On 20 January, at its first meeting of the year, the Senate of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) approved the decisions of the LAS award expert committees and resolved to confer LAS Named Awards and Awards for Young Researchers. Among the winners are four researchers from the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (ISSP UL).
The Artūrs Balklavs Award for Popularising Science was given to Rihards Ruska, researcher at the Laboratory of Spectroscopy, for his significant contribution to bridging science and society and for promoting public understanding of physics and materials science.
The Edgars Siliņš Award in Physics was awarded to Aivars Vembris, Head and Leading Researcher of the Laboratory of Organic Materials, for the body of work “Studies and Applications of the Light-Emitting Properties of Organic Small-Molecule Materials”, which makes a substantial contribution to the research and practical application of organic optoelectronic materials.
The Ludvigs and Māris Jansons Award in Physics for Young Researchers was awarded to Adriana Mauručaite, Research Assistant at the Laboratory of Organic Materials, for the work “Thermoelectric Properties of Antimony Telluride and Organic Small-Molecule Compound Composites” (supervised by Kaspars Pudžs).
The Latvian Academy of Sciences Young Researchers Award was given to Didzis Salnājs, Research Assistant at the Laboratory of Spectroscopy, for the work “Long-Persistent Luminescence Properties under Ultraviolet Radiation in Materials Containing Pyrophosphate Groups” (supervised by Andris Antuzevičs).
Congratulations to our researchers on this high recognition – and thank you for contributing to the development of science in Latvia and at ISSP UL!
LAS Named Awards are given to individual scientists every two to four years for outstanding research achievements in their respective fields. Candidates may be nominated by LAS divisions and members, scientific institution councils, university senates, and faculty councils. Submitted works are evaluated by expert committees, while the final decision on awarding the prizes is taken by the LAS Senate.
