The international Jury of the Grand Prix en Sciences biologiques sponsored by Cactus s.a. unanimously decided to award the Grand Prix en Sciences biologiques 2023 to Professor Tom Battin for his pioneering and original research work on the ecology, architecture and biogeochemistry of freshwater stream microbial biofilms, especially significantly contributing to advance our knowledge about the microbiome of the streams that drain the roof of our planet, notably glacier-fed streams, now vanishing at a rapid pace owing to climate change.
Prof Battin, who is also a former member of the FNR’s AFR panel, is today a worldwide recognised biologist of freshwater stream ecosystems, especially in the investigation of the links between aquatic biogeochemistry and global biogeochemical cycles.
Short bio: After a scientific education and career (Ms, PhD and HDR) in Vienna University, followed by post-doctoral fellows in Vienna, Innsbruck, USA and Barcelona, Tom Battin joined in 2005 the Vienna University until 2015. Then, from 2015 to date, he was promoted full Professor at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, where he is Director of the River Ecosystems Laboratory at the School of Architecture, Environmental and Civil Engineering (ENAC).
The award ceremony will take place on June 29 2024 at 17h00 at the Forum da Vinci, 6 Boulevard Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, Luxembourg. Registration by email to lhoffmann@hotmail.fr.
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