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Young scientists in Kaiserslautern: Prizes for top performance!
On May 14th, the Friends of the RPTU Kaiserslautern awarded prizes for outstanding scientific work.
Young scientists in Kaiserslautern: Prizes for top performance!
On May 14, 2023, the annual awards ceremony of the Friends of the RPTU took place on the campus of the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University (RPTU) in Kaiserslautern. At this event, outstanding theses of young scientists who make a decisive contribution to research and society were honored.
The Friends of the RPTU, founded in 1969, is committed to promoting the connection between science and society. With over 1,500 members, including graduates and over 130 companies, the association supports initiatives in areas with insufficient public funding. Marlies Kohnle-Gros, chairwoman of the circle of friends, led the event, which was led by Professor Dr. Werner R. Thiel moderated the event. RPTU reports that…
Prize winners and their work
This year, five prizes were awarded for dissertations and one award for a master's thesis. The award winners from the various departments reflect the diverse research activities at the RPTU:
| Prize winner | Department | Theme | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Annalisa John | biology | Function of chloroplast-localized proteins in cold acclimation of Arabidopsis | 1,000 euros |
| Dr. Sebastian Schmitt | Mechanical engineering and process engineering | Molecular Simulation and Entropy Scaling Modeling of Transport Properties | 1,000 euros |
| Dr. Cynthia Loos | Economics | Turning corporate social responsibility (CSR) inside-out | 1,000 euros |
| Dr. Max Aehle | Computer Science | Automatic Differentiation of Complied Programs | 1,000 euros |
| Ephraim Spindler, M.Sc. | physics | Observing static and dynamic magnetic textures with nanoscale resolution using nitrogen-vacancy magnetometry | 500 euros |
The works are characterized by innovative approaches and high social relevance. Especially the research of Dr. John to prevent damage caused by frost in crops has agronomic importance. In addition, Dr. Schmitt developed a prediction method for material properties, which was published in the renowned journal “Nature”. Circle of friends reports that...
Social relevance and research
The award-winning works illustrate the diversity of the projects at the RPTU and their influence on social challenges. In particular, the topic of corporate responsibility by Dr. Loos opens up discourses about ethical issues in business. Such topics are essential for the development of a high-performance science system that is able to respond to social changes. According to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), reliable knowledge transfer between universities and society is becoming increasingly important. BMBF reports that...
During this award ceremony, the Circle of Friends also had the opportunity to discuss the realignment and change of name to the Circle of Friends of the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University. This reflects the ongoing development of the institution, which aims to further promote the university's integration into the region.
In summary, the award ceremony is not only an honor for scientific achievements, but also a sign of appreciation for the significant contributions that young researchers can make to society. Their commitment and results make a significant contribution to strengthening the scientific landscape in Germany.