University of Tartu gave out 17,000 euros of scholarships to support research work
On 20 February in the University of Tartu assembly hall, at the ceremony dedicated to the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, the University of Tartu Foundation gave out one Ernst Jaakson scholarship of 12,000 euros and two Lennart Meri research prizes in the total value of 5000 euros.
According to the Head of University of Tartu Foundation Triin Vakker, it was symbolic to award the scholarships at the ceremony dedicated to the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, as the research work supported by these scholarships contributes to the sustainability of the Republic of Estonia: “Be it for our historical memory or the wish to advance a branch of Estonian economy – as such, the research work done at the University of Tartu as a national university has a very important task.”
Ernst Jaakson scholarship is probably the largest private scholarship awarded to a student or a research fellow in Estonia. The memorial scholarship aims to support studies abroad or the continuation of research work of doctoral students, research fellows or teaching staff of the University of Tartu.
This year’s scholarship of 12,000 euros went to the Senior Research Fellow in Geoinformatics of the UT Faculty of Science and Technology Evelyn Uuemaa, whose main fields of research include landscape analysis and the connections between nutrient cycle and landscape pattern and their modelling.
The scholarship allows Uuemaa to continue her post-doctoral research for two years at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand, where she is carrying out a project on finding the optimum size and location of wetlands for the most efficient nutrient removal from agricultural catchments, using spatial analysis and modelling.
According to Professor of Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology of the University of Tartu Ülo Mander, the practical experiences of New Zealand in managing catchments are valuable for both Estonia and the European Union as a whole and help to implement more efficient agricultural policy in Europe. “The knowledge and experience received from there are vital for Uuemaa’s current research and projects at the University of Tartu,” said Mander.
Lennart Meri research prize fund was created in 2007 in the memory of Lennart Meri, the first President of the Republic of Estonia after regaining independence and a patron of the UT Foundation. The fund aims to recognise and value research activities in the society and advance the quality of research publications.
This year, the 3500-euro Lennart Meri research prize went to Jaak Valge, Associate Professor of Contemporary History of the UT Faculty of Philosophy, for his monograph Punased I (The Reds I).
The 1500-euro prize was given to Kertu Anni for her master’s thesis in geography entitled “Development of the structure of a city and its vicinity as seen in Tartu city region” defended at the Faculty of Science and Technology.
Both laureates of the Lennart Meri research prize were also given the honorary title “Laureate of Lennart Meri research prize” and a book about Lennart Meri.
Additional information: Triin Vakker, Head of UT Foundation, tel: +372 737 5852, email: triin.vakker [ät] ut.ee.