Young researchers were recognised at the University of Tartu ahead of Estonia’s Independence Day

Ernst Jaakson memorial fund scholarship aims to support Estonian doctoral researchers, research fellows and lecturers who continue their studies or research abroad. The 18,000-euro scholarship was awarded to Eele Õunapuu-Pikas, Research Fellow in Plant Ecophysiology. Her research focuses mainly on plant water exchange and hydraulic traits, measuring physiological responses under natural conditions.

With the support of the scholarship, Õunapuu-Pikas will spend three months at the Australian National University, working in Professor Caitlin Byrt’s laboratory, one of the world’s leading centres for aquaporin research. There, she plans to conduct research to characterise the aquaporins of silver birch (Betula pendula) and determine their specific water-transport properties using an internationally recognised method. Õunapuu-Pikas has the long-term goal of bringing more expertise in aquaporins to Europe and applying it particularly to the study of woody plants in their natural environments. She believes this would allow a better understanding of forest trees’ water use, stress tolerance and mechanisms of response to climate change.

The Lennart Meri research awards are given to recognise authors who have defended or published high-quality academic work on the Estonian state, nation, culture or society. The 8,000-euro research award was presented to Lona Päll, Research Fellow at the Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics. In her doctoral thesis, defended in 2025, she studied the environmental conflicts that have emerged in Estonia in recent decades – from disputes over forestry management and the planned construction of a large pulp mill to issues of urban nature, peatland restoration and the protection of sacred natural sites. Päll’s thesis focused on how these conflicts develop communicatively and culturally, and why public debates often reach an impasse.

The Lennart Meri award for master’s thesis was granted to Tuuli-Triin Linnas, Junior Research Fellow in Ichthyology and Fisheries Science at the University of Tartu. Her master’s thesis, defended in 2025, explored innovative and non-invasive methods for studying benthic macrofauna in the Baltic Sea and North Sea using video image analysis. The thesis contributed to the further development of alternative monitoring methods. This is particularly important for Estonia, as the Baltic Sea faces nutrient pollution, declining fish stocks and other human-induced impacts. The award amount is 4,000 euros.

Professor Peeter Tulviste memorial fund prizes aim to recognise students and young researchers who, with their outstanding teaching and research, contribute to an understanding of the cultural nature of people. Thanks to the donations made last autumn on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Tulviste’s birth and increased support from regular donors, awards were presented for the first time to both master’s and doctoral degree holders this year.

Professor Peeter Tulviste memorial fund prize for a young researcher with a doctoral degree was presented to Indrek Peedu, Lecturer in Religious Studies, who analyses the history of religion and religious thought, drawing primarily on Estonian sources and developments over the past century. A central element of his research is the interpretation of the researcher's position. In addition to his productive academic work, Indrek Peedu has also led the translating of influential works on religion into Estonian in collaboration with the Ilmamaa publishing house and the University of Tartu Press, thereby helping to broaden the intellectual and cultural horizons of Estonian readers. The amount of the prize is 7,000 euros.

The Tulviste memorial fund prize for a master’s degree holder was awarded to Azniv Tadevosyan, Junior Research Fellow in Political Science, whose research focuses on the communication of political views and ideas through contemporary popular music in countries where dissidence and freedom of expression are restricted and punishable. Her research papers have been published in international journals, where they stand out for both conceptual originality and methodological innovation. The amount of the prize is 3,000 euros.