2019
The winners of the 12th Bernese Award for Environmental Research
Main Prize: Dr. Clau Dermont
Clau Dermont has won the Bernese Award for Environmental Research for his PhD thesis, “Citizens’ support for the energy transition. The influence of policy and politics on citizens’ opinions towards renewable energy promotion”. His thesis examines why citizens are relevant to the transition to renewable energy, and what factors influence their opinions on these issues. Using innovative methods and concepts, Clau Dermont analyses how policy content and party political arguments influence citizens’ decision-making in direct democracy. His thesis thus makes an important contribution to the increasingly prevalent insight that the transition of energy systems is not possible without closer consideration of political aspects, and especially, of the role of the population.
Recognition Award: Michael Scheurer
While microplastics are a globally occurring pollutant, its sources and its concentrations in soils have not yet been well researched. In his Master’s dissertation, “Microplastics in Swiss Floodplain Soils”, Michael Scheurer presents his method of analysing microplastics in soils, applied specifically to floodplain soils in Switzerland. His data show that 90 % (n = 29) of Swiss floodplain soils contain microplastics and point towards direct anthropogenic inputs as well as diffuse pollution via the atmosphere. Michael Scheurer’s Master’s dissertation was published in a leading scientific journal of the field and resulted in more than 40 media reports (newspapers, radio, and tv). The work is of pioneering character, demonstrates scientific excellence, and contributes significantly to the understanding of the occurrence and the sources of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems.
Nominations
We are delighted to announce that 6 exceptional works have been submitted for the 2019 prize.
We thank all nominees for the commitment.
The winners will be announced at the 185th Dies academicus in December 2019.
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Dermont, Clau | Citizens support for the energy transition. The influence of policy and politics on citizens’ opinions towards renewable energy promotion |
| Ganser, Dominik | Restoring biodiversity and pollination services in agricultural landscapes |
| Hu, Lingfei | Root exudate metabolites drive plant-soil feedbacks on growth and defense by shaping the rhizosphere microbiota |
| Humbert, Jean-Yves | Conservation and restoration of temperate semi-natural grasslands |
| Scheurer, Michael | Microplastics in Swiss Floodplain Soils |
| Zingg, Silvia | Integrating food production and biodiversity conservation in temperate agricultural landscapes |
2019 Bernese Award for Environmental Research
The Bernese Award for Environmental Research aims to promote disciplinary and interdisciplinary research in environmental sciences and sustainability at the University of Bern. The prize money in 2019 totals CHF 15,000.
The award, granted every two years, targets researchers whose work makes a relevant contribution to society or lays the foundations for a better understanding of environmental and sustainability problems and their solutions.
