Róbert Bárány’s legacy still inspires young researchers

11.12.2025

HUN-REN has once again presented its scientific awards, including the Róbert Bárány Award. At this year’s ceremony, the honours were presented by the great-granddaughter of the Nobel laureate after whom the award is named.

‘I feel that my great-grandfather’s legacy can still encourage young researchers today to pursue their work with passion, follow their curiosity and work together across borders,’

said Sigrid Bárány, the great-granddaughter of Nobel laureate Róbert Bárány, at HUN-REN’s 2025 year-end awards gala. It was a particular honour for the nine early-career researchers receiving the Róbert Bárány Award to accept their awards from her in person, as she travelled to Budapest for the occasion.

The Róbert Bárány Award recognises early-career researchers who, at the very start of their careers, demonstrate outstanding scientific achievement and in doing so inspire those who see their future in science. ‘Our aim is for this award to provide a fitting context and proper recognition for such exceptional achievement,’ said Roland Jakab, CEO of HUN-REN, after the gala.

Róbert Bárány, a Hungarian-born Austrian physician, received the 1914 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his pioneering research into the vestibular system of the inner ear. Interestingly, he was being held in a Russian prisoner-of-war camp when the prize was awarded. Thanks to extraordinary diplomatic efforts, he was released in 1916 and was able to receive his Nobel Prize in person that year.

Since 2021, the Róbert Bárány Award has been awarded to young researchers who achieve outstanding scientific results at an early stage of their careers, inspiring the next generation to pursue a career in science.

At the event, the Róbert Bárány Awards were presented alongside the research network’s highest scientific honour, the HUN-REN Excellence Award. You can read our detailed report on the gala here. We also introduce linguist Professor Mária Gósy, this year’s Excellence Award recipient, here, and report on the award-winning young researchers and those granted the Research Professor Emeritus title here.