Exoplanet researchers Andrzej Udalski and Joachim Wambsganss win the COPERNICUS Prize for groundbreaking discoveries in astrophysics.
Prof. Andrzej Udalski from the University of Warsaw and Prof. Joachim Wambsganss from Heidelberg University have been awarded the 10th COPERNICUS Prize by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) and the German Research Foundation (DFG). Their joint efforts in exoplanetary research have led to the discovery of a low-mass exoplanet and the realization that almost every star in the Milky Way hosts a planet.
Significant Contributions to Astrophysics
The award, decided by an eight-member jury of Polish and German scientists, acknowledges their combined theoretical and empirical expertise in gravitational microlensing. Their research, published in prestigious journals like Nature, has garnered global attention.
Continuing Collaboration and Future Impact
The COPERNICUS Prize, amounting to €200,000, supports their continued scientific collaboration. Their ongoing work is expected to further advance the understanding of exoplanetary systems.
Prof. Wambsganss, a prominent figure in theoretical microlensing, and Prof. Udalski, the driving force behind the OGLE project, will be honored at a ceremony in Berlin on October 24.