Colleagues at the University of Nova Gorica among the recipients of the highest national awards and recognitions for scientific research and development

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s conferral of awards for exceptional achievements in scientific research and development took place in the form of a documentary, titled Pinnacles of Slovenian Science in the Light of Recipients of Exceptional Achievements Awards 2020, which was broadcast by TV Slovenija II on 1 December 2020.

This year’s recipients include Prof. Dr. Andrej Filipčič, Prof. Dr. Samo Stanič, and Prof. Dr. Marko Zavrtanik, researchers and lecturers at the University of Nova Gorica and researchers at the Jožef Stefan Institute, who received the Zois Award for exceptional achievements in researching cosmic particles of extreme energies.

Commentary on the award:
Prof. Dr. Andrej Filipčič, Prof. Dr. Samo Stanič, and Prof. Dr. Marko Zavrtanik are researchers and lecturers at the University of Nova Gorica and at the Jožef Stefan Institute. In the context of cooperation with Pierre Auger, they focus on astrophysics of elementary particles, and research the origin of cosmic particles of the highest energies, and the development of air showers caused by these particles in the atmosphere. They also develop detectors for measuring the optical properties of the atmosphere, and in cooperation with other astrophysical experiments, jointly observe phenomena such as the fusion of neutron stars. They set up the Centre for Atmospheric Research at the University of Nova Gorica, and have raised a new generation of researchers in astrophysics and the remote sensing of atmospheric properties.

In addition to the awards received by our colleagues, the following awards and recognitions have been conferred:

• Zois Awards for lifetime achievement. Recipients: Prof. Dr. Tamara Lah Turnšek, and Prof. Dr. Radovan Stanislav Pejovnik.
• Zois Awards for exceptional achievements. Recipients: Prof. Dr. Barbara Malič, Prof. Dr. Gregor Anderluh, and Associate Prof. Dr. Kozma Ahačič.
• Zois Awards for significant achievements. Recipients: Prof. Dr. Katarina Čufar, Prof. Dr. Boris Kryštufek, Associate Prof. Dr. Lara Lusa, Prof. Dr. Samo Kralj, and Prof. Dr. Miha Škerlavaj.
• Puh Award for lifetime achievement. Recipient: Prof. Dr. Janez Trontelj.
• Puh Award for exceptional achievements. Recipient: Dr. Janko Petrovčič.
• Puh Recognition. Recipient: Prof. Dr. Darko Goričanec.
• Ambassador of Science Award. Recipient: Prof. Dr. Boštjan Kobe.

Congratulations!

Andreja Leban, Public Relations