Kavli Prize-presentation at the Science Museum in London

Fred Kavli made a point of that in his speech:  –  It’s a great pleasure to join you here - particularly in such a magnificent room. It reminds me of the remarkable human journey through new technology - new discoveries and new developments at an ever-accelerating pace, and it made me think about my own career in operating my own business. Before establishing the Kavli Foundation, I created and ran a company dedicated to developing and manufacturing sensors for aerospace, automotive and industrial applications, so the planes and automobiles are sound reminders of my past journey through the business world.

Fred Kavli and Reidun Sirevåg outside the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. (Photo: Ståle Skogstad)

 When Fred Kavli sold his company in 2000, he was able to fulfill a lifelong dream - to do something that would be of benefit to humanity. He established The Kavli Foundation to support basic science in physics, nanoscience and neuroscience. The Kavli Foundation has to date established 15 research institutes at leading academic and research institutions worldwide.

The Kavli Prize, established in 2005, is a partnership between the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the Kavli Foundation and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The Kavli Prize in astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience was awarded for the first time in 2008. Each Kavli Prize consists of USD 1,000,000,  a scroll and a gold medal for each scientific field.

Reidun Sirevåg, the Secretary General of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, stressed that for Norway and especially for the Academy this has been extremely important.  – The Kavli Prize has given Norway and the Academy more visibility in the society in general, and increased the significance of the Academy within the scientific community.

The Call for Nominations for the 2010 Kavli Prize will be open from September 1 – December 15, 2009.  The names of the prize winners will be announced in June 2010. The award ceremony will take place in Oslo on the 7th of Septemer 2010.

6th World Conference of Science Journalists in London, 29 June – 2 July, 2009

@ Science Museum, Making the Modern World Gallery