The 37th National Scientific Student Associations’ Conference (OTDK), perhaps the most important research competition for Hungarian students, took place in April. At the OTDK, students present their research work in front of a panel of experts who then evaluate and award the best results. Just like in previous events, students supervised by researchers from Konkoly Observatory were again very successful, winning prizes in several sessions of the Physics, Earth Sciences and Mathematics chapter of the OTDK, held this year at the University of Pécs.
Eleven of our research assistants as well as two more students co-supervised by colleagues the Department of Astronomy at Eötvös University (ELTE), received a total of 14 prizes and special awards. Among them, we should highlight Viktória Fröhlich, who won first prizes in two sessions with two different theses and was also awarded the Hope Pin by the Pro Scientia Society of Gold Medallists. It should also be stressed that half of the winners are Bachelor-level, second or third year students who have already been involved in research activities from the very beginning of their studies and have achieved significant results in a short time. Csilla Kalup deserves a special mention among the supervisors, as at the previous OTDK two years ago she was still a contender, winning first prize for her undergraduate research. All these achievements are a clear testimony to the success of the Observatory's research assistant program.
The list of awardees:
Name |
Studies |
Prize |
Supervisor |
|
Astronomical photometry and spectroscopy session |
|||
| Viktória Fröhlich | ELTE Astronomy MSc | I. Prize | Zsolt Regály |
| Blanka Schmercz | ELTE Physics BSc | II. Prize | Bálint Seli |
| Klára Lelkes | ELTE Astronomy MSc | III. Prize | József Vinkó |
| Solar physics and stellar activity session | |||
| Nóra Varga | ELTE Earth Sciences BSc | I. Prize | András Joó (Konkoly/Eötvös Uni), L. Viktor Tóth (Eötvös University) |
| Balázs Zoltán Kertész | ELTE Physics BSc | II. Prize | Csilla Kalup, László Molnár |
| Petra Sági | ELTE Astronomy MSc | Special prize | Levente Kriskovics |
| Extragalactic astronomy session | |||
| Anett Simon-Zsók | ELTE Physics Bsc | I. Prize | László Molnár, Csilla Kalup, Meridith Joyce (U. of Wyoming/Konkoly) |
| Enikő Pichler | ELTE Astronomy MSc | II. Prize | Krisztina Gabányi (Konkoly/Eötvös Uni), L. Viktor Tóth (ELTE TTK) |
| Dávid Koller | ELTE Astronomy MSc | Special prize | Sándor Frey |
| Cosmology Session | |||
| Júlia Katona | ELTE Physics BSc | Special prize | András Kovács |
| Solar system and exoplanetary systems session | |||
| Viktória Fröhlich | ELTE Astronomy MSc | I. Prize | Zsolt Regály |
| Gábor Gergő Balázs | ELTE Physics BSc | II. Prize | Maria Lugaro, Marco Pignatari |
| Olivér Norton Szabó | ELTE Astronomy MSc | III. Prize | L. László Kiss, Krisztián Sárneczky |
| András Kinyó | ELTE Physics BSc | Special prize | Csaba Kiss, Csilla Kalup |
Following the OTDK, Eötvös University also presented its annual awards at the 2025 Eötvös Day. Of our students, Dávid Koller was awarded the distinction of Outstanding Student of the Faculty, and Anett Simon-Zsók received a certificate of recognition for her outstanding OTDK performance. In addition, the Faculty awarded the Scientific Student Associations’ Medal to our colleague Péter Ábrahám, in recognition of his work in the TDK movement and in talent management. A short Hungarian interview with him can be found here.
Heartfelt congratulations to all awardees and OTDK participants!
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Pictured, top: Anett Simon-Zsók and her supervisor, László Molnár; four winners, from left to right: Enikő Pichler, Norton Szabó, Dávid Koller and Klára Lelkes; below: Viktória Fröhlich receives one of her awards; and the Hope Pin she was decorated with.