Professor Anssi Paasi receives the most prestigious international prize in geography, the Prix Vautrin Lud
The Prix Vautrin Lud recognizes a researcher who has made a particularly significant contribution to geographical thought and the development of discipline. The prize is named after the French geographer Vautrin Lud (1448–1527). Lud is known for helping to create one of the first printed world maps (Universalis Cosmographia, 1507) to use the name "America" – a map that helped to spread the name worldwide.
Due to the rigorous selection process, which resembles the Nobel model, and the international prestige of the prize, and its global nature, the Prix Vautrin Lud is sometimes referred to in the field as the "Nobel of Geography". The prize is presented in October at the Festival International de Géographie in Vautrin Lud's hometown of Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France.
The Prix Vautrin Lud has been awarded to 36 geographers to date. Professor Paasi is the first Finnish recipient of the prize. Only one Nordic geographer has received it before. Swedish Professor Torsten Hägerstrand (1916–1994) received the prize in 1992 together with American geographer, Gilbert F. White.
The prize is global and is awarded annually to one living geographer by an independent international jury of experts from five different countries. The jury listens to the opinions of more than 300 leading experts (grands électeurs) selected on the basis of scientific competence and editorial merit. Each of them proposes two candidates for the jury to consider. At least one of the candidates must be from a region other than their own. The jury selects the final laureate on the basis of these proposals.
Professor Paasi has previously received another of the most prestigious international geography awards, the Vega Medal, in 2021. The recipient of the award, which is granted every three years, is selected by the Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography, and the Society's patron, the King of Sweden, presents the award.