News

Call for the Prix Schläfli and Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings 2023
Two calls are yet open for young scientific talents in Switzerland.
Image: Caspar Klein
Prix Schläfli 2022 award for the four best dissertations in natural sciences
Using language models to facilitate chemical syntheses, improve the understanding of large earthquakes, decipher the fundamentals of cell biological processes, produce single photons for protected data transfers – the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) is awarding the Prix Schläfli 2022 to the four most important insights of young researchers at Swiss universities. Luca Dal Zilio (Geosciences), Anna-Katharina Pfitzner (Biology), Philippe Schwaller (Chemistry) und Natasha Tomm (Physics) receive the prize for findings in their dissertations. The Prix Schläfli was first awarded as early as 1866.

Natasha Tomm – the photon trainer
Her work could help give data transfers more protection against being hacked: during her dissertation, Natasha Tomm (co-)developed a super-efficient source of individual photons.
Image: Clemmens Spinnler
Anna-Katharina Pfitzner – Seeking fundamental answers
Small biological building blocks are her thing: biologist Anna-Katharina Pfitzner has researched a mechanism that is key to many processes in cell biology.
Image: Anna-Katharina Pfitzner
Luca Dal Zilio – A cautious prophet
Large earthquakes are once-in-a-century events with devastating consequences. Luca Dal Zilio has developed a model that describes the development of such events both temporally and geographically, and which could therefore become important for risk prevention.
Image: Victoria Lasheras
Philippe Schwaller – making chemistry with linguistic algorithms
How do you use artificial intelligence to simulate chemical processes? Philippe Schwaller has developed a program that has been named the best of its kind by an independent research group.
Image: Urs Wäfler