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IUPAP Young Scientist Prize in Astrophysics

C19 IUPAP Young Scientist Prizes in Astrophysics have been awarded to the below recipients in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the areas of physics within the remit of the Commission.

2021

Adrian Hamers is a leading expert in the area of the evolution of high-order multiple systems such as triple and quadruple (star) systems. He has made major contributions to the development of innovative numerical tools to study these systems, and investigate their evolution with implications for gravitational wave sources, supernovae, and exoplanets.

2019

Dr Vincent Bourrier (University of Geneva, Switzerland) For his outstanding theoretical and observational work on star-planet interaction and atmospheric escape, which has led to the first live insights into the erosion of atmospheres of low-mass exoplanets, the coupling between the atmospheric and orbital evolution, and innovative techniques to exploit exoplanet observations to bring new insights on stellar physics.

2018

Dr Elisabeth Krause (University of Arizona, USA) For pioneering contributions to the extraction of cosmological insights from large galaxy surveys, including modeling key observables, covariance matrix estimation, and the development of cosmological analysis tools, which have ushered in a new era of multi-probe cosmology and set a new standard for forthcoming experiments.

2017

Dr Pratika Dayal (University of Groningen, NL) for her work as a theorist, combining analytic theory, numerical simulations and data interpretation, which has significantly contributed to building tantalising bridges between fields as diverse as astrophysics, particle cosmology and astrobiology.

2016

Dr Nikku Madhusudhan (University of Cambridge, UK) for his pioneering and outstanding contributions to the characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres which have led to the first insights into various physical processes and chemical compositions of exoplanetary atmospheres, and have laid the foundations for understanding planetary formation and migration based on exoplanetary atmospheric compositions.

2015

Dr Sylvain Guiriec (University of Maryland, USA) for his insightful and innovative contributions towards understanding the nature of Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) prompt emission, in particular the establishment of multi-component spectra, and the discovery of a new Peak Energy – Luminosity relation showing that GRBs can be used as standard candles and thereby as unique cosmological probes.

2014

Dr Nanda Rea (University of Amsterdam, NL) for her valuable contribution to the study of neutron stars. In particular for the discovery that magnetars can have low dipolar magnetic fields in line with the normal pulsar population, at variance with the long-standing belief that the electron critical magnetic field was a lower limit for magnetar-activity to take place.

2013

Dr. Alicia Soderberg (Harvard University, USA) for discovering of new classes of explosions in the Universe across the electromagnetic spectrum, including the first X-ray flare associated with a shock breakout in a supernovae (SN 2008D), and the first luminous radio emission from a supernova (SN 2009bb) which requires a substantial relativistic outflow powered by a central engine without an observed gamma-ray burst.

2012

Dr. Alexander J. van der Horst (Astronomical Institute `Anton Pannekoek’, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands) for the insightful and very diverse work in elucidating the nature of and high-energy emission processes in gamma-ray bursts and soft gamma repeaters; especially for his skillful analysis of data from very different space- and ground- based instruments and the furthering of our theoretical understanding of those data in terms of physics of the sources.

2011

Dr. Daisuke Nagai (Yale University, USA) for ground-breaking research that has significantly improved our understanding of the structure and evolution of galaxy clusters and their application for cosmology, through the use of novel computer simulations and the development of techniques that control systematic uncertainties due to non-linear astrophysical processes.

2010

Dr. Poonam Chandra (Royal Military College of Canada, Canada) for her work on radio detection of distant gamma ray bursts and supernovae.

2009

Dr. Thomas Schweizer (Max Planck Institute, Munich, Germany) for his work on the MAGIC project and the first Crab pulsar detection at gamma energies above 25 GeV.

2008

Dr. Eiichiro Komatsu (University of Texas, Austin, USA) for his work on the interpretation of the cosmic microwave background data, first from COBE (COsmic Background Explorer) and more recently from WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe), especially exploring limits of non-gaussianity of the cosmic microwave background.

2006

Marta Burgay (Cagliary Astronomical Observatory, INAF-OAC, Italy) for her discovery and characterisation of the first double pulsar, PSR J0737-3039A and B.

Other Prizes in Astrophysics and Related Topics
Dan David Prizes

Three Dan David prizes of $1 million USD each are annually awarded for achievements having an outstanding scientific, technological, cultural or social impact on our world. Each year fields are chosen within the three Time Dimensions – Past, Present and Future.

For details see: http://www.dandavidprize.org

The Kavli Prizes

Three Kavli prizes are awarded every second year to the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience.

For details of past laureates in Astrophysics, see: http://www.kavliprize.org/prize-landing-years?scientific_field=astrophysics

The Peter Gruber Foundation Prizes

Annual awards are made in the fields of Cosmology, Genetics and Neuroscience.

For details of past laureates in Cosmology, see: http://gruber.yale.edu/cosmology

The Crafoord Prize

The Crafoord Prize in astronomy and mathematics, biosciences and geosciences is an annual award, with a rotation in the discipline of the award.

For details of past laureates in Astronomy and Mathematics, see: http://www.crafoordprize.se/prizesawarded/astronomyandmathematics.4.2f692b3510dbfce339680009400

The Shaw Prize

The Shaw Prize is an annual award in the fields of Astronomy, Life Science and Medicine, and Mathematical Sciences.

For details of past laureates in Astronomy, see: http://www.shawprize.org/en/shaw.php?tmp=3&twoid=96