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French Mathematician to Receive 2002 Kyoto Prize in "Basic Sciences" NYU Prof. Mikhael Leonidovich Gromov to be honored for lifelong contributions to geometry SAN DIEGO — June 21, 2002 — Professor Mikhael Leonidovich Gromov, a French mathematician, will receive the 2002 Kyoto Prize in "Basic Sciences" for his revolutionary contributions to the field of geometry, The Inamori Foundation announced today. Prof. Gromov is a professor both at the Institute des Hautes Études Scientifiques near Paris and at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. On November 10, Prof. Gromov and two other 2002 Kyoto Prize laureates will receive diplomas, Kyoto Prize gold medals, and cash gifts of 50 million yen -- approximately US$400,000 apiece -- during prize ceremonies in Kyoto, Japan. In addition, the three will convene in San Diego, Calif., March 5-7, 2003, for the second annual Kyoto Laureate Symposium at the University of San Diego. Considered among the world's leading awards for lifetime achievement, the Kyoto Prizes are presented annually by the non-profit Inamori Foundation to people worldwide who have made outstanding contributions to human progress in the categories of "Basic Sciences," "Advanced Technology," and "Arts &Philosophy." Basic Sciences The 2002 Kyoto Prize for Basic Sciences has been chosen from the field of mathematical sciences. Prof. Gromov will receive the award for completely toppling the traditional approaches to geometry. While mathematicians before him studied individual properties of space, Prof. Gromov proposed the innovative idea of considering the distance between spaces -- which he identified as "like" (close) or "unlike" (far) -- to create a deeper understanding by allowing spaces to be compared. Based on this idea, he has solved a great number of problems, particularly those concerning the relationships between the global structure of a space and its curvature, and the degree to which an object is bent locally. He has thereby achieved breakthroughs in modern geometry, and his achievements continue to be developed in new directions, including analysis and algebra. In addition to his establishment of an entirely new geometry, Prof. Gromov has therefore had an immeasurable impact on all of the mathematical sciences. Advanced Technology The 2002 Kyoto Prize for Advanced Technology has been chosen from the fields of biotechnology and medical technologies. Receiving the award will be American biologist Dr. Leroy Edward Hood of Seattle, Wash. Dr. Hood has played a crucial role in the advancement of life sciences through his development of automated instruments for the synthesis and determination of protein and DNA sequences. Dr. Hood's achievements include contributing to the successful mapping of the human genome during the 1990s, a process originally predicted to require up to 100 years to complete. Arts &Philosophy The 2002 Kyoto Prize for Arts &Philosophy has been chosen from the field of architecture. Receiving the prize will be Mr. Tadao Ando, a self-taught Japanese architect and professor at the University of Tokyo, who has pushed the possibilities of modern architecture to new heights and brought new stimulation to architectural expression. Inamori Foundation Background The Inamori Foundation was established as a not-for-profit organization in 1984 by Dr. Kazuo Inamori, founder and chairman emeritus of Kyocera Corporation. Dr. Inamori created the foundation with a personal donation of 20 billion yen, and his subsequent donations have raised its net assets to approximately 64.5 billion yen (roughly US$500 million) as of March 31, 2002. The Inamori Foundation reflects 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 psychological maturity. "Today, we are rushing ahead with incredible scientific and technological achievements, while understanding of our emotional and spiritual development lags deplorably," Dr. Inamori has said. "It is my hope that the Kyoto Prizes will encourage balanced development of both our scientific and our spiritual sides, and hence provide impetus toward the structuring of new philosophical paradigms." Kyoto Prize Background Dr. Inamori created the Kyoto Prizes after consultation with the Nobel Foundation of Sweden, which received the first Kyoto Prize as a special commemorative award in 1985. Since then, the Kyoto Prizes have been presented annually in the categories of Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences, and Arts &Philosophy. Over the past 18 years, Kyoto Prizes have been awarded to 57 laureates from 12 countries - ranging from scientists, engineers and researchers to architects, sculptors and film directors. The United States leads all nations with 25 laureates, followed by the United Kingdom (nine), France (seven) and Japan (seven). It is characteristic of the Kyoto Prizes that they are presented in appreciation not only of outstanding human achievements, but also of the spirit that motivated each laureate's contributions to mankind. # # #
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 the Inamori Foundation Phone: 1-(619) 237-7741 e-mail: cecile@fleishman.com (For San Diego Media) Stephanie Kellems, Alarus Agency for the Inamori Foundation Phone: 1-(619) 235-4542 e-mail: skellems@mill.net Download photos at: http://www.kyotoprize.org [ back to top ] [ back to press releases ] |
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