NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

National Latsis Prize 2011

Carl Gademann, Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry at the university of Basel is the 2011 laureate of the National Latsis Prize.

The prize is presented annually by the Swiss National Science Foundation, based in Bern, on behalf of the Fondation Latsis Internationale, based in Geneva (www.fondationlatsis.org), to researchers of up to 40 years of age in recognition of their special contribution to science in Switzerland. The prize, worth 100,000 Swiss francs, will be awarded on 12 January 2012 at the Rathaus in Berne.

Carl Gademann’s major driving force for his research is the interdisciplinary work. His research focus lies at the intersection of chemistry and biology, including the isolation and synthesis of chemicals isolated from natural sources. His core knowledge remains in organic chemistry, with frequent visits between chemistry and materials science or pharmacology and biology. In so doing, he has repeatedly discovered surprising links which, in some cases, have opened up new research fields.

Nature is the prime source of inspiration for Gademann's work. He is interested in naturally occurring bioactive molecules which originate in either animals or plants. He attempts to gain a comprehensive understanding of these molecules: their function, their effects, their structure. Of particular interest to him is their ecological role, i.e. the question why they are produced by organisms in the first place.

Further information is available on
http://www.snf.ch/e/media/pressreleases/pages/2011.aspx?NEWSID=1484&WEBID=F6B532FB-64ED-466F-8816-193D4DE8DC94