Science and responsibility: Cardinal Innitzer Prize 2024 awarded

Science and responsibility: Cardinal Innitzer Prize 2024 awarded

On Saturday, November 23, 2024, the awarding of the renowned Cardinal Innitzer Prize was awarded in the Archbishop's Palace in Vienna. This significant honor is awarded by the Archdiocese of Vienna annually to outstanding achievements in humanities, nature and social sciences as well as in journalism. This year the doctor received prof. Dr. Dietrich Kraft The main award, which is recognized for its extraordinary contributions to regenerative medicine and cardiovascular research.

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn not only praised the achievements of the award winners, but also emphasized the responsibility of science for society and appealed to politics to support science more. This is particularly relevant at a time when the value of research and its results are often both admired and questioned.

a pioneer of regenerative medicine

Prof. Dr. Dietrich Kraft, born in 1937 in Innsbruck, achieved significant success in his career, including the first cloning of allergy -causing pollen proteins. This performance has had a lasting impact on the development of modern diagnostics and therapies. Due to health problems, he could not personally receive the award; Instead, his son took over this part of the ceremony.

His academic career is paved with over 400 publications and many prestigious honors. Among other things, he led the Department of Immun Pathology at the University of Vienna and was appointed as a member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, one of the highest awards for scientists in Austria.

recognition for further talents

In addition to the main prize, numerous other prizes were also awarded. So historians received Prof. Walter Pohl , molecular biologist Prof. Jürgen Knoblich and journalist Alice Senarclens de Grancy Approval prices for their outstanding contributions in their respective specialist areas.

The funding prices went to promising young scientists such as Prof. Johannes Paul Chavanne from the theological university Benedikt XVI. as well as several students and young researchers from universities such as the Medical University of Vienna, the University of Graz and the Technical University of Vienna. These prices should motivate and support the next generation of scientists.

Cardinal Schönborn underlined the need not to ideologize science. "Science has to be used responsibly," he said. He pointed out that today's social debate often fluctuates between a glorifying and a skeptical attitude towards science, which can be potentially dangerous.

his clear appeal to the political leadership sounded clear: "Promotion of science is a promotion of the future. The new government should be aware of this fact," he added. The importance of these statements is reinforced by the current social reality, in which the need for well -founded scientific knowledge and their responsible application becomes increasingly pressing.

The Cardinal Innitzer Prize, named after Cardinal Theodor Innitzer, has been one of the most important scientific prizes in Austria since its facility in 1962. The award is supported by the Archdiocese of Vienna as well as by the Ministry of Science and private supporters who make a valuable contribution to promoting science and research.