The Max Planck Society and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation are set to honor three distinguished researchers for their groundbreaking contributions in law, political science, and history. On December 2, 2025, in Berlin, Surabhi Ranganathan, Prerna Singh, and Jamie Kreiner will receive prestigious awards, including significant financial support for their respective projects.
Recognizing Exceptional Achievements
Surabhi Ranganathan, a Professor of International Law at the University of Cambridge, is awarded the Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award for 2025, which includes a funding package of 1.5 million euros. Ranganathan’s research focuses on the multifaceted challenges of ocean governance and international law, particularly regarding the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a resource-rich area in the Pacific Ocean. This zone is abundant in manganese nodules, which contain valuable metals sought after by various industries.
Ranganathan’s work examines the intersection of international law, geopolitical interests, and the historical implications of resource extraction. She aims to use her award to initiate a project titled “Ways of Worldmaking: The Global South and the (Re)Imagination of Global Ocean Governance,” in collaboration with HU Berlin and the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg. The project seeks to re-evaluate maritime law in the context of global decolonization.
A Focus on Welfare States and Historical Insights
Prerna Singh, currently a Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Brown University, will receive the Max Planck-Humboldt Medal for her influential research on the development of welfare states in the Global South. Her acclaimed book, “How Solidarity Works for Welfare: Subnationalism and Social Development in India,” has made significant strides in understanding social welfare policies through the lens of solidarity.
Singh’s interdisciplinary approach spans political science, sociology, and public health, which she continues to develop in her latest research project examining vaccination hesitancy. This project, conducted in cooperation with the WZB Berlin Social Science Center and the Robert Koch Institute, will benefit from the 80,000 euros awarded with the medal.
Jamie Kreiner, a Wellman Chair in Medieval History at UCLA, also receives a Max Planck-Humboldt Medal for her extensive work in the cultural and intellectual history of the early Middle Ages. Her notable publications include “The Social Life of Hagiography in the Merovingian Kingdom” and “The Wandering Mind: What Medieval Monks Tell Us About Distraction.” Kreiner’s current research explores the relationship between cognitive science and historical understanding, emphasizing how early medieval practices can inform contemporary perspectives.
Each year, the Max Planck Society and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation recognize outstanding scholarly work through the Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award and the Max Planck-Humboldt Medal. The award, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), alternates between various fields, including natural sciences, engineering, humanities, and social sciences, thereby supporting a diverse range of research initiatives.
The recognition of these three researchers underscores their exceptional contributions to their respective fields and highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing complex global challenges.
