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Prix Schläfli

Prix Schläfli

The Prix Schläfli rewards outstanding Swiss PhDs in natural sciences. It is one of the oldest prizes in Switzerland. Since the first awarding in 1866, 132 young talents in different natural science disciplines have been distinguished.

The prize has the following aims:

  • Promote young talents (promotion of young scientists and support of academic excellence) in the different natural science disciplines
  • Highlight the importance of young scientists in the Swiss research landscape

Guidelines

Award Ceremonies


Why the Prix Schläfli?

Dr. Alexander Friedrich Schläfli of Burgdorf, Switzerland, who died in 1863 at the age of 35 in Baghdad, bequeathed his entire estate to the Swiss Society of Natural Sciences (SHSN) on the condition "that the Society shall found [...] an annual and perpetual prize on some question of physical science. The choice and the value of this prize will be at the exclusive discretion of the said Society". The SHSN therefore set up a commission that would manage the "Schläfli Fund" which consisted of CHF 9,605.45. From 1866, when the first A.F.Schläfli Prize was awarded, to the present day, more than 100 laureates have benefited from this prize.


News

Prix Schläfli 2023: Joël Bloch, Ariadni Afroditi Georgatou, Simone Bavera, Michelle Frei

Prix Schläfli 2023 award for the four best dissertations in natural sciences

Simone Bavera (Astronomy), Joël Bloch (Biology), Michelle Frei (Chemistry) and Ariadni Afroditi Georgatou (Geosciences) were honoured with the Prix Schläfli 2023 for findings made in the context of their dissertations.

Image: SCNAT

A fortune for the SSNS

Alexander Friedrich Schläfli from Burgdorf died in 1863 in Bagdad. He left his fortune to the Swiss Society for Natural Sciences (SSNS) on condition that the “Society will award an annual prize to any question in physical science – Physical science always comprised the Physics and Natural Sciences (according to proceedings 1917, page 97). (…) The selection and the amount are at the discretion of the named Society.”

Contact

Dr Anne Jacob
SCNAT
Commission for the Promotion of Young Talents
House of Academies
PO Box
3001 Bern
Switzerland