The 2026 Shaw Prize Ceremony Celebrates Global Scientific Advancements

On November 10, 2026, the Shaw Prize held its prestigious award ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, celebrating its 23rd annual recognition of remarkable scientific contributions across the globe. This year, the awards were distributed to seven distinguished recipients across the disciplines of Astronomy, Life Sciences, Medicine, and Mathematics.

During the ceremony, five awardees were present to receive their gold medals and certificates from Professor Reinhard Genzel, the chair of the prize committee. Two of the astronomy honorees, Professors Ken'ichi Nomoto and Stanford Woosley, shared recorded messages reflecting on their research on supernovae and the pivotal role of international collaboration in advancing their work. Nomoto emphasized the necessity of cross-border cooperation, while Woosley discussed how they transformed qualitative theories into precise models capable of making predictive statements, acknowledging the contributions of his mentors and collaborators.

The theme of collaboration resonated strongly throughout the discussions from recipients in Life Sciences and Medicine, especially regarding advancements in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Professor Anne Dejean stressed the importance of ongoing dialogue between basic research and clinical practice, highlighting decades of fruitful scientific exchange between France and China. This collaboration was exemplified by Professor Hugues de Thé’s report on over 30 years of partnership with Professor Zhu Chen, built on mutual respect and continuity. Chen described their journey as one of East meeting West, underlining the collective wisdom driving medical progress and pledging to strengthen their international partnership in combating other forms of blood cancers.

In the domain of Mathematical Sciences, the awardees discussed the evolving role and influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Professor Emmanuel Candès spoke about how research questions extending beyond traditional mathematics have inspired his efforts to make AI more powerful and secure. Meanwhile, Professor Camillo De Lellis urged young mathematicians to harness AI as a tool for unlocking human creativity rather than as a replacement. This forward-thinking approach aligns with the recently announced Shaw Prize in Computer Science, which aims to recognize the profound intellectual depth of the field alongside its transformative contributions to scientific discovery and society at large. Professor Kenneth Young, chair of the Shaw Prize Council, stated, “This reaffirms the prize’s commitment to honoring brilliant achievements as science continues to evolve and flourish.”

Nominations for all four prizes are open until November 30, with the 2027 laureates, including the inaugural computer science prize winner, set to be announced in May or June of 2027.

About the Shaw Prize
Established in 2002 under the patronage of Mr. Run Run Shaw and awarded for the first time in 2004, the Shaw Prize honors individuals whose work has made a profound and positive impact on humanity. Beginning in 2027, the Shaw Prize will consist of four annual awards in Astronomy, Computer Science, Life Sciences and Medicine, and Mathematics, each endowed with a prize of $1.2 million. This year marks the 23rd iteration of the awards, and they continue to celebrate groundbreaking achievements in various fields of science and technology.

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