logo   Wittgenstein Award Laureate

0
nix nix Wolfgang Lutz Jürgen Knoblich Portrait Gerhard Widmer Portrait Markus Arndt Portrait Christian Krattenthaler Portrait Rudolf Zechner Portrait Joerg Schmiedmayer Portrait Barry Dickson Portrait Rudolf Grimm Portrait Walter Pohl Portrait Renee Schroeder Portrait Ferenc Krausz Portrait Heribert Hirt Portrait Meinrad Busslinger Portrait Peter Markowich Portrait Andre Gingrich Portrait Kim Ashley Nasmyth Portrait Peter Zoller Portrait Walter Schachermayer Portrait Georg Gottlob Portrait Marjori + Antonius Matzke Portrait Erich Gornik Portrait Erwin Wagner Portrait Ruth Wodak Portrait

Wittgenstein Award Laureate, Facilitator between Science, Politics and the Public

Since 1996, scientists are annually awarded with the Wittgenstein Prize. The Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture awards the prize for outstanding scientific achievements in all scientific disciplines. The prize winners cannot apply themselves but become selected by an international jury. By now, there are 25 laureates from all scientific domains, like linguistics, history, mathematics, physics and the life sciences. In consideration to this noble subsidy by the public authorities, the laureates intend to provide their expertise to the good of science. For this purpose, the laureate have constituted a club. The aim of this club is to provide a link between science, politics, media and the public by offering statements and reviews on prevailing topics in research and science policy. Of particular importance to the club are issues concerning the promotion of excellence, career development of young scientists, reformation of the universities and the Austrian Academy of Sciences as well as topics relating to science funding.

What could be the club's contributions to the enhancement of Austrian research ?

The laureates have a wide spectrum of expertises in miscellaneous research environments of various countries and science cultures. This knowledge shall give important incentives for the necessary reform of Austrian research institutions. On the basis of these diverse experiences and profound knowledge, the club will try to provide a link between science and the society.

The following issues shall be discussed in the near future:

  1. Enhancement of the available excellence at Austrian universities. The allocation of existing resources should be based on performance and transparency.

  2. Research funding should be based on quality and qualification according to international standards.

  3. To provide an opportunity for young scholars, Junior Professorships will be created giving young scientists the possibility to establish their own independent research groups.

  4. Implementation of new alternatives to increase the number of women in top academic positions.

  5. Besides promoting the natural sciences, the club also intends to further the social sciences and humanities, encouraging communication at various levels amongst the social, cultural and natural sciences.

  6. Formation of a „Young Academy“. In contrast to the existing Austrian Academy, members should be exclusively appointed on the basis of recognized achievements and international evaluation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News

March 2010

Wittgenstein-PreisträgerInnen im Dialog mit Bundesministerin Dr. Beatrix Karl

April 2009

Rudolf Grimm: From three to four: a quantum leap in few-body physics

März 2009

Ruth Wodak: Methods for Critical Discourse Analysis

März 2009

Jörg Schmiedmayer: Wer hat Angst vor Tenure Track?
D e t a i l s

February 2009

Jörg Schmiedmayer: open letter to the Chancellor about research funding

Ruth Wodak: The Discourse of Politics in Action
Politics as Usual

January 2009

Peter Zoller: awarded "Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award"