06 October 2026
At an award ceremony in Copenhagen, the 2026 laureates took the stage to share the insights and research behind their award-winning work.
Daylight Research
Brittany N. Zepernick, recipient of The Daylight Award 2026 in Research, presented her laureate lecture on the role of daylight-driven processes in aquatic ecosystems. Recognized alongside Steven W. Wilhelm (US/CA) and R. Michael McKay (CA), Zepernick was honored for pioneering research on aquatic microorganisms in the Great Lakes. Their work significantly advances our understanding of the complex relationships between microorganisms, sunlight, and broader ecosystem processes. In her lecture, Zepernick shared key insights into how daylight fundamentally influences life in aquatic environments.
Daylight in Architecture
Celebrated for their inspiring body of work exploring the relationships between people, buildings, cities, and everyday life, Atelier Bow-Wow develops architecture deeply rooted in observation, dialogue, and environmental context. In their lecture, founders Momoyo Kaijima and Yoshiharu Tsukamoto reflected on their architectural approach and explored the role of daylight in shaping spaces, human experiences, and community connections.
Together, these two lectures offer complementary perspectives on a shared theme: daylight as a fundamental condition of life that shapes both natural ecosystems and the human-built environment.