EDINBURGH University scientist Catherine Heymans has been named as the first winner of the new Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award worth £1.33 million overall including a personal prize of £71,000.

The award is financed by funds from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research and is awarded jointly by the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Astrophysicist Heymans from the Institute of Astronomy at Edinburgh has been researching Dark Energy for many years. Nearly three quarters of the universe is thought to be made up of this mysterious entity, which causes the universe to expand at an ever-increasing rate.

Like Dark Matter – which comprises about one quarter of the universe – an understanding of the origin of Dark Energy remains elusive. The jury highlighted that Heymans has greatly advanced this field.

According to the organisers, the award scheme focuses on individuals whose work is characterised by outstanding future potential. The award helps to attract innovative scientists working abroad to a German university or research facility for a limited stay.

Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek said: “Basic research is an investment into our future, carrying forward the science of tomorrow. It enriches our society in many ways. It increases our knowledge and is the seed for ideas and innovations of the future.

“If top scientists like Catherine Heymans help us understand the universe, they are also creating a basis for future technologies. Germany is one of the innovation leaders today, precisely because it is strong in basic research.

“We must maintain this strength. That’s why we’re delighted when we can attract outstanding scientists like Catherine Heymans to Germany as a hub of research.”

In addition to Heymans, honours also went to the mathematician Sam Payne and the robotics expert Robert Wood, who received the Max Planck-Humboldt Research Medal and prize money of €60,000 each. The awards will be formally presented in Berlin on November 7.

It is a massive coup for the astrophysicist who is the author of the book The Dark Universe and co-author of more than 140 scientific publications.

By observing far distant celestial objects, Heymans wants to find out whether Einstein’s theory of gravitation has to be expanded in order to explain certain phenomena.

Heymans said: “In order to understand this dark secret, we may well need a new kind of physics which will forever change our view of the cosmos.

“I am looking forward to a much closer cooperation with my colleagues at the University of Bonn and other institutions in Germany thanks to the Max Planck- Humboldt Research Award.”

The scientist will use the prize money to set up a team at the Argelander-Institute for Astronomy (AlfA) in Bonn. Peter Schneider from the AlfA nominated the researcher for the 2018 award.

He said: “We have worked together with Catherine Heymans very successfully for many years now. We will put the award to the best possible use.”