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The Shaw Prize 2026: A Celebration of Scientific Excellence

On November 10, 2026, the prestigious Shaw Prize held its annual award ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, marking its 23rd year of recognizing outstanding achievements in scientific fields. This year, the awards were presented to seven accomplished individuals, highlighting significant advancements in Astronomy, Life Sciences and Medicine, and Mathematical Sciences.

During the ceremony, five awardees were present to receive gold medals and diplomas from Professor Reinhard Genzel, chair of the jury. Notably, Professors Ken'ichi Nomoto and Stanford Woosley, recognized for their contributions to Astronomy, shared their thoughts via recorded messages. Nomoto reflected on his research on supernovae and emphasized the importance of international collaboration in scientific endeavors. Meanwhile, Woosley detailed how they transformed qualitative theories into accurate models capable of making predictions, and he expressed gratitude towards his mentors and collaborators.

In the realm of Life Sciences and Medicine, the winners also focused on the essential nature of collaboration in their breakthroughs concerning acute promyelocytic leukemia. Professor Anne Dejean underscored the continuous dialogue between basic research and clinical practice, which has been fostered through decades of scientific exchange between France and China. This spirit of international cooperation was exemplified in Professor Hugues de Thé's account of his 30-year interaction with Professor Zhu Chen, highlighting a relationship built on mutual respect, trust, and sustained dialogue. Chen illustrated their shared success as a narrative where 'East meets West,' and he committed to enhancing international collaboration in the fight against other hematological cancers.

The awardees in Mathematical Sciences discussed the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) within their field. Professor Emmanuel Candès described how non-mathematical questions have inspired his research, including his current initiatives to make AI more powerful and secure. On the other hand, Professor Camillo De Lellis encouraged young mathematicians to embrace AI as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, human creativity.

This forward-looking vision is reflected in the newly announced Shaw Prize in Computing, which was introduced in January. This award aims to acknowledge the intellectual depth of the computing field and its transformative contributions to scientific discovery and society. Professor Kenneth Young, chair of the Shaw Prize Council, reiterated the commitment of the Shaw Prize to honor exceptional achievements as science continues to evolve and expand.

Applications for the four award categories will remain open until November 30. The awardees for 2027, including the first recipient(s) of the Shaw Prize in Computing, will be announced in May or June 2027.

About the Shaw Prize

Established under the auspices of Run Run Shaw in 2002, the Shaw Prize was first awarded in 2004 with the mission to honor individuals whose work has made a significant and positive impact on humanity. Starting in 2027, the Shaw Prize will comprise four annual awards in the categories of Astronomy, Computing, Life Sciences and Medicine, and Mathematical Sciences, each carrying a cash award of $1.2 million. This marks the 23rd year of the prize's commendation.

For professional accuracy, please refer to the original English version.