Yara’s Birkeland Prize 2026 goes to Dr. Mateusz Sowiński

To celebrate Kristian Birkeland’s pioneering spirit, the Yara Birkeland Prize in Physics and Chemistry is awarded annually to a Ph.D. candidate from a Norwegian university. The winner is awarded 100,000 NOK.

Honoring a legacy of innovation

“Each year, we gather to honour Kristian Birkeland through an award that bears his name and celebrates scientific excellence. We honour researchers whose outstanding dedication to science reflects the spirit of Kristian Birkeland: a willingness to ask questions, pursue answers, and venture beyond the boundaries of current knowledge,” said Per Knudsen, VP Technology, Yara.

In 1905, Kristian Birkeland's groundbreaking research laid the foundation for Yara, developing a method to extract nitrogen from the air which then could be used as fertilizer.

Today, Yara continues to honor Birkeland’s legacy through its commitment to innovation and a mission to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet. The Birkeland Prize is given for a PhD thesis in chemistry and physics alternating year from a Norwegian University.  It rewards outstanding work that has the potential to make a practical change to the world.

Dr. Mateusz Sowiński wins the 2026 prize

Dr. Sowiński defended his Ph.D. at UiT The Arctic University of Norway under the supervision of Associate Professor Marius Haugland-Grange. Out of five highly competitive nominations this year, Dr. Sowiński’s work stood out for its exceptional quality and profound scientific implications.

“I am truly honored to receive the Birkeland Prize. I was quite surprised when I learned that I had been selected. This recognition is very inspiring, and I am grateful to everyone who made it possible," said Dr. Sowiński.

Dr. Sowiński's thesis, titled “Stable spirocyclic nitroxide spin labels,” focuses on the development of new, stable organic radicals, carbon-based molecules that contain an unpaired electron. While such radicals are typically highly unstable, Dr. Sowiński succeeded in developing a class of radicals (nitroxides) with an almost unlimited lifespan, remaining stable even at room temperature and when exposed to air and moisture.

Dr. Sowiński’s work places him at the international research forefront of EPR-based structural biology. Beyond biology, these advanced nitroxide radicals hold immense potential for spectroscopy, catalysis, quantum technology, and medical diagnostics.

His doctoral work resulted in three first-author papers published in highly ranked international journals, with a fourth manuscript currently nearing completion. He is currently continuing his research at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology in Poland.

The Birkeland Lecture

Alternating annually between physics and chemistry, the prize is presented in connection with the Birkeland Lecture. First launched in 1987, the lecture is a collaboration between Yara International, the University of Oslo, The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, and the Norwegian Space Centre.

This year’s lecture was delivered by Professor Annemie Bogaerts from the University of Antwerp, on the topic “Plasma technology for electrified fertilizer production”.

The lecture and award ceremony takes place at The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi) in Oslo.

The winner of the Birkeland Prize is selected by a dedicated committee of five members: Prof. Tor Hemmingsen and Prof. Magne Olav Sydnes representing the Norwegian Chemical Society (Norsk Kjemisk Selskap); Prof. Magne Guttormsen and Prof. Ragnvald Mathiesen representing the Norwegian Physical Society (Norsk Fysisk Selskap); and Per Knudsen representing Yara.