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Three Researchers Honored for Pioneering Work in Law, Politics, and History

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Max Planck Society and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation have honored three researchers with the Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award 2025 and the Max Planck-Humboldt Medal for their pioneering work at the boundaries of law, political science, and history. Surabhi Ranganathan, Professor of International Law at the University of Cambridge, receives the Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award 2025 for her research on the law of the sea and ocean governance. Prerna Singh from Brown University and Jamie Kreiner from the University of California, Los Angeles, are awarded Max Planck-Humboldt Medals for their work on welfare states in the Global South and cognitive practices in the Middle Ages, respectively.

Key Takeaways:

  • Surabhi Ranganathan receives the Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award 2025 for her research on the law of the sea and ocean governance, focusing on the political challenges of ocean governance and the law of the sea.
  • Prerna Singh's research on the development of welfare states in the Global South is recognized with a Max Planck-Humboldt Medal, exploring the intersection of political science, sociology, and public health to address vaccination hesitancy.
  • Jamie Kreiner's work on cognitive practices in the Middle Ages, examining the interface between cognitive science and history, is honored with a Max Planck-Humboldt Medal, analyzing the early medieval cognitive tools, habits, and ethics.
  • The Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award is endowed with 1.5 million euros, and the Max Planck-Humboldt Medal is accompanied by 80,000 euros in prize money.
  • The awards will be presented on December 2 in Berlin, and the prize money will be used to fund research projects.
  • The researchers will pursue interdisciplinary approaches in their respective projects, transcending boundaries between law, politics, history, sociology, and public health.

Statistics:

  • The Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award 2025 is worth 1.5 million euros.
  • The Max Planck-Humboldt Medal comes with a prize money of 80,000 euros.
  • Between 1 and 2 additional researchers may be awarded a Max Planck-Humboldt Medal.
  • The awards are alternately given to research projects in natural and engineering sciences, life sciences, humanities, social sciences, and human sciences.

Sources:

  • Max Planck Society. (2025, September 2). *High honours for three frontier scientists* [Category: Science]. https://www.mpg.de/25260206/max-planck-humboldt-research-award?c=2249
  • Max Planck Society. (2025, September 2). *High honours for three frontier scientists*. [Category: Science]. https://www.mpg.de/25260206/max-planck-humboldt-research-award?c=2249

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