Important Facts For Prelims
Kavli Prize
- 18 Jun 2024
- 3 min read
Why in News?
Recently, eight scientists were awarded with 2024 Kavli Prize for their contributions to astrophysics, neuroscience, and nanoscience.
- All eight scientists awarded the Prize this year are professors at leading American universities.
Kavli Medal
- The Kavli Medal, distinct from the Kavli Prize, is awarded annually for excellence in environmental science and engineering.
- It is open to UK, Commonwealth, or Irish Republic citizens or residents with at least three years of residency.
- The award targets early career scientists within 15 years of their PhD, excluding career breaks.
- Recipients are chosen by the Royal Society Council based on recommendations from the Joint Physical and Biological Sciences Awards Committee. Nominations remain valid for five years, after which candidates must wait a year before being re-nominated.
What is the Kavli Prize?
- About:
- The Kavli Prize is an international award that recognizes scientists for their outstanding achievements in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience.
- This prize, awarded biennially, was started in 2008. It is named after Norwegian-American businessman and philanthropist Fred Kavli.
- Awarded by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in partnership with the Kavli Foundation and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.
- Comparison with Nobel Prize:
- The Kavli Prize is similar to the Nobel in the fields of astrophysics, neuroscience, and nanoscience.
- The key difference is that the Nobel Prize is awarded for achievements made "during the preceding year," while the Kavli Prize recognises achievements without the restriction of being made in the preceding year.
- Winners 2024:
Field | Winners | Contribution |
Astrophysics | David Charbonneau of Harvard University, and Sara Seager, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. |
thermal infrared emissions, crucial for identifying molecular fingerprints in planetary atmospheres |
Nanoscience | Robert Langer of MIT, Armand Paul Alivisatos of the University of Chicago, and Chad Mirkin of Northwestern University |
|
Neuroscience | Nancy Kanwisher (MIT), Winrich Freiwald (Rockefeller University), Doris Tsao (University of California, Berkeley) |
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