Award ceremony for new IAS members
The Slovenian Academy of Engineers has awarded membership to 16 eminent professionals.
The Slovenian Academy of Engineers (IAS) has awarded charters to its newly elected members, who are distinguished Slovenian and foreign experts in engineering and technology with recognised achievements in technological and scientific progress. Election to the Academy is highly regarded nationally and within society, as the IAS is the only national academy in Slovenia apart from SAZU that has been established by law. The award ceremony was attended by the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, Mag. Urška Klakočar Zupančič, and the President of the IAS, Prof. Dr. Matjaž Mikoš.
In his opening address, Prof. Mikoš emphasised that 'engineering is at the heart of social development'. Through its innovations, improvements and technological breakthroughs, it enables a high standard of living and quality of life. This gives engineering a significant impact on societal processes and a significant responsibility." He also stressed that Academy of Engineering membership is much more than an award — it is a commitment.
The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, mag. Urška Klakočar Zupančič referred to the thought of the American engineer Henry Petroski - science means to know, engineering means to do. "Science is very clear about the future of our planet, and I am convinced that you engineers have already found ways to solutions that would allow us to develop sustainably.
It is up to us, the laity, to listen to you. So that you can continue to make history in the future."
Four eminent experts become IAS Honorary Members
At the ceremony, 2 experts were admitted as regular members, 7 as extraordinary members, 3 as corresponding (international) members and 4 as honorary members. Today, with the newly elected members, the Academy has a total of 112 members, 55 regular, 30 extraordinary, 20 corresponding and 7 honorary members.
The Honorary Fellowship was conferred on Prof. Dr. Marija Strojnik Scholl, an internationally renowned astrophysicist of Slovenian-American descent, who, among other things, designed the first autonomous intelligent navigation instrument for space vehicles, which was used in the Cassini mission, and created a special instrument capable of detecting planets beyond the Solar System. Also made an Honorary Member was Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Prof. Dr Jean-Marie Lehn, whose research has focused on the development of molecules that selectively bind to other molecules or ions, which is essential for understanding many biological and chemical processes. Honorary members also included Prof. Dr. Andrej Šali, a leading researcher in the field of computational biology and bioinformatics, who is a professor in the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, and last year's Pooh Lifetime Achievement Laureate, Igor Akrapovič, whose company collaborates with universities and research institutions in various fields and makes an important contribution to raising Slovenia's profile globally.
On receiving the award, Marija Strojnik Scholl said it was a great honour for her. "Some people say that I have great honours in other countries, and maybe that's true, but only one country is my home - and that's Slovenia." Igor Akrapovič also said that this was a great honour for him, but also a responsibility and a duty. Andrej Šali thanked all those who have supported and stood by him along the way, including his students: "The older I get, the more it becomes clear to me that the greatest impact we scientists have is through our work with our students, not directly through our papers."
Quality journalistic coverage of engineering and science was also rewarded
At the event, the Slovenian Academy of Engineering also presented an award for the best quality journalistic coverage of engineering and science in the past year. It was awarded to Saša Senica, journalist and editor of the Science section in the daily Delo, where she regularly publishes articles related to scientific achievements, space, medicine and other technological topics. Her contribution to the popularisation of science helps the general public to understand complex scientific phenomena and their relevance to society.
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New members of the Slovenian Academy of Engineering:
Associate Members: prof. dr. Janko Drnovšek, prof. dr. Edvard Govekar, dr. Jure Knez, prof. dr. Blaž Likozar, dr. Jožica Rejec, prof. dr. Božidar Šarler and prof. dr. Iztok Tiselj.
Regular members: Prof. Dr Robert Dominko and Prof. Dr Janez Novak.
Corresponding members: Prof. Dr. Vladimir Andročec, Prof. Dr. Angus Simpson and Prof. Dr. Zlatko Sitar.
Honorary Members: Igor Akrapovič, Prof. Dr. Marija Strojnik Scholl, Prof. Dr. Andrej Šali and Prof. Dr. Jean-Marie Lehn.
Translated by Deepl.
Award ceremony for new IAS members, Brdo pri Kranju, 14 May 2025
Photo: Marjan Verč