What is the long-term impact of a population's level of education on social, economic, and ecological developments? How does education affect a society's capacity to adapt to climate change? And what is the role of education in achieving gender equality and social advancement?
The most esteemed award in the global education sector
These fundamental questions have been at the core of Lutz’s scientific work for decades. His research, which received numerous international awards, has made a significant contribution to the establishment of education as a central variable in the analysis of climate change. He has now been honored with the highly esteemed Yidan Prize. With an unrestricted project fund of 1.7 million euros and an additional cash prize of 1.7 million euros, the Yidan Prize is the world's highest education accolade.
“I have had the privilege of knowing Wolfgang Lutz for decades as a highly esteemed colleague and outstanding social scientist," said OeAW President Heinz Faßmann in a congratulatory message to Lutz, who is a full member of the Academy. “His contributions to major international research projects have significantly impacted the field of demography, enhancing Austria's reputation globally. Additionally, he has effectively advocated for education as a crucial element of sustainable development, influencing policy decisions. On behalf of the OeAW, I extend my congratulations to him on this well-deserved recognition.”
Funding for the development of research capacities in Africa and Asia
“Education is the foundation of human progress. My research will provide policymakers around the world with insights into the multiplier effect of education for a sustainable future. I hope that I can use the Yidan Prize project funds to support the development of research capacities in Africa and Asia and to focus on education as the key to strengthening resilience,” says laureate Lutz.
IIASA Director General John Schellnhuber, also extended his congratulations to Lutz. “I am pleased to extend my warmest regards to my esteemed colleague Wolfgang Lutz on being awarded the Yidan Prize. His pioneering work in demography, education, and systems analysis has revolutionized our understanding of the interactions between population dynamics and education systems. This recognition emphasizes the global impact of his research.”
The congratulators are joined by Sebastian Schütze, Rector of the University of Vienna. “I am delighted for Wolfgang Lutz to receive this prestigious award. The award makes it clear that Wolfgang Lutz is recognized internationally as a proven demography expert,” Schütze adds.
Education as a key demographic variable in population forecasts
As a demographer and social statistician, Lutz was one of the first researchers to demonstrate the tangible global impact of education, human capital, and sustainable development. His approach of analyzing the level of education of a population over long periods of time and examining its effects on demographic and social developments established the education factor – alongside age and gender – as a key variable for population forecasts in international research.
Lutz is the founding director of the Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital, a joint venture between IIASA, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and the University of Vienna. He also serves as a member of a United Nations expert team and was the author of the global sustainability report “The Future is Now” in 2019.
Multiple awards
Lutz has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards in recognition of his outstanding work, including the Wittgenstein Prize from the Austrian Science Fund FWF and two Advanced Grants and a Proof-of-Concept Grant from the ERC (European Research Council). Most recently, he was the recipient of the Science Prize of the Austrian Research Foundation in 2023. Additionally, he is one of a select few Austrians to be a member of the US National Academy of Sciences. His work, which has been published in more than 293 scientific articles and 27 books, is recognized worldwide and has had a significant impact on demographic research.
The Yidan Prize was established in 2016 by philanthropist Charles Chen Yidan to recognize contributions to educational research and development. The Yidan Prize Foundation is headquartered in Hong Kong. It aims to champion ideas and practices in the field of education that can positively impact the lives of individuals and society.
About the Yidan Prize Foundation
The Yidan Prize Foundation is a global philanthropic foundation, with a mission of creating a better world through education. Through its prize and network of innovators, the Yidan Prize Foundation supports ideas and practices in education — specifically, ones with the power to positively change lives and society.
The Yidan Prize is the world’s highest education accolade that recognizes individuals or teams who have contributed significantly to the theory and practice of education. It consists of two prizes, working in harmony: the Yidan Prize for Education Research and the Yidan Prize for Education Development. They’re designed for impact: laureates of each prize receive an unrestricted project fund of HK$15 million over three years, helping them scale up their work, as well as a gold medal and a cash prize of HK$15 million. The project fund and cash prize are shared equally for teams.
