Renata Wentzcovitch has been named the recipient of the 2025 Bridgman Award, a distinguished honor presented by the International Association for the Advancement of High Pressure Science and Technology (AIRAPT). This prestigious award, given every two years, recognizes outstanding research achievements in the physics, chemistry, and technology of high-pressure science. She is the first woman ever to receive the Bridgman Award since its inception.
AIRAPT selected her for her transformative contributions to materials simulations at high pressures and temperatures. In the nomination letter, her development of key computational methods that have become essential tools in the field was highlighted:
“Her work represents a new chapter in high-pressure research with the development of the first principles variable cell shape molecular dynamics methods. The impact of her methods was immense, and it was especially valuable for investigating minerals with complex crystal structures at extreme conditions. She has developed a version of this approach that allows the determination and discovery of complex equilibrium structures at arbitrary pressures. She also pioneered high-temperature quasiharmonic calculations, which opened the door to studying materials at planetary interior conditions. Her contributions make her an internationally recognized leader in materials simulations at extreme conditions.”
Professor Wentzcovitch will officially receive the gold medal award at the 29th AIRAPT Meeting in Matsuyama, Japan. As part of the honor, she will also deliver the Bridgman Lecture, named after Nobel laureate Percy W. Bridgman, a pioneer in high-pressure physics.
This milestone recognizes a stellar scientific career and marks a historic moment for representation in high-pressure science.
Link to news on APAM: Wentzcovitch Makes History as First Woman to Receive Bridgman Award.
