NWO Spinoza Prize for psychologist, astronomer, chemist and classicist

7 June 2010

Highest scientific prize for four Dutch researchers

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has just announced the four winners of the NWO Spinoza Prize 2010. The winners are psychologist Naomi Ellemers, astronomer Marijn Franx, chemist Piet Gros and classicist Ineke Sluiter. Each of them will receive 2.5 million euro to spend on research of their choice. The prize is the highest award in Dutch science.

The Spinoza Prize is awarded to Dutch researchers who rank among the absolute top of science. The scientists receive the prestigious prize for their outstanding, groundbreaking and inspiring research. The winners are internationally renowned scientists and know how to motivate young researchers.

Prof. N. (Naomi) Ellemers, Professor of Social Psychology of Organisations at Leiden University. Ellemers combines research into everyday practice with laboratory experiments. She has argued and demonstrated that individual commitment primarily depends on people’s ability to identify with the moral values of groups or organisations, instead of financial recompensations or the career perspectives these represent.

Prof. M. (Marijn) Franx, Professor of Astronomy at Leiden University. Franx investigates the formation and evolution of galaxies. He is the leading Dutch researcher using the Hubble Space Telescope. With his team he discovered, for example, that the early universe contained numerous old galaxies that were ten times heavier than the Milky Way, and many times smaller. Recently, he has also broke new distance records with Hubble.

Prof. P. (Piet) Gros, Professor of Biomacromolecular Crystallography at Utrecht University. Gros unravelled the 3-D structure of the giant C3 protein. The size of the protein made this a particularly difficult and time-consuming job. The research of Gros has laid the foundation for drug development in the areas of rheumatism, lupus, sepsis, kidney diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

Prof. I. (Ineke) Sluiter, Professor of Greek Language and Literature at Leiden University. She carries out research into ancient ideas about language and their social impact, for example in pedagogy and education. She compares standards and values from the ancient world with those of contemporary society. She also considers the role of language in the formation of social identity.

About the Spinoza Prizes
This is the sixteenth year that 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 KNAW Advisory Councils, the Netherlands Academy of Technology and Innovation, the Dutch National Network of Female Professors and the NWO Divisional Boards. The official presentation of the monetary prize and Spinoza statuette will take place in the autumn.

About NWO
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is the principal Dutch science funding body and its mission is to facilitate excellent scientific research in the Netherlands by means of national competition. Each year NWO spends more than 700 million euro on grants for top researchers, on innovative instruments and equipment, and on institutes where top research is performed. NWO funds the research of more than 5300 talented researchers at universities and institutes. Independent experts select proposals by means of a peer review system. NWO facilitates the transfer of knowledge to society.

 

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Note for the press. For further information:

  • NWO, Department of Information and Communication
  • t: +31 70 344 07 13, e-mail: voorlichting@nwo.nl
  • www.nwo.nl/spinozawinnaars (high-resolution photos are available)
  • The photos may be freely used in reports about the Spinoza Prizes. Source to be stated: NWO/Arie Wapenaar.

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last modified on 7 June 2010