During the Winter Event on 23 January, the iDiv Prize Committee announced the winners of the iDiv Prizes 2024. All iDiv staff and members had been invited to submit nominations in four categories. The nominations were evaluated by several boards and committees and the results were presented during the Winter Event. The 2024 winners are:

Science Communication Prize for Doctoral Researchers

selected by the Prize Committee:

Theresa Jörger-Hickfang for her exceptional engagement in public outreach through interactive presentations and activities at several events, as well as educational interventions with students and student programs;

Daniel Vedder for his outstanding and broad outreach activities towards the general public as well as farmers and policy-makers, and for his engagement with the unique audience of Christian communities.

Science Policy Prize

selected by the Science Policy Board:

Guy Pe’er for his sustainable science policy activities and impressive engagement with public and policy-stakeholders at all levels to communicate science. Most significantly, Guy led a collaborative international effort by scientists that resulted in an open letter on the Nature Conservation Law with 6,000 signatories (2023) and a multi-author paper on the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy with over 3,600 signatories (2020).

PhD Prize

selected by the yDiv Board:

Marie Sünnemann for her excellent thesis on “The effects of land use on soil organisms and functions in a changing world” and for demonstrating strong commitment to science, student mentoring, and committee work during her PhD.

Facilitator Prize

selected by the Prize Committee:

iDiv Scientific Events with Luise Dietel, Kati Kietzmann, Anne Reiche, and Ronja Wodner for their excellent organisation of most of the scientific events at iDiv, including the yearly iDiv conference and the GfÖ conference in 2023;

Franziska Roderburg for her remarkable work within the Evolutionary Ecology Group and the Welcome Centre, and dedicated teamwork and positive attitude, providing valuable support to colleagues in her groups.

Thank you to all who submitted nominations for the iDiv Prizes 2024! It was wonderful to recognise the numerous roles and remarkable achievements of those who – among many others – contribute to making iDiv an exceptional place to work.

Contact: prize@idiv.de