On Tropentag 2012, three young scientists are each awarded 10 000 Euro for their excellent doctoral dissertation directly applicable to the enhancement of food security and poverty reduction. The Joseph G. Knoll European Science Award 2012 is funded by the Fiat Panis Foundation. Infos on the theses With her thesis on “Implementation and Optimization of the Doubled Haploid Technology for Tropical Maize Breeding Programs”, Dr. Vanessa Prigge helped to exploit maize genetics more effectively, by increasing production rates and reducing breeding times. Concerned with the “Operational Poverty Targeting by Proxy Means Tests Models and Policy Simulations for Malawi”, Dr. Nazaire Houssou investigated how to reduce poverty by more effective targeting and avoiding inefficiencies by leaking money to the non- poor. In her thesis, “Determinants and Impacts of Smallholder Collective Action in Kenya”, on the micro level, Dr. Elisabeth Fischer identified under which conditions farmers join smallholder collectives and assessed impacts on the role of women and food security. Selection criteria