This summer, during the international conference "Functional Materials and Nanotechnologies" (FM&NT 2026), the highest award of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) – the Great Medal – was formally presented to LAS Foreign Member, Doctor of Physics, and researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (USA), Professor Pauls Stradiņš.
Prof. Pauls Stradiņš is one of the world's most renowned researchers in silicon photovoltaic materials and solid-state physics. After earning his doctorate at the Institute of Physics of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, he continued his scientific career at the University of Chicago and in Japan, and since 2002 has been working at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. Alongside his international research, Prof. Stradiņš has made significant contributions to the visibility of Latvian science and the promotion of international cooperation, clearly demonstrating the importance of close ties between Latvian scientists working abroad and their homeland.
The LAS Great Medal was awarded to the professor for outstanding achievements in silicon photovoltaics and long-standing, fruitful applied collaboration with Latvian scientists.
This prestigious award was presented as part of the international FM&NT 2026 conference, which gathered more than 200 scientists and industry experts from around the world from June 15 to 18.
