Maryna Viazovska awarded 2020 Prize
The 2020 National Latsis Prize with an award sum of CHF 100,000 goes to Maryna Viazovska. The young EPFL mathematics professor from Ukraine achieved a scientific breakthrough in solving the sphere-packing problem in 2016. Research results on sphere packing in high-dimensional spaces also have practical applications in everyday technology. For example, in the analysis of crystal structures or in troubleshooting signal transmission of mobile phones, space probes or internet connections.
Independent research of high quality
Worth 100,000 Swiss francs, the National Latsis Preis rewards researchers up to the age of 40 for outstanding achievements in basic science. Their work must be distinguished by a high degree of independence and scientific quality.
The SNSF awards the prize annually on behalf of the Latsis Foundation of Geneva. The winner is chosen by the National Research Council.
Prize winners since 1984
Year | Prize winner | Domain of research | |
|---|
| 2020 |
Maryna Viazovska | Mathematics | |
| 2019 |
Dominik Hangartner | Political scientist | |
| 2018 |
Andrea Ablasser | Immunology | |
| 2017 |
Xile Hu | Chemical catalysis | |
| 2016 | Alexander Keese | African history, decolonisation, forced labour | |
| 2015 | Richard Benton | Neurobiology of olfaction | |
| 2014 | Tobias J. Kippenberg | Physics: quantum optomechanics | |
| 2013 | David Sander | Affective science | |
| 2012 | Jacques Fellay | Genomics: defence mechanisms against viruses | |
| 2011 | Karl Gademann | Chemistry and biology: isolation and synthesis of natural materials | |
| 2010 | Marianne Sommer | History of science: exploring the life sciences | |
| 2009 | Mirjam Christ Crain | Medicine: biological stress caused by infectious diseases | |
| 2008 | Franz Pfeiffer | X-ray technology | |
| 2007 | Giuliano Bonoli | Political science: role of the welfare state in Europe | |
| 2006 | Michael Hengartner | Molecular biology: study of a model organism, a worm called Caenorhabditis elegans | |
| 2005 | Patrick Jenny | Engineering sciences: computer simulations of complex fluid systems in nature and technology | |
| 2004 | Simon Gächter | Empirical economics: cooperative behaviour | |
| 2003 | Silvia Arber | Neurobiology: neuronal circuit formation in the developing spinal cord | |
| 2002 | Jérôme Faist | Solid state physics: quantum cascade laser (QCL) | |
| 2001 | Lorenza Mondada | Interactional linguistics | |
| 2000 | Laurent Keller | Evolutionary ecology: ant behaviour | |
| 1999 | Frédéric Merkt | Chemical physics of molecules: spectroscopie and dynamics of atoms and molecules in electronically charged states | |
| 1998 | Peter Schaber | Ethics, applied ethics and environmental ethics | |
| 1997 | Konrad Basler | Zoology/developmental biology (drosophila fly) | |
| 1996 | Martin Vetterli | Audiovisual technology of the future: wavelet theory in communication | |
| 1995 | Astrid Epiney | Human rights and international environmenal law | |
| 1994 | Denis Duboule | Developmental biology and genetics | |
| 1993 | Thomas Stocker | Climate and environmental physics: the role of the oceans in climate change | |
| 1992 | Maria Christina Pitassi | History of theology and philosophy in the 17th and 18th century | |
| 1991 | Susan Margaret Gasser-Wilson | Cell biology: the role of nucleus proteins in organising and passing on genetic information | |
| 1990 | Goeffrey Bodenhausen | Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) | |
| 1989 | Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont | Social psychology and educational sciences | |
| 1988 | Paul Schmid-Hempel | Behavioural ecology | |
| 1987 | John Paul Maier | Physical chemistry: spectroscopic methods for analysing the properties of ionised molecules | |
| 1986 | Ulrich Kohli | Economics: analysis of international trade | |
| 1985 | Otto Albrecht Haller | Virology: resistence to flu viruses | |
| 1984 | Jürg Fröhlich | Mathematical physics; quantum theory | |
Latsis Prize award ceremony