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Second Annual Kyoto Laureate Symposium to Highlight International Achievements in Technology, Science, and the Arts Laureates of the esteemed Kyoto Prize will explore the balance of social impact and advancements in science, technology and the arts SAN DIEGO — March 03, 2003 — The Inamori Foundation and the University of San Diego will bring together the laureates of the 2002 Kyoto Prize for a symposium at the university's Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, March 5-7, 2003. Recognized among the world's leading awards for lifetime achievement, the Kyoto Prize is presented annually by the non-profit Inamori Foundation of Japan to recognize those who have contributed significantly to the scientific, cultural, and spiritual development of mankind. The second annual Kyoto Laureate Symposium will feature presentations by the laureates, responses by scholars in each laureate's field, and a panel discussion relating the laureates' work to the improvement of society. Laureates Dr. Leroy Edward Hood, Mikhael Leonidovich Gromov, and Tadao Ando and will provide a rare glimpse into some of the most remarkable advancements of our time in the areas of biotechnology, mathematics, and architecture. "The Inamori Foundation has always strived to recognize those whose intellectual contributions are not only progressive, but also contribute to society," said Dr. Kazuo Inamori, founder of the Inamori Foundation and chairman emeritus of Kyocera Corporation. "We as citizens need to recognize the positive and negative impacts our contributions have on civilization. It is the aspiration of the Inamori Foundation and the Kyoto Prize to refocus and inspire society to observe the balance between scientific development and its impact on humanity." "The role of universities has always been to provide a forum for thoughtful dialogue and innovation," said Dr. Alice Hayes, University of San Diego president. "The Kyoto Laureate Symposium provides us with the unique opportunity to showcase the role that social responsibility must have in intellectual advancements in any field. The University of San Diego is proud to serve as host to such a crucial discussion." Inamori established his foundation in 1984 with a personal donation of 20 billion yen; his subsequent donations have raised the Foundation's net assets to approximately 64.5 billion yen (about $540 million) as of March 31, 2002. He created the Kyoto Prize after consultation with the Nobel Foundation of Sweden, which sent representatives to Japan in 1985 to accept the first Kyoto Prize as a special commemorative award. Since then, the Kyoto Prize has been presented annually in the categories of Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences, and Arts and Philosophy. As of January 2003, the Kyoto Prize has been awarded to 60 laureates from 12 countries - ranging from scientists, engineers and researchers to architects, sculptors, and film directors. Laureates receive a diploma, a Kyoto Prize medal, and a cash award of 50 million yen (approximately $420,000) per prize category. The United States has produced the most recipients, with 25 laureates, followed by the United Kingdom (nine), France (seven) and Japan (seven). Symposium Participants: Advanced Technology The 2002 Kyoto Prize laureate in Advanced Technology is Dr. Leroy Hood of the United States. His development of automated instruments for the determination of protein and DNA sequences and their synthesis played a major role in the mapping of the human genome. The analysis of the amino acid sequences that determine the characteristics of each protein is essential to molecular biology. In 1980, Dr. Hood developed an automatic peptide sequencer that was 100 times more sensitive than previous instruments, dramatically reducing the time required for amino acid sequencing. The arrangement of each sequence of amino acids forms the genetic code in DNA, which can be called the blueprint of life, and Dr. Hood has also been greatly responsible for progress in research on DNA. He unveiled his automated peptide and DNA synthesizers in 1984, and the world's first automated fluorescence DNA sequencer in 1986, the latter of which served as the precursor to the capillary DNA sequencers of today. These inventions by Dr. Hood have played a crucial role in the advancement of the life sciences, in particular contributing to the rapid mapping of the human genome, a process that had been predicted to take up to 100 years to complete. Basic Sciences The 2002 Kyoto Prize laureate in Basic Sciences is Mikhael Gromov of France. His introduction of a metric structure for families of various geometrical objects led to the dramatic development of geometry and many other fields of mathematics. Professor Gromov's contributions have completely toppled traditional approaches to geometry. While geometers before him studied the individual properties of each space, Professor Gromov proposed the innovative idea of deepening the understanding of each space by comparing such factors as like (close) or unlike (far) distances over a set of spaces. His achievements continue to develop in various directions beyond geometry, finding applications in such fields as analysis and algebra. In addition to his establishment of an entirely new geometry, Professor Gromov has had an immeasurable impact on all of the mathematical sciences. Arts and Philosophy The 2002 Kyoto Prize for Arts and Philosophy is Tadao Ando, a Japanese architect and professor at the Univerity of Tokyo. A world-renowned innovator, Professor Ando has pioneered original forms of modern architecture that forge new visions of a balance with nature. Entirely self-taught, Professor Ando first attracted broad attention with his Row House at Sumiyoshi, a project that won the Architectural Institute of Japan's annual prize for 1979, in which he reinterpreted a traditional Japanese row house in contemporary terms. Subsequent works feature dramatic, unadorned reinforced-concrete walls in a unique style that achieves a fusion of his buildings with nature. Professor Ando has pushed the possibilities of modern architecture to their limits while bringing new stimulation to architectural expression. The superior artistic quality of his works, which maintain a modernist signature while continuing the Japanese architectural tradition of attention to nature, has won global acclaim. In keeping with his conviction that architecture is a social enterprise, Professor Ando has also been actively involved in various projects that contribute to social causes, including reconstruction efforts in the wake of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and his work with the Setouchi Olive Foundation, dedicated to the restoration of Teshima Island, the natural environment of which has been ravaged by industrial waste. In addition, Ando submitted designs for the rebuilding of the World Trade Center in New York. About the Inamori Foundation The Inamori Foundation and the Kyoto Prize reflect Dr. Inamori's belief that human beings have no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of humankind and all the world - and that mankind's future can be assured only when there is a balance between scientific development and the enrichment of the human spirit. It is characteristic of the Kyoto Prize that it is presented in appreciation not only of outstanding human achievements but also of the spirit that motivated each laureate's contributions to mankind. About the University of San Diego Chartered in 1949, USD enrolls more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students who choose from more than 60 degree programs. The academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, School of Education, School of Law, and the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science. USD is best known for its commitment to teaching, the liberal arts, the formation of values, and community service. # # #
Contact:Jay Scovie, North American Media Liaison The Inamori Foundation Phone: 1-(858) 576-2674 e-mail: jay.scovie@kyocera.com Erin Cecil, Fleishman-Hillard for Kyoto Symposium Phone: 1-(619) 237-7741 e-mail: cecile@fleishman.com [ back to top ] [ back to press releases ] |
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