AsianScientist (Jun. 2, 2015) – The 2015 Shaw Prizes have been awarded to researchers working on the Kepler mission, quorum sensing and number theory. An international award managed and administered by The Shaw Prize Foundation based in Hong Kong, the Shaw Prize is widely regarded as the ‘Asian Nobel Prize’, bearing a monetary award of US$1 million for each category.
The Shaw Prize in Astronomy is awarded to Mr. William J Borucki, principal investigator for the Kepler mission, Ames Research Center, NASA. The prize recognizes Borucki’s contributions in conceiving and leading the Kepler mission, which greatly advanced the knowledge of both extrasolar planetary systems and stellar interiors.
The Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine is awarded in equal shares to two scientists this year: Professor Bonnie L. Bassler, Squibb professor and chair, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University and Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Professor Everett Peter Greenberg, professor of Microbiology, University of Washington. Bassler and Greenberg have been recognized for their discovery of quorum sensing, a process whereby bacteria communicate with each other and which offers innovative ways to interfere with bacterial pathogens or to modulate the microbiome for health applications.
The Shaw Prize in Mathematical Sciences is awarded in equal shares to Professor Gerd Faltings, managing director, Max Planck Institute for Mathematics and to Professor Henryk Iwaniec, New Jersey professor of Mathematics, Rutgers University. Both are recognized for their introduction and development of fundamental tools in number theory, allowing them as well as others to resolve some longstanding classical problems.
This will be the twelfth year that the Prize has been awarded and the presentation ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, 24 September 2015. Established under the auspices of Mr. Shaw Run Run, the Prize honors individuals, regardless of race, nationality, gender and religious belief, who have achieved significant breakthrough in academic and scientific research or applications and whose work has resulted in a positive and profound impact on mankind.
———
Source: The Shaw Prize.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.