Hungarian Nobel laureate generously donates prize money to aid needy Ukrainians
Ferenc Krausz, the co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics for 2023, has made a noble gesture by founding a charity to help those affected by the war in Ukraine. The Hungarian-Austrian scientist, who achieved this prestigious honor for his work in Germany, has donated one-third of his prize money, a total of 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately 300 thousand euros), to support the Ukrainian people in urgent need.
Ferenc Krausz is the leader of the Attosecond Division at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics since 2003, where his team’s groundbreaking work on generating attosecond light pulses to study electron dynamics in matter has garnered high praise from the scientific community. He shares the Nobel Prize recognition with fellow acclaimed scientists Pierre Agostini and Anne L’Huillier, who have also received numerous awards in recent years, including the prestigious Wolf Prize.
Despite being considered a favorite for the Nobel Prize, Mr. Krausz expressed surprise when notified by the Swedish Academy. However, his philanthropic efforts extend beyond the field of physics. The Hungarian laureate established Science4People, a charity aimed at bringing together the scientific community to provide assistance to the war-torn people of Ukraine. Through their initial projects, Science4People has already helped around 30 children who lost their homes in eastern Ukraine, providing them with shelter in a primary school situated in a small village in western Ukraine. Additionally, over 300 students in a village located on the Hungarian border have received digital learning tools, thanks to the charity.
Ferenc Krausz’s commitment to helping those in need showcases his dedication not only to scientific research but also to creating lasting value and making a difference in the world. His generous donation to the charity demonstrates his belief in using his success to uplift others. As a Nobel laureate and philanthropist, Krausz’s contributions to society extend far beyond the realm of physics.
