The Prizes let the world know
how important individuals
in these fields are
n
66
Science prize winners receive an award
and $150,000 while the recipient of
the art prize receives €50,000 and the
publication of their book.
Fascinating Winners
The latest awards ceremony took place
in September 2012 following a selection
process which enables scientists from
around the world to nominate their peers.
"A lot of people apply," notes Charlene.
Following nominations, a member of the
KNAW chairs an independent committee
of four or five knowledgeable scientists, or
art historians, in the case of the art prize, to
select the winners from the nominations.
"My father loved sitting in on these
nomination meetings," says Charlene.
Funds for the Dr. Fi.P. Heineken Prize for
Biochemistry and Biophysics come from
Heineken N.V.; all the other funds come
from a Heineken family trust fund. To
date, there have been 76 Heineken Prize
winners, and Charlene notes that "13
of these have gone on to win a Nobel
Prize." This is a huge compliment for the
Academy and their decision process. "The
prize winners are fascinating. Each winner
has an interesting story to tell and is so
enthusiastic to discuss their subject."
Charlene remembers being inspired by
these individuals from a young age. "I
recall doing a tour of a past prize winners'
laboratory when I was 18 with my father.
I know my father was inspired by the
work they were doing." Another winner
she immediately recalls is the scientist
who discovered that people with peptic
ulcers could often be cured by being given
the right antibiotics. "He tested this on
his own body by giving himself the right
bacteria to make himself sick. He later
went on to win a Nobel Prize."
Charlene is constantly astonished by the
dedication of individuals to their subjects.
"The winner of the Environment Prize this
year lived in the Amazon jungle for six
years. Now he is in the rainforest of Cairns,
Australia, with his wife and children. He
spends his whole life in this environment."
Prize winners receive their award in
Amsterdam. "We invite them and their
partners to Holland for a week, to give
public lectures at universities. This gives
people here the opportunity to see their
heroes in that field," says Charlene.
Improving the Image of Science
Alongside the main Heineken Prizes, a
Young Scientists Award has recently been
created. The initiative for this came from
the former President of the Academy,
Robbert Dijkgraaf. Presented at the same
time as the Heineken Prizes, these awards
are in the same scientific fields and are
intended for researchers who do their
research at a Dutch university and received
their PhD within the last five years.
"The Academy is very keen on getting
young people to consider that science
is important and to not just focus on
careers within liberal arts or the financial
world," says Charlene. "It seems that it's
starting to be cool to be in science again.
The image has improved. Truthfully it's
not always the career path with the
greatest financial reward but it does
attract professionals who are absolutely
dedicated to their subject."
Charlene is naturally proud of the awards.
"Sometimes I think they don't get enough
publicity in the Netherlands, but together
with the Academy we have created
something to be proud of." K
For further information visit
www.heinekenprizes.com
Geoffrey Parker,
professor at Ohio
State University in
Columbus, Ohio (USA)
Prof. Parker received
the Dr. A.H. Heineken
Prize for History
for his outstanding
scholarship on the
social, political and
military history of
Europe between 1500
and 1650, in particular
Spain, Philip II, and the
Dutch Revolt; for his
contribution to military
history in general; and
for his research on the
role of climate in world
history.
Peter Struycken,
artist in Gorinchem
(Netherlands)
Struycken received
the Dr. A.H. Heineken
Prize for Art for the
methodical way in which
he has used shapes,
colours and processes
in his innovative and
appealing works of
art for the past 50
years. His work includes
arcade lighting for
the Netherlands
Architecture Institute
in Rotterdam and his
undulating Blue Waves
pavement in Arnhem.
John Duncan,
assistant director of
the MRC Cognition
and Brain Sciences
Unit in Cambridge
(United Kingdom)
Prof. Duncan received
the Dr. A.H. Heineken
Prize for Cognitive
Science for his
remarkable innovative,
muitidisciplinary
research into the
relationships between
psychology, behaviour
and intelligence on the
one hand and neural
processes on the other.
His concepts have
become a cornerstone of
cognitive neuroscience.
Edition 1 2013 World of HEINEKEN 31
