Inaugural nine recipients of the Prize receive US$27 million in aggregate, all of whom agree to form a Selection Committee to award future prizes
The Milner Foundation announces today the launch of the Fundamental Physics Prize Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation ("Foundation") dedicated to advancing our knowledge of the Universe at the deepest level by awarding annual prizes for scientific breakthroughs, as well as communicating the excitement of fundamental physics to the public.
Two categories of prizes will be awarded for past achievements in the field of fundamental physics, with the aim of providing the recipients with more freedom and opportunity to pursue even greater future accomplishments. The Fundamental Physics Prize recognizes transformative advances in the field, while the New Horizons in Physics Prizes are targeted at promising junior researchers.
All prize recipients are invited to present public talks targeted at a broad audience, on subjects ranging from the basics of modern physics to cutting-edge research. These lectures, together with supporting materials, will be made available to the public, allowing them to keep abreast of the latest developments in fundamental physics, guided by contemporary masters of the field.
In its inaugural year, the Milner Foundation has awarded nine Fundamental Physics Prizes and the recipients are:
Nima Arkani-Hamed
Alan Guth
Alexei Kitaev
Maxim Kontsevich
Andrei Linde
Juan Maldacena
Nathan Seiberg
Ashoke Sen
Edward Witten
All the recipients have agreed to serve on the Selection Committee of the Foundation to select recipients of future prizes.
The Foundation announces also that Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize in Physics laureate, has agreed to join its Board of Directors. Mr. Weinberg did not participate in the process of selecting prize recipients.
Yuri Milner commented:
"I am delighted to announce the launch of the Fundamental Physics Prize and welcome its first recipients. I hope the new prize will bring long overdue recognition to the greatest minds working in the field of fundamental physics, and if this helps encourage young people to be inspired by science, I will be deeply gratified."
About the Prize
(1) PRINCIPLE
The prizes are given annually by the Foundation for accomplishments in fundamental physics broadly defined, including advances in closely related fields with deep connections to physics
(2) PRIZES
Fundamental Physics Prize - US$3,000,000
New Horizons in Physics Prize - US$100,000
(3) GUIDELINES
Should recognize major achievements, with special attention to recent developments
No age restrictions
Can be shared by any number of people
Can be received more than once
(4) NOMINATION
Anyone can nominate a candidate online
All submissions must be completed by a third party
(5) SELECTION COMMITTEE
Past recipients of the Fundamental Physics Prize are invited to serve on the Selection Committee to select recipients of future prizes
(6) SPECIAL PRIZE
In exceptional cases a special Fundamental Physics Prize can be awarded at any time, forgoing the nomination process
Information on the Fundamental Physics Prize is available at: http://www.fundamentalphysicsprize.org
About Yuri Milner
The Milner Foundation, established by Internet investor Yuri Milner, is dedicated to science and technology causes. Yuri graduated from Moscow State University in 1985 with an advanced degree in theoretical physics and subsequently conducted research at the Institute of Physics in the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Media Contact
Leonid Solovyev
solovyev@fundamentalphysicsprize.org
+44(0)7590-976-334
Source: Milner Foundation
Editor: PR Wire
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