Four Scientists Receive Prestigious Shaw Prize Award
HONG KONG -- Four distinguished scientists were honored with the prestigious Shaw Prize award in different categories on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at a ceremony held in Hong Kong.
The Astronomy category of the prize was awarded to Shrinivas R Kulkarni, a renowned expert who is currently serving as the George Ellery Hale Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Science at the California Institute of Technology. Kulkarni's groundbreaking work has shed light on millisecond pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and other variable or transient astronomical objects.
Swee Lay Thein from the National Institutes of Health in the United States and Stuart Orkin from Harvard Medical School shared the Life Science and Medicine prize for their pioneering discovery of the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch, a breakthrough that has led to improved treatment options for millions of people worldwide.
Peter Sarnak, Eugene Higgins Professor of Mathematics at Princeton University, took home the Mathematical Sciences prize in recognition of his significant contributions to the field of arithmetic theory of thin groups and the affine sieve. Sarnak's work brings together number theory, analysis, combinatorics, dynamics, geometry, and spectral theory, solidifying a lasting impact on mathematical science.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), John Lee, praised the outstanding contributions of this year's laureates, acknowledging their profound insights and innovative work as shining beacons for scientific possibility. Lee further expressed his commitment to developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology center, mirroring the Shaw Prize Foundation's ambitions.
The Shaw Prize, a Hong Kong-based award established in 2002, is now in its 21st year, recognizing extraordinary achievements in science. With each prize carrying a cash award of $1.2 million (USD), the Shaw Prize honors outstanding efforts and promotes groundbreaking research.