On Sunday, August 22, the leading researcher of the ISSP UL’s Laboratory of Computer Modelling of Electronic Structures of Solids received the Baltic Assembly Prize for Science 2020 in an in-person event. Dr.phys. Roberts Eglītis was awarded for his research cycle "Theoretical predictions of new materials for energy storage and harvesting ".
Due to the restrictions and precautionary measures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the laureates of the prize were honored in their own countries and the ceremonies took place on different times - in Estonia, the ceremony took place in the autumn of 2020, but in Lithuania, it is planned this autumn. The Baltic Assembly prizes were awarded last October in a partly digital meeting, where the joint jury consisting of nine literature, art and science experts from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania assessed the nominated works.
During the award ceremony, Ināra Mūrniece, the Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia in her speech emphasized that the Baltic Assembly Prize not only highlights the importance of co-operation between Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, but also allows us to be proud of the creativity of our people, both inside and outside the European Union. She also accented that the ceremony in Latvia takes place at a very significant time - the thirtieth anniversary of the restoration of the independence of the Baltic States.
Whereas Jānis Vucāns, Vice-President of the Baltic Assembly, said that the award honors people who have contributed to the harmonious development and unity of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania through their work. Vucāns expressed satisfaction that, despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, we have been able to continue active work and strengthen co-operation between the Baltic States.
The aim of the Prize is to support outstanding achievements in literature, the arts and science; demonstrate the common interests of the countries in this region in upholding of their national identity and self-esteem; create an opportunity to learn about the achievements of the neighboring countries; maintain a continuous interest among the people in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania about developments in the Baltic states; strengthen cooperation among the Baltic States in the fields of literature, the arts and science; encourage more and more people to become interested in the intellectual values and languages of the Baltic nations; and raise the level of literature, the arts and science in the Baltic States.
The Baltic Assembly is an international organization for cooperation among the parliaments of the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania, founded on the basis of the Joint Decision adopted by the members of the Supreme Councils of the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania in Vilnius on 1 December 1990.
Roberts Eglītis has conducted research in theoretical solid state physics. In 2016, he won the Edgars Siliņš Prize in Physics of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. He is the co-author of one of the most significant achievements in Latvian science in 2019. R. Eglītis is the author of 160 scientific articles in international peer-reviewed scientific journals. R. Eglītis was the first in the world who had theoretically predicted the possibility of creating a high-energy 5-volt Li-ion battery using Li2CoMn3O8 as the cathode material for this battery.
More information in Latvian:
https://www.delfi.lv/news/national/politics/foto-baltijas-asamblejas-balvu-zinatne-sanem-fizikis-roberts-eglitis.d?id=53511757
https://www.lza.lv/images/LZA_menesraksts_2021/LZA_menesraksts_8.2021_final.pdf
