At the international Baltic Awards 2026 ceremony held in Riga on 13 May, two members of the Estonian Academy of Sciences received recognition.
Academy Member and professor in human genetics at the University of Tartu, Maris Laan, received an award for her significant contribution to science. Her research has had a major impact on human genetics and reproductive medicine, particularly in understanding the genetic causes of infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, and reproductive health.
Anne Kahru, Secretary General of the Academy and Leading Research Scientist at the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics (NICPB), received a special award for her long-standing and outstanding contribution to the development of environmental toxicology. She has pioneered nano-ecotoxicological research in Estonia and founded the Lab of Environmental Toxicology at NICPB.
This year, the awards were presented to representatives of Estonia for achievements in science, Lithuania for contributions to the arts and music, and Latvia for achievements in architecture.
The Grand Prize for Lifetime Achievement Award to Baltic Society was presented to the former presidents whose leadership enabled Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to join the European Union, fundamentally changing the historical trajectory of the Baltic States – Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, and Valdas Adamkus.
Nominees for the awards were nominated by leading scientific and cultural institutions of the Baltic states.
The winners were selected by the Baltic Awards selection committee, composed of distinguished public, scientific, and cultural figures from the Baltic States and Europe.
The Baltic Awards is a recognition initiative founded under the leadership of world-renowned Latvian opera singer Inese Galante and her daughter Diana Galante. Established to highlight the role of the Baltic States within the contemporary European and global context, the award annually honours distinguished representatives of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia for their contribution to the development of science, arts, music, and architecture.
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Members of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Maris Laan and Anne Kahru, Receive Baltic Awards 2026 Honors
The photo shows Maris Laan (left) and Anne Kahru (right) together with Baiba Rivža, Secretary General of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Photo by Ieva Makare.