July 4, 2014: Her study on energy demand and GHG emissions from HTC biocoal was awarded as best MSc thesis 2013.

Helena Ponstein was awarded the Albrecht Daniel Thaer Award of the Humboldt University in Berlin. Her study on "Greenhouse gas emissions and primary energy demand of bioenergy from biocoal through hydrothermal carbonization of green waste" was honoured as the best master thesis in 2013. She had worked on her thesis at the ATB under supervision of Prof. Dr. Annette Prochnow and Dr. Philipp Grundmann. The award ceremony took place in Berlin as part of the annual celebration of the Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences in Berlin. 

Helena Ponstein will continue to address the topic energy and greenhouse gas emissions and potential carbon sinks in agriculture as part of her doctorate. She will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Annette Prochnow.  

The Albrecht Daniel Thaer Award is dedicated to the promotion of young scientists in the field of agriculture, horticulture and fisheries sciences. The prize is awarded since 1996 for outstanding academic degrees (bachelor, master and diploma) and doctorate achievements by graduates of the agriculture and horticulture sciences  of the Humboldt University of Berlin.