ALLEA Madame de Staël Prize 2025: Honouring European Values Through Science

The ALLEA Madame de Staël Prize is one of the most important awards in Europe that promotes exceptional contributions in developing the European values, intellectual collaboration, and the concept of Europe through science, scholarship, and publicity. ALLEA-The European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities gives the award to the individual with contributions in multiple fields and makes science, culture and society interact with one another in a dialogue. 

True to this tradition, Prof. Maria Leptin is the winner of the ALLEA Madame de Stael Prize, the prize that relates her effectiveness in leading European science and her focus on the international cooperation which lasted many years.

Prof. Leptin is highly regarded as a policy maker in the field of research, enhancing the best of scientific research, and encouraging collaboration within and between national and institutional frontiers.

It was named after the great philosopher of the late 18th and early 19th century, Germaine de Stael, who proclaimed liberalism, cultural exchange, and dialogue in Europe. Following these principles, the prize honours the efforts of individuals whose careers are a manifestation of the common good in Europe in terms of openness, courage, and commitment. The achievements of Prof. Leptin are reflected by these ideals.

In her career Prof. Maria Leptin has managed to balance scientific excellence and leadership. She is a famous scientist and one of the foremost researchers in governance of research in Europe, and she has tried hard to make the European Research Area stronger, and science a unifying factor in solving common problems of the society. Her work has helped in the furthering of basic research, bringing the young scientists along as well as strengthening the European position in science and innovation in the world.

In addition to her administration and policy position, Prof. Leptin has been a strong supporter of the ideals of academic freedom, scientific integrity and evidence based decision-making. Her leadership has been able to facilitate a level of trust between the scientific community, policy formulators and the population at a time when science is playing a vital role in addressing complex global matters on issues like health outbreaks, climate change and so on.

With the awarding of Prof. Maria Leptin the winner of the ALLEA Madame de Stael Prize, ALLEA not only recognizes a person who has achieved great success but also confirms the role of science and academic activity in the future of Europe. The prize is one way of reminding that enduring collaboration, intellectual transparency and common value is still at the heart of the development and cohesion in Europe