Swiss sociologist awarded Leibnitz Prize
The Swiss sociologist, Thomas Hengartner, has won the Leibnitz Prize, Germany's most prestigious scientific award.
Hengartner, who hails from canton St Gallen, is famous for his research in a wide range of scientific and cultural fields.
He is currently serving as a professor of sociology at the University of Hamburg, but began his career in the Swiss capital, Bern.
Among his most notable achievements are his published works on religious communities in Switzerland’s Emmental region, the history of cigarette consumption and on technology used in daily life, such as the telephone.
The Leibnitz Prize, which is worth DM1.5 million (SFr1.1 million) to the winner, will be presented to Hengartner at a special ceremony in March 2002.
The 41-year-old sociologist said he would use the prize to finance his programme of research into other uses of technology in daily life.
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