Giessen's perception psychology is pleased to have prominent reinforcement: At the suggestion of Prof. Dr. Karl Gegenfurtner (Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU)), the renowned perception researcher Prof. Dr. Jan Koenderink has been awarded one of the coveted Humboldt Research Awards. The 73-year-old Dutchman, who continues to conduct research at the University of Utrecht after his retirement, will use the award money of 60,000 euros for several months a year to conduct research with colleagues at the Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) in the field of perception of color and material. He will be accompanied by his wife and co-author Andrea van Doorn.

Prof. Koenderink has been a pioneer in the field of perception research for 50 years. In particular, in the topics of optical flow, shape perception as well as material perception, he provided real breakthroughs through the unique combination of mathematical insights and thorough experimental research.  "Jan Koenderink's true strength lies in the fact that he is not only a theorist, but also a highly successful and creative experimenter," Prof. Gegenfurtner emphasized in his laudatory speech.  "That his ideas are usually far ahead of their time is widely recognized within our field." 

Koenderink is no longer young, but his scientific production continues to run at full speed, as he demonstrated, among other things, during a two-month stay in Giessen last fall. "The Humboldt Research Award and the award winner's associated stays give Giessen psychology the opportunity to place itself at the forefront of international perception research in the coming years," Gegenfurtner emphasized.

 

With the Humboldt Research Award, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation honors scientists and scholars from abroad for their overall work to date, whose fundamental discoveries, insights or new theories have had a lasting impact on their own field and from whom further top achievements can be expected in the future. The award winners are invited to carry out research projects of their own choice in Germany in cooperation with specialist colleagues for a period of up to one year.The stay can be split in time. Nominations are made by scientists in Germany. The prize is endowed with 60,000 euros.