The Kyoto Prize is an international award bestowed by the Inamori Foundation, based in Kyoto, Japan. It was established in 1984 by Kazuo Inamori, the founder of Kyocera Corporation, to honor individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to the advancement of science, technology, humanities, and philosophy.
The prize is awarded annually in three categories: Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences, and Arts and Philosophy. Each laureate receives a diploma, a gold medal, and a cash award of 1000 million yen (approximately $700,000 USD). The Kyoto Prize is often considered one of the most prestigious awards in its field, alongside honors like the Nobel Prize.
Recipients of the Kyoto Prize are selected by independent selection committees composed of distinguished experts from around the world. The prize aims to recognize outstanding achievements that contribute to the betterment of humanity and promote the idea of global progress and harmony.
The Kyoto Prize Symposiums in the United States are usually held in several locations, primarily in academic institutions and cultural centers. Some of the cities where the symposiums have been hosted in the past include:
San Diego, California: The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has hosted Kyoto Prize Symposiums, given its proximity to the Inamori Foundation’s North American headquarters, which is located in nearby La Jolla.
San Francisco, California: Various institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area, such as Stanford University and the Asian Art Museum, have also hosted Kyoto Prize events.
Tucson, Arizona: The University of Arizona’s College of Optical Sciences has hosted Kyoto Prize events, particularly those related to the Advanced Technology category.
Boston, Massachusetts: Institutions in the Boston area, including MIT and Harvard University, have also been venues for Kyoto Prize events.
These symposiums typically feature lectures, panel discussions, and other programs related to the achievements of the current Kyoto Prize laureates and their respective fields of expertise. The locations may vary from year to year depending on partnerships and arrangements made by the Inamori Foundation and the hosting institutions.
This year, the Kyoto Prize Symposium was held at La Jolla, California and La Revista Binacional had the privilege to be invited to such an amazing event.
The Laureates honored that evening were:
-Prof. Elliott H. Lieb, Ph.D, Mathematician and Physicist (Basic Sciences)
-Prof. Ryuzo Yanagimachi, Reproductive Biologist (Advanced Technology)
-Ms. Nalini Malani, Artis (Arts and Philosophy)
As a Kyoto Prize saying goes, ‘Our lives are touched by their genius, in a myriad of ways’.
It was a very exciting moment when the major scholarship recipients for San Diego and Tijuana High School students were honored.
For San Diego, the Kyoto prize recipients:
Kyle P. Tianshi (The Cambridge School)
Nicholas Usher (Classical Academy High School)
Chelsea Long (Mission Bay High School)
Hadeel Zaydun Jawad (San Diego High School)
For Tijuana, Mexico:
Hans Kelson Miller (Cetys Universidad High School)
Astrid Valenzuela Sandoval (Cetys Universidad High School)
Sebastian Valdez Valle (Cetys Universidad High School)
“Someday, somewhere, the work of someone who is currently striving to make a change may actually turn the world around. The Kyoto Prize stands to recognize and support the countless possibilities. Let us praise. Let us celebrate possibilities that shape our future.” (source: Kyoto Prize Symposium).
Congratulations to the organization and everyone who made this possible.
