#Hong Kong #Shaw Prize #Ken'ichi Nomoto #Anne Dejean

The Shaw Prize 2026: Celebrating Excellence in Science

On May 27, 2026, the Shaw Prize Foundation held a press conference in Hong Kong to announce the recipients of the prestigious Shaw Prize for the year 2026. This distinguished award honors remarkable contributions in the fields of Astronomy, Life Sciences and Medicine, and Mathematics. The ceremony signifies an important acknowledgment of the endeavors of scientists working towards the advancement of human knowledge and health.

Winners of the Shaw Prize in Astronomy

The Shaw Prize in Astronomy has been awarded jointly to Ken'ichi Nomoto and Stanford Woosley, both of whom are immensely respected in their respective fields. Ken'ichi Nomoto serves as an Emeritus Professor and Senior Visiting Scientist at the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe at the University of Tokyo in Japan. Stanford Woosley holds a professorship in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, USA. They received this honor for their groundbreaking research on stellar explosions and the origins of elements, offering deep insights into the universe's structure and evolution.

Recognizing Contributions in Life Sciences and Medicine

In the realm of Life Sciences and Medicine, Anne Dejean, Hugues de Thé, and Zhu Chen have been recognized for their significant work on acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Anne Dejean, an Emeritus Professor at the Institut Pasteur in France, has dedicated her career to understanding the intricacies of cancer biology. Hugues de Thé, a Professor at Collège de France, and Zhu Chen, a Professor at Ruijin Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, have pioneered a collaborative approach that led to the identification of molecular and cellular underpinnings of APL. Their groundbreaking findings have transitioned APL from one of the deadliest cancers to one of the most treatable forms of the disease. Their innovations represent a transformative shift in cancer therapy, showcasing the importance of targeted and synergistic treatment modalities.

Achievements in Mathematics

This year’s Shaw Prize in Mathematics was awarded to Emmanuel Candès and Camillo De Lellis for their ingenious contributions that have greatly influenced various mathematical disciplines. Emmanuel Candès, who holds the Barnum-Simons Chair in Mathematics and Statistics at Stanford University, focuses on advanced techniques in mathematical analysis to approach real-world problems in information theory, signal processing, and statistics. Meanwhile, Camillo De Lellis is a Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, USA, known for his work on geometric measure theory and fluid dynamics. Their innovative approaches and methodologies are significant in pushing the boundaries of mathematics and its applications in and beyond academia.

Ceremony and Future Scope

The Shaw Prize has been celebrating exceptional talent since 2004, awarding prizes annually in these categories, with each award valued at 1.2 million USD. This marks the 23rd year of the Shaw Prize, and the details regarding the ceremony date for this year’s award presentation will be disclosed shortly. The Shaw Prize Foundation is also excited to announce that a new Computer Science category will be added, with awards beginning in 2027.

For more information, you can visit Shaw Prize Website.

This year’s Shaw Prize winners embody the vision of inspiring and rewarding excellence in scientific research, affirming that the pursuit of knowledge is paramount for humanity’s advancement.