovs (2024).

The Edvīns Vedējs Prize – for outstanding achievements in organic chemistry

Edvīns VEDĒJS (Edwin Vedejs, 1941–2017) - foreign member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences - was a prominent organic chemist of Latvian origin, who worked in USA. Edvīns Vedējs carried out remarkable studies on organic chemistry methodology. In the 1990s he started education of Latvian chemists in USA and Latvia. The Edvīns Vedējs Prize was established in 2021 together with the Riga Technical University Development Fund.  The prize has been awarded to M. Skvorcova (2021), L. T. Lukašēvics (2023). 

 

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