NWO Spinoza prize for chemist, educationist, astronomer and geologist
7 June 2004
'Dutch Nobel prize' for four top Dutch researchersOn 7 June, the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) announced which four researchers will receive the NWO Spinoza prize for 2004. The prize is the biggest Dutch award in science. Each researcher receives one-and-a-half million euros to freely devote to his or her research. The researchers receive the prestigious prize for their outstanding, pioneering and inspiring scientific work.
The winners of the NWO Spinoza prize 2004 are:
He invented the first molecular motor to be powered by light and he synthesises extremely selective catalysts.
Jury report Feringa
He provided a scientific basis for the theory about how children attach to their parents. He was also the first who tried to make evidence-based practical recommendations.
Jury report Van IJzendoorn
With his group he discovered the first X-ray star which rotated at 400 times per second. The existence of such a star had been predicted 16 years previously, but had not yet been proved.
Jury report Van der Klis
His research into chemical fossils rewrote the theories about the carbon and sulphur cycles.
Jury report Sinninghe Damsté
Absolute top
The NWO Spinoza prize, also viewed as the 'Dutch
Nobel Prize', is awarded to Dutch researchers who rank among the world's top
scientists. The laureates are internationally renowned, and know how to inspire
young researchers.
This is the tenth occasion on which the Spinoza prizes have been awarded. The first occasion was in 1995. The awards are made on the basis of nominations. Those allowed to make nominations are the principals of universities, and the chairs of the departments of Literature and Physics of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), the Netherlands Society of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Dutch National Network of Female Professors, the Social Sciences Council and the NWO research councils.
The official presentation of the money and the Spinoza statuette will take place on 3 November 2004.
For further information please contact (see also the jury reports):
