Professor Weissmann receives
the Dr H. R Heineken Prize for 1982
Holland's biggest science prize awarded for the seventh time
In earlier times a person who had done
pioneering work in the scientific field was
presented with a medallion or a gold snuff
box or even a handful of gold coins in
recognition of his achievement. We can
hardly picture this happening any more in
this day and age. Once the universities
started to flourish and various other
organizations began to devote attention to
science, more and more rewards took the
form of honorary doctorates and
illuminated scrolls. With the coming of the
industrial era cash prizes become more
frequent, one of the most notable
examples being the Nobel Prize.
At the moment the Dr. H.P. Heineken
Prize is the biggest prize in the science field
in Holland. It is awarded once every three
years to a scientist nominated by the Dutch
Royal Academy. Until now 7 winners,
amongst whom only one Dutchman, have
received this honour and the winners have
even included two Nobel prizewinners (the
Belgian, Prof. C. de Duve and the
Englishman, Dr. A. Klug).
By tradition, the presentation ceremony is
held at the Royal Academy in Amsterdam
and H.R.H. Prince Claus of the Nether
lands was again prepared, for the fourth
time in succession, to address the winner
and present the prize.
The laureate for 1982 was Professor C.
Weissmann who received the sum of
200,000 guilders as well as a crystal on
which a faithful miniature of Antoni van
Leeuwenhoek's microscope is mounted.
Professor Weissmann has a strong
international background. Bom in
Hungary, he studied in Switzerland where
he currently lives, whereas he also spent
long periods in Brazil and the United
States.
He won the prize for his research into
genetics, the study of heredity, in which
genes have an important role to play by
transmitting hereditary characteristics to
the descendants.
Professor Weissmann succeeded in
modifying these genes outside the cells in
which they live, i.e. in a test-tube, and later
re-introducing them into living cells
cultured by him and his team.
This may sound all very complicated, but
its aim is to gain an understanding of the
behaviour of these genes which can have
such a great influence on the descendants
of all life-forms, not only humans but also
plants and animals. At the same time he
studied the causes of variations in these
genes which in turn may give rise to
abnormal forms of living organisms. He is
also the first person who, together with his
team of researchers, has succeeded in
getting a bacterium to produce human
interferon. This substance has evoked
quite some optimism in the world because
of the possibilities it may offer in the
treatment of virus diseases, including
cancer.
The audience at the presentation was
addressed first by Professor P. Borst, a
prominent member of the Academy's
nomination committee. His talk was
especially interesting and highly learned,
which would make it difficult to summarize
it here. Then came a speech by Mr. A.H.
Heineken, who is chairman of the
Heineken Foundation. After thanking
H.R.H. Prince Claus for his willingness to
present the prize once more, Mr.
Heineken also expressed his gratitude to
the Academy, and particularly to its
Natural Science Department which is
responsible for nominating the winner.
Mr. Heineken went on to explain the
importance of scientific research,
expressing the hope that the awarding of
prizes would focus more attention on the
people engaged in scientific research work.
Referring to Professor Weismann's broad
international experience, Prince Claus said
in his speech: "Good international contacts
smooth the exchange of know-how and
bring the members of the scientific
community closer together, in the interests
of mankind".
After receiving his prize, Professor
Weissmann described the possibilities for
applying the research results obtained in
his laboratory and in similar institutions in
the practice of medical science.
H.R.H. Prince Claus of the Netherlands congratulates the 1982 laureate, Professor
C. Weissmann.
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