Lars Ragnar Nerelius and Per-Anders Träff have been awarded the Chalmers Medal for their efforts in founding and developing the engineering competition “Save the Egg”, which has been held at Chalmers since 2002 to inspire interest in technology and science among fifth graders.
The medallists are Chalmers alumni with degrees in Mechanical Engineering. The idea for the competition arose when both had children of primary school age and were looking for a way to encourage youngsters to learn more—and hopefully later pursue higher education in the field.
The competition involves over 2,000 primary school pupils and their teachers visiting the Chalmers campus each year to compete with a construction designed to allow an egg to be dropped from a height of 15 metres without breaking upon impact. The event also includes an experimental exhibition, and the participants are hosted by volunteer students and alumni.
Since 2015, the winners of the competition have been presented with prizes by a visiting Nobel laureate.
The Chalmers Medal was established in 1948 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of William Chalmers’ birth. It is awarded to individuals who, through dedication and valuable contributions, have promoted the university’s work and development and have thereby done something extraordinary for Chalmers. The medallists are selected by the Chalmers University Board based on nominations from the President. The medals to Lars Ragnar Nerelius and Per-Anders Träff will be presented at Chalmers’ Annual Ceremony in November 2025.