They have announced the winners of the Eset Science Award for 2021
The awards were presented by the nobelist Thorne.
BRATISLAVA. Science in Slovakia has an international quality, but large scientific projects require more – the support of state and private institutions. With this reference, Nobel Laureate in Physics Kip Thorne presented the ESET Science Award.
For the third year in a row, this recognizes top scientists who are the personification of excellent science in Slovakia and internationally, and their scientific work and results are beneficial for various spheres of society.
It is this award that Thorne demands as one of the ways in which private companies would have a reason for scientific research.
Announce the finalists of the Eset Science Award Read
Who won?
This year, the material physicist Ján Dusza became an exceptional personality of Slovak science, and Ladislav Valkovič, an exceptional scientist under the age of 35. These two awards are given by an international commission chaired by Thorne.
In addition to him, the members of the international commission are also biologist Fiona Wattová, chemist and philanthropist Hana Dvořáková, professor of inorganic chemistry Ralf Riedel and professor of mathematics Tibor Krisztin.
The winner of the Exceptional University Teacher category was selected by a domestic commission composed of representatives of Slovak universities, Jozef Zajac.
“The winners as well as the finalists of the ESET Science Award repeatedly prove the world level of science in Slovakia,” says Richard Marko, CEO of ESET.
“Regardless of the area they are working on, their work is extremely important, both in Slovakia and in the world.”
However, the ESET Science Awards were not decided by an expert committee alone. The public also chose its laureate through online voting.
This year, the favorite public of the Slovak public is the biochemist Katarína Mikušová, who at the Department of Biochemistry of the Faculty of Science, Charles University, is engaged in the research of the bacillus, which creates tuberculosis.
They want to get science into shape
The president also took part in the award ceremony Zuzana Caputova. She highlighted the work of scientists and thank them for their contribution during the pandemic. The president apologizes to scientists for the recent attacks.
She described science as one of the foundations on which the world stands today, so the priority should be the development of a free and creative academic, economic, but also social environment, which has attracted domestic and global scientific capacities.
“We all want Slovakia to be successful, resourceful, damaged and confident. This important award is without you having to praise one of the good ways to move a little closer to this common goal again, “she said.
According to the Prime Minister, it is for a successful future Eduard Heger important reform of science and innovation policy. Thanks to top scientists, we have a chance to get into shape after years of stagnation and a pandemic.
“I believe that we will succeed in this effort,” the prime minister said during the awards ceremony, inviting scientists to work together, which he said will be a key principle of the reform.
Profiles of the winners
Ján Dusza
exceptional personality of Slovak science
Ján Dusza works at the Institute of Materials Research of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Košice. He has devoted his entire professional life to research and development of progressive ceramic materials. Thanks to their properties, they will find application in the most demanding conditions in terms of temperature and mechanical stress in aggressive environments.
The native of Gemer comes from a peasant family, but thanks to his uncle he got to study physics. He also significantly influences his stay in Stuttgart, at that time at one of the best workplaces in the world for research in the field of progressive ceramic materials.
His entire scientific career is connected with Košice. There, together with colleagues, they also founded the PROMATECH Research Center, which produces world-class results.
Ladislav Valkovic
An exceptional young scientist under the age of 35
At the Institute of Measurement of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS) in Bratislava at the Oxford Center for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research at Oxford University, Ladislav Valkovič deals with how to measure the metabolism of the heart and other internal organs as quickly, accurately and non-invasively as possible.
He is working on the development and monitoring of non-invasive methods of measuring metabolism by magnetic resonance imaging, most recently focusing on the human heart. I consider the development of a rapid method of measuring metabolic processes in muscle, which allows them during exercise, and a non-invasive method for measuring metabolic processes in the liver to be my greatest success to date.
After studying biomedical engineering in Žilina, he worked at the Medical University in Vienna and at the Slovak Academy of Sciences. During his research stay in Zurich, he became involved in metabolic imaging topics.
Since 2015, in addition to the Slovak Academy of Sciences, he has also been working on measuring heart metabolism at the University of Oxford.
Jozef Zajac
exceptional university teacher
Jozef Zajac is the dean of the Faculty of Production Technologies of the Technical University in Košice, where he deals with the topics of progressive production technologies. On average, these have been required for several decades, and according to Jozef Zajac, the best years are still ahead.
Unlike conventional methods of machining materials, they are not based on mechanical work, but on physical, chemical and non-traditional motion principles, such as machining using water jet, laser, plasma, ultrasound and the like. In many cases, according to Professor Zajac, this is the only possible way to produce a part.
From the point of view of the university pedagogue, Jozef Zajac supports the importance of connecting university studies with practice. His faculty achieves up to 99 percent success in employing graduates within three months of graduation, while 70 to 80 percent of them remain working in Slovakia.
