Special Recognition Awards

Every year the World Cultural Council grants special acknowledgements in the host country to a number of people who have accomplished outstanding achievements in the fields of science, education or art.This is to pay tribute to distinguished scientists, educators and artists whose contributions have had a significant influence on the advancement of the scope of culture in their country.

The special committee of the four fields of sciences of the University of Tartu nominated 9 persons and the World Cultural Council awarded the WCC Special Recognition diploma to these people during the Award Ceremony.

Political scientist Rein Taagepera - founder and the first Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Tartu

Economist Urmas Varblane - University of Tartu Professor of International Business and Innovation

Literary critic, translator and poet Jüri Talvet - University of Tartu Professor of World Literature

Theologist and translator Kalle Kasemaa - University of Tartu Professor Emeritus of Old Testament and Semitistics

Physicist Peeter Saari - University of Tartu Professor of Waves Optics

Neurologist Toomas Asser - University of Tartu Professor of Neurosurgery

Evolutionary biologist Richard Villems - University of Tartu Professor of Archaeogenetics, President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences

Astrophysicist Jaan Einasto - Senior Researcher at the Department of Cosmology at Tartu Observatory

Choir conductor Vaike Uibopuu - long-time conductor of the University of Tartu Academic Female Choir and Chamber Choir