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Prize Bold Science

Prize Courageous Science (external link), the only one of its kind in Germany, honors scientists whose research is characterized by extraordinary, courageous, and innovative approaches. The Prize awarded to young, outstanding researchers from universities and research institutions in Baden-Württemberg who have achieved success against their peers’ expectations, prevailed against resistance along the way, and/or built upon preliminary work that “failed” productively, thereby enabling new insights.

The Prize Courageous Science comes with a cash prize of 30,000 euros.

Prize Bold Science
The award ceremony

The Prize Courageous Science is awarded every two years to innovative scientists. The call for nominations takes place in conjunction with the State Research Prize (internal link), alternating annually with the State Teaching Prize (external link).

Potential candidates are nominated by the country's scientific institutions. In addition, candidates have the right to nominate themselves. The award is decided by an interdisciplinary jury consisting of renowned scientists and the presidents of the Max Planck Society and the German Research Foundation. The Academy chairs the jury.

The Prize be awarded to multiple people at the same time.

Contact

The Prize sponsored bythe Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts in Baden-Württemberg (external link).

The prize foundation

Since 2016, the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities thePrize Courageous Science in collaboration with theMinistry of Science, Research, and the Arts (external link). It is awarded every two years. 

The award ceremony will be held in conjunction with theState Research Prize (internal link), which has been in existence since 1989. The two prizes are announced jointly.

The award winners
yearAward winners
2024Prof. Dr. Kira Rehfeld, Center for Geo and Environmental Research, University of Tübingen
2022
  • Dr. Katrin Schmelz, University of Konstanz
  • Dr. Sireen El Zaatari, University of Tübingen
2020Dr. Jennifer Wagner, Heidelberg University, Center for Astronomy
2018Prof. Dr. Sabine Gabrysch, Heidelberg Institute for Global Health
2016
  • Prof. Dr. Erik Schäffer, University of Tübingen
  • Dr. Ferdinand Ludwig, University of Stuttgart