The Kavli Prize

The Kavli Prize is a partnership between The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, The Kavli Foundation (US) and The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.

The Kavli Prize is awarded every second year by The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters at a Ceremony in Oslo, Norway. The prize was awarded for the first time September 9, 2008.

The Prize was established to:

• Recognise outstanding scientific research
• Honour highly creative scientists
• Promote public understanding of scientists and their work
• Foster international cooperation among scientists

Each Kavli Prize consists of USD 1,000,000, a scroll and a gold medal for each scientific field.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The scientific fields

The Kavli Prize emphasise the science of the greatest physical dimensions of space and time, the science of the smallest dimensions of systems of atoms and molecules, and the science of the most complex systems, especially living organisms.

The Kavli Prize in Astrophysics
Is awarded for outstanding achievement in advancing our knowledge and understanding of the origin, evolution and properties of the universe, including the felds of cosmology, astrophysics, astronomy, planetary science, solar physics, space science, astrobiology, astronomical and astrophysical instrumentation, and particle astrophysics.

The Kavli Prize in Nanoscience
Is awarded for outstanding achievement in the science and application of the unique physical, chemical and biological properties of atomic, molecular, macromo-lecular and cellular structures and systems that are manifest in the nanometre scale, including molecular self-assembly, nanomaterials, nanoscale instrumenta-tion, nanobiotechnology, macromolecular synthesis, molecular mechanics and related topics.

The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience
Is awarded for outstanding achievement in advancing our knowledge and understanding of the brain and nervous system, including molecular neuroscience, cellular neuroscience, systems neuroscience, neu-rogenetics, developmental neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience and related facets of the brain and nervous system.

 

The Kavli Prize Laureates 2008

Astrophysics
Maarten Schmidt, California Institute of  Technology, US 
Donald Lynden-Bell, Cambridge University,UK

for their seminal contributions to understanding the nature of quasars.

Nanoscience
Louis Brus, Columbia University,US
Sumio Iijima,Meijo University, Japan

for their large impact in the development of the nanoscience field of the zero and one dimensional nanostructures in physics, chemistry and biology.

Neuroscience
Sten Grillner, Karolinska Institute, Sweden 
Thomas M. Jessell, Columbia University, US 
Pasko Rakic, Yale University, US

for discoveries on the developmental and functional logic of neuronal circuits.

 

Selection of the Kavli Laureates

Nominations will be reviewed by committees of leading international scientists appointed by The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, based on recommendations by:

• The Chinese Academy of Sciences
• The French Academy of Sciences
• The Max Planck Society (Germany)
• The National Academy of Sciences (US)
• The Royal Society (UK)

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters administers the selection process and announces the prize winners.

The Kavli Prize Committees review and recommend the prize winners on basis of the nomination process.

Call for Nominations 2010

The Call for Nominations for the 2010 Kavli Prize was open September 1 - December 15, 2009.

Click here for details about the 2010 program

Nominations for the Kavli Prize should be submitted to The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters using a nomination form obtained from the Kavli Prize website.

The Kavli Prize will be awarded at a Ceremony in Oslo, Norway in September 2010.
The Kavli Prize Week includes the Kavli Prize Lectures, a symposium in each field, a Banquet hosted by the Norwegian Government and other activities.

Contact information

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters:

Phone: +47 22 12 10 90

Fax: +47 22 12 10 99

E-mail: kavliprize@dnva.no