An Italian-born physicist has been awarded Switzerland’s top science prize for his work on molecular dynamics, it was announced on Thursday.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch and agencies
Michele Parrinello, who holds posts at both the University of Italian-speaking Switzerland and at the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, will be presented with the Marcel Benoist prize on November 28.
Molecular dynamics is the computer simulation of the physical movements of atoms and molecules.
Parrinello’s work has applications in a many areas of physics, chemistry and biology. His findings have enabled industry to develop more efficient chemical processes and to develop new medicines.
In quite a different area, they have been used to simulate characteristics of materials to which scientists have no access, such as gases and rocks from the interior of the Earth or from Jupiter.
Parrinello has won many prizes for his work. The Marcel Benoist prize, first awarded in 1920, is worth SFr50,000 ($61,600) and is awarded to researchers based in Switzerland.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss scientists eye Europe research prize
This content was published on
The finalists, selected from 21 entries, showcase future and emerging technologies (FET). The Swiss innovations focus on the brain, personal health and predicting disasters. The announcement of the finalists was made in the Hungarian capital Budapest on Wednesday, where the elite of European science and technology is gathered for the FET11 conference and exhibition, which…
This content was published on
Using a highly sophisticated microscope, the Basel scientist takes pictures of the extremely small – a cell, a grain of pollen – and turns them into award-winning scientific fine art. By day 34-year-old Oeggerli is a molecular biologist working in cancer research at Basel University Hospital. By night, the micronaut, as he likes to be…
This content was published on
The award, worth SFr100,000 ($79,000), is one of the most renowned research accolades in Switzerland and is presented each year by the National Science Foundation (SNF). Hengartner’s work revolves around a worm called Caenorhabditis elegans, which he has been studying for nearly 20 years. The creature is a nematode worm, a parasite which lives in…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.