The Kavli Prizes awarded for the first time
The Kavli Prizes were awarded for the first time in Oslo today, 9 September. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon Magnus led the presentation of the international research prizes to seven of the world’s most prominent scientists in astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. The prize award in each of the scientific areas carries a cash award of 1 million American dollars, donated by Fred Kavli. Each of of laureates also received a gold medal and a scroll.
The Kavli Prize was established as a joint venture between the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, The Kavli Foundation and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The Minister of Research Tora Aasland commented at the press conference that the laureates come from three different continents, which emphasises the international nature of research. She rejoiced that one of the laureates was a Scandinavian, namely Sten Grillner of the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.
The Kavli Prizes are awarded every second year, starting i 2008. Their founder is the Norwegian-American businessman and philanthropist Fred Kavli, who was himself present during the ceremony in Oslo Concert Hall.
Fred Kavli at the award ceremony in Oslo. (Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen/Scanpix)
“We are here today to honor and celebrate our scientists – our prize winners – for their work and their contribution to humanity’s splendid journey,” said Fred Kavli, founder of The Kavli Foundation and Kavli Prizes. “Let these prizes be a token of thanks and gratitude for moving us along the path of greater understanding of the human being, nature, and the universe”, said Fred Kavli in his speech during the ceremony. He explained that he had decided to create his own research foundation, the Kavli Foundation, in 2000 because he wanted to make a contribution to positive human development via scientific research, and in order to create greater public understanding of the importance of research.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon Magnus presented the prizes, which consist of one million American dollars in each category, a gold medal and a diploma, to the prize winners.
Maarten Schmidt, California Institute of Technology and Donald Lynden-Bell, Cambridge University, receive the first Kavli Prize in astrophysics from H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon Magnus. (Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen/Scanpix)
Louis E. Brus, Columbia University, USA, and Sumio Iijima, Meijo University, Japan, receive the first Kavli Prize in nanoscience from H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon Magnus. (Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen) 
Pasko Rakic, Yale University, USA, Thomas Jessell, Columbia University, USA, and Sten Grillner, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden receive the first Kavli Prize in neuroscience from H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon Magnus. (Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen/Scanpix)
A tribute to science
The Master of Ceremonies was the Norwegian artist and former Minister of Culture Åse Kleveland, and the awards were accompanied by an extensive artistic programme. Frode Thingnæs had composed a fanfare for the occasion, “The Kavli Prize Opening”, performed by the Kampen Janitsjar marching band. The Oslo Camerata orchestra tied the musical offerings together, with solo performances from violinists Catharina and Sara Cheng and trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth.
The day concluded with the government’s banquet in Oslo City Hall. On Wednesday 10 September the prizewinners will deliver lectures about the scientific work that won them their prizes. This will take place at the University of Oslo, the University of Stavanger and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. In connection with the Kavli Prizes, Vitenfabrikken (the Science Factory) in Sandnes, near Stavanger, and the NTNU have created comprehensive programmes of lectures and popular-science presentations. In Rogaland the programme will continue Thursday 11 September, while that in Trondheim will not end until Friday 12. September.
Video from the Kavli Prize Ceremony 2008
The Kavli Prize Ceremony was broadcast LIVE on the WEB on 9 September beginning at 14:00 in Oslo (GMT + 1) or 8:00 a.m. in New York.
A short video news story about the Kavli Prize Ceremony was made available for download a few hours after the event concluded. This news segment was also formatted for traditional television. Raw video footage can be provided upon request. This high-quality Webcast may be viewed at our video page and is offered in cooperation with Smartcom.
