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"By introducing new methods from statistical physics into climate and earth system research, Jonathan Donges has advanced these crucially", says the selection committee in its explanatory statement. "He has also pioneered the analysis of recurrent events and established it as a method for analysing climate data before big data methods became common practice. More recently, he has applied other network-based approaches and methods from complexity theory to climate research."

"Extraordinary research achievements"

Brandenburg's Science and Research Minister Martina Münch congratulated: "The award for Donges "underlines his extraordinary research achievements," she explained. The award is also "an appreciation for the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and once again proves its exceptional position as an international top address in climate research. The PIK contributes significantly to the international radiance of the outstanding and innovative scientific landscape in Potsdam and Brandenburg".

"We are very pleased for Jonathan Donges, who has really done outstanding work in research across disciplinary boundaries - it is great that this transdisciplinary work is now being recognized by the German Research Foundation and the Federal Ministry of Research," said economist Ottmar Edenhofer. As director of the Potsdam Institute together with the resilience researcher Johan Rockström, bringing natural sciences and social sciences together on the basis of mathematical methods is one of his greatest objectives. "As much as Jonathan Donges is methodically highly innovative, his core concern is to the consequences the destabilization of the climate could have on people," said Edenhofer. "His work combines both excellence and relevance."


The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize is named after the physicist and former president of the German Research Foundation. To the winners 2019: http://www.dfg.de/gefoerderte_projekte/wissenschaftliche_preise/leibnitz-preis/2019/index.html

Weblink to the press release of the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture Brandenburg:
https://mwfk.brandenburg.de/cms/detail.php/bb1.c.623842.de