Recognition for Masaru Shibata

The director of the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute, AEI) in Potsdam Science Park, has been selected by Der Tagesspiegel newspaper as one of the 100 most important scientific minds in the capital in 2025.

The editorial team at Der Tagesspiegel has once again identified 100 individuals who have made a significant impact on the Berlin-Brandenburg science region. Selection criteria included outstanding research or a special commitment to teaching.

“I am very pleased about this recognition of my research,” says Shibata, who leads the Computational Relativistic Astrophysics Department at the AEI. “My team and I have made significant progress in recent years in our understanding of highly energetic processes in the universe. An important breakthrough was the longest consistent numerical-relativistic simulation of merging neutron stars to date.”
Merging neutron stars are excellent targets for multi-messenger astronomy as they emit gravitational waves, neutrinos and radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Masaru Shibata and his team's research brings together predictions of gravitational waves, electromagnetic signals, and neutrino emissions to create a coherent picture.

Starting on 29 September 2025, the Tagesspiegel newspaper will present the '100 Heads of Capital City Science 2025' in a major science special. While researching for this special edition, the editorial team was particularly impressed by Masaru Shibata's work.