Heinz-Maier-Leibnitz-Prize awarded to Sönke Zaehle

The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize has been awarded to young researchers since 1977 as a distinction for their outstanding achievements. The prize, valued at €20,000, and rated by the large research organizations as third most important German Science Award, assists young researchers in furthering their scientific careers.

In his research, biogeochemist Sönke Zaehle integrates nitrogen dynamics into global vegetation models. These models represent an important basis for initial estimates about the limiting effect of nitrogen on the growth of the land biomass and its impact on the carbon cycle. They can also be used to better understand changes influenced by climate change.