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

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World of Heineken | 2013 | | pagina 31