Dr Mindaugas Žilius, Chief Researcher and Head of the Coastal Environment and Biogeochemistry Laboratory at the Marine Research Institute of Klaipėda University, has been included in so-called list of Björn Carlson's friends. The winner of the prize will be selected from this exclusive group of 20 and is expected to be announced and awarded at a ceremony in Stockholm in September.
This is the first time that the Foundation, which aims to promote researchers and research contributing to protecting the Baltic Sea's environment and ecology, has nominated a Lithuanian representative. Dr Mindaugas Žilius was nominated for his interdisciplinary research on the nitrogen cycle in coastal ecosystems to improve the state of the Baltic Sea.
Dr Mindaugas Žilius was reticent about the news of his work being recognised. He admitted that the nomination came as a surprise. Dr Žilius said that the nomination only proved that the work of Lithuanian researchers was not only visible in the international scientific environment, but also that it was significant and competitive in the search for solutions to global environmental problems.
