The European Academy of Sciences and Arts in Salzburg is gearing up for its Festive Plenary Session on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Grand Hall of the University at Max-Reinhard-Platz, commencing at 11:30 AM. Dr. Brigitta Pallauf, President of the State Parliament, is set to inaugurate the event. This annual celebration is notable for welcoming new members into the academy. A significant moment of this year’s session will be the awarding of the Paul Crutzen Medal, a collaboration between the Academy and its Honorary President Felix Unger, to Professor Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry for 2020 and a distinguished member of the Academy. Ing. Mag.Dr.h.c. Ulrich Kubinger, the patron of the Paul Crutzen Medal and founder of VTA Austria GmbH, will present the award to Professor Charpentier, who will also deliver the keynote address on the impactful role of microbiology in life sciences, particularly highlighting CRISPR gene editing.
Additionally, the Festive Plenary Days of 2024 will feature the Salzburg Tolerance Talks on April 5, emphasizing the importance of dialogue, and a workshop on STEMAC at the Catholic-Theological Faculty of the University of Salzburg. This workshop will explore the interplay of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with art and culture, aiming to strengthen the cohesion between these fields.
The European Academy of Sciences and Arts, with its broad membership that includes 37 Nobel laureates, serves as a vibrant knowledge network tackling major ethical and scientific issues in contemporary society. Since its inception in 1990 by Felix Unger, Cardinal Franz König, and philosopher Nikolaus Lobkowicz, the Academy has been dedicated to addressing pivotal European challenges such as digitalization, artificial intelligence, and fostering greater tolerance amidst global unrest.
