Thomas Filek, Max Nutz, Nicolas Roux, Friederike Frieß, Max Pramreiter Fotos © Patrick Piller

Thomas Filek, Max Nutz, Nicolas Roux, Friederike Frieß, Max Pramreiter Fotos © Patrick Piller

Emerging researchers honored for outstanding science communication

On September 11, 2025, the BOKU Leading Lights Award was presented for the first time. As part of the Research  Support, Innovation & Technology Transfer Open House, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, Univ.-Prof. Christian Obinger, presented the awards at a ceremony. With this award, BOKU University honors the outstanding commitment of young researchers in science communication and recognizes their contribution to the university’s third mission—the interface between science, society, and politics.

The BOKU Leading Lights 2025

The 2025 award winners impressed with innovative approaches that make science accessible to a broad public:

  • Thomas Filek (Institute of Zoology):

Leading Light in the category “Ecosystem Management and Biodiversity” for the citizen science project “Biodiversity at cemeteries,” in which the biodiversity of Austria's cemeteries is jointly researched. With this project, he raises awareness of biodiversity in an unusual place.

  • Friederike Frieß (Institute of Safety and Risk Sciences):

Leading Light in the category “Landscape, Water, and Infrastructure” for her commitment to communicating knowledge about nuclear energy, radioactivity, and radiation protection, which she demonstrates at the Vienna Children's University, as a science ambassador for the OeAD, and in media appearances, among other things.

  • Max Pramreiter (Institute of Wood Technology and Renewable Materials):

Leading Light in the category “Sustainable Materials and Technologies.” With his podcast “The WoodCAST,” he communicates current issues in wood technology in a practical and understandable way to a broad audience.

  • Nicolas Roux (Institute of Social Ecology) and Max Nutz (Institute for Sustainable Economic Development):

The team was honored in the category “Resources and Social Dynamics” for their scientific activism in the public sphere. With actions such as the March for Academic Freedom or street lectures as part of “Scientists for Future Austria,” they bring scientific findings directly into social and political debates.

Focus on science communication

The award was open to BOKU researchers aged between 25 and 40 from all disciplines. Entries could be submitted in six categories defined according to BOKU's areas of expertise. An independent, external jury of renowned experts in science communication evaluated the submissions. The jury members were:

In 2025, the prize was awarded in four categories. In addition to prize money of €1,000, the winners received short video portraits, which were presented at the award ceremony and will be published on BOKU University's social media channels in autumn. They will also be featured in the new BOKU Leading Lights podcast, which will also be released in the autumn of 2025.

The BOKU Leading Lights Award will be presented again in 2026. With this initiative, BOKU is sending a strong signal for the importance of science communication and the role of research in society.

Supported by the Vienna Business Agency.