The 2025 Academy Award of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate goes to Artur Widera
On November 25, this year's “Akademiepreis des Landes Rheinland-Pfalz ” (Academy Award of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate) was presented to Artur Widera, Professor of Experimental Physics at the RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau. The award was presented to him by Minister Clemens Hoch, Ministry of Science and Health, and Prof. Dr. Andrea Rapp, President of the Academy of Sciences and Literature | Mainz, for outstanding achievements in research and teaching.
“Professor Widera combines outstanding research of international standing, the development of innovative technologies, successful teaching, and commitment to science policy in the particularly promising field of quantum physics. He is being honored with the Academy Award for these exemplary achievements,” said the Academy's president, Prof. Andrea Rapp.
Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister of Science Clemens Hoch also congratulated the award winner: "Excellent teaching thrives on creativity, passion, and the attitude that learning is always a personal encounter that inspires students, encourages them to think for themselves, and initiates forward-looking changes. Professor Widera embodies all of this. With the Academy Award, we are not only recognizing outstanding teaching, but also honoring a personality who has demonstrated excellent achievements in research and exceptional commitment in all areas of science. I congratulate him warmly on this award."
Prof. Malte Drescher, President of RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau, also praised the award winner's achievements: "Artur Widera is doing pioneering work at the interface between physics, materials science, and technology. His research work, for example on single-atom systems, ultracold quantum gases, and optically active defects in diamonds, is making a significant contribution to a better understanding of the quantum world and making it usable for future applications. The Academy Prize of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate thus honors a personality who embodies excellence in research and teaching at RPTU in an outstanding way."
The Academy Prize has been awarded since 2001 by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in cooperation with the Academy of Sciences and Literature | Mainz. It honors individuals who have made excellent and exemplary achievements in teaching and research at the state's universities and have significantly promoted young scientists. The prize is endowed with 25,000 euros.