Research Luxembourg COVID-19 Task Force awarded the 2022 Science for Society Prize

21 March 2023

The 2022 Science for Society Prize, an initiative of the Science for Society Foundation, under the aegis of Fondation de Luxembourg, has been awarded to the Research Luxembourg COVID-19 Task Force,- represented by Prof. Paul Wilmes from the University of Luxembourg.

The COVID-19 Task Force, a collective effort between several Luxembourg research institutions regrouped
under Research Luxembourg, was commended for its key role in coordinating the provision of support from the national research community to healthcare providers and the government while bringing evidence-based research findings to the public’s attention in educational and informative ways.

By providing data on a regular basis throughout the duration of the pandemic, the Task Force helped inform key government decisions, such as launching a large-scale testing programme, and effectively contributed to protecting the most vulnerable whilst keeping society open for others.

In addition, the Task Force’s outreach efforts in the form of press conferences and media interviews kept the public informed on the evolving science around the new virus and linked disease.

According to the WHO, Luxembourg placed at the top of European countries with the lowest rate of excess mortality over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, in a report published last year, the OECD credited Luxembourg for its pandemic response, including the creation of the Research Luxembourg COVID-19 Task Force at the onset of the crisis.

About the Science for Society Prize

The Science for Society Prize applicants are evaluated by an independent jury, made up of members from the research community, decision-makers, the technology sector and the press. The jury is responsible for assessing all applications and submitting a preselection to the foundation’s management committee. The Science for Society Foundation’s management committee selects the winning candidate.

The Science for Society Prize is organized with support from the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), which will join the Science for Society Foundation in awarding the 5.000 EUR prize to the winner during a ceremony later this month.

About Research Luxembourg

Research Luxembourg is a joint initiative of the main actors in Luxembourg public research, with the support of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research: Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), University of Luxembourg, Luxinnovation and Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR). At the beginning of the pandemic, Research Luxembourg set up the COVID-19 Task Force (including also the Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS)) under the coordination of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research in order to offer the health system the combined expertise available within the Luxembourg public research sector.

About the Science for Society Foundation and the Fondation de Luxembourg

The Science for Society Foundation was founded in 2014, under the aegis of Fondation de Luxembourg, to support organisations and projects aimed at communicating unbiased scientific information to opinion leaders and the general public. The foundation’s support of projects is led by the belief that a better understanding of science in areas that are important for Society will foster sounder debates and better-informed policy decisions. The Science for Society Foundation created the Science for Society Prize in 2022 to reward effective communication of credible scientific information to the general public.

An independent center of expertise on philanthropy, the Fondation de Luxembourg supports European philanthropists in the structuring, development and monitoring of projects of general interest in Europe and around the world. Created by the Luxembourg State and the Oeuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, the Fondation de Luxembourg’s mission is to promote and facilitate private
philanthropic engagement.

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