Alliance4Life Congratulates Professor Toivo Maimets on receiving the Tiiu Sild memorial lifetime achievement award

The Alliance4Life proudly congratulates Professor Toivo Maimets, a distinguished member of our Board and a leading figure in Estonian science, for receiving the prestigious Tiiu Sild memorial lifetime achievement award for long-standing and systematic popularization of science and technology. This award was presented at the Estonian Research Council’s annual science communication conference on November 15, 2024, which recognised outstanding advocates of science.

Professor Maimets, a cell biologist at the University of Tartu, has passionately advocated for public engagement in science. He has played a pivotal role in discussions addressing various scientific disciplines' trends, challenges, and ethical dimensions. Through his dedicated efforts, he has fostered a more science-informed society, raising awareness of modern medicine and biotechnology advancements.

"Toivo Maimets is a communicator of science in the best sense of the term," remarked Ene Ergma, chair of the selection committee. "Not only is he an exceptional scientist who has made a tremendous contribution to Estonian science, but he also has a wonderful ability to talk about science in a way understandable to the sommon people.  Fortunately for us, he has used every opportunity to make Estonian science more understandable and relatable wherever he could."

Reflecting on the recognition, Professor Maimets humbly stated: "Our lifetime work only truly ends when our life ends. I personally do not feel exhausted or that my lifetime work is complete. Speaking specifically about science communication, I already have several presentations scheduled for next year. In that sense, this award was a very pleasant surprise for me."

Professor Maimets also highlighted the more profound role of science communication: "It often involves top-down messaging about what scientists have achieved. While that is valuable, it is not enough. Until people understand the processes behind scientific discoveries and how knowledge is generated, its value remains comparable to pseudoscientific claims. The only difference is the trustworthiness of the speaker's name."

Using the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, he emphasised how scientists’ evidence-based processes were crucial for arriving at the truth, even when sceptics presented conflicting claims. "Science ends where something is claimed to be 100% certain. There is still a lack of understanding about this concept in Estonia," he noted.

Professor Maimets also underscored the importance of humility in science: "A scientist is not an infallible source of truth but someone with methods to pursue it. I apply this principle in my lectures as well. If students ask a question I cannot answer on the spot, I research it and address it in the next class. Keeping this promise is essential."

While Professor Maimets' professional accomplishments are remarkable, he attributes his success to the unwavering support of his family. "None of this would have been possible without my wife, my partner of 47 years. Her support has been the foundation of all my endeavours. I am also deeply grateful to everyone who has accompanied me on this journey, even those with whom I have disagreed, as they have also taught me valuable lessons," he shared.

Professor Maimets has previously received national awards for the popularization of science in 2019 (for organizing genetics study days to gymnasium students), and in 2022 and 2023 (for promoting Estonian-language scientific terminology). In 2023 he received both the state language award and the language award of the University of Tartu for the exceptionally comprehensive Estonian-language university textbook “Rakubioloogia” [TE1] (Cell Biology). This, among many other books he has written, will help preserve the sustainability of scientific thinking in the Estonian language.

"We are truly honored to have Professor Maimets as a member of Alliance4Life. His remarkable contributions perfectly reflect the values we uphold: advancing scientific excellence, promoting societal understanding of research, and fostering cross-border collaboration. On behalf of Alliance4Life, I extend our heartfelt congratulations  to Professor Maimets on this well-deserved recognition," said Ester Jarour, coordinator of Alliance4Life.

 [TE1] https://tymri.ut.ee/en/content/exceptionally-comprehensive-estonian-language-university-textbook-cell-biology-has-been