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Kyoto Prize, Celebrating Its 30th Year as Japan's Highest Private Award for Global Achievement, Honors Two American Scientists and a Japanese Artist
[November 10, 2014]

Kyoto Prize, Celebrating Its 30th Year as Japan's Highest Private Award for Global Achievement, Honors Two American Scientists and a Japanese Artist


KYOTO, Japan --(Business Wire)--

The non-profit Inamori Foundation (President: Dr. Kazuo Inamori) presented its 30th annual Kyoto Prize, Japan's highest private award for global achievement, during a formal ceremony today. Biomedical engineer Dr. Robert Langer was honored in the category of Advanced Technology (field: Biotechnology and Medical Technology); theoretical physicist Professor Edward Witten in Basic Sciences (field: Mathematical Sciences); and dyeing and weaving artist Fukumi Shimura in Arts and Philosophy (field: Arts). Each laureate received a diploma, a 20-karat gold Kyoto Prize medal and a cash gift of 50 million yen (approximately US$450,000) in recognition of lifelong contributions to society.

The two American scientists and Japanese artist continue to make significant contributions in their respective fields. Dr. Langer is an Institute Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT (News - Alert)) and holds more than 800 patents as a leader in the advancement of medicine and engineering; Professor Witten, a Charles Simonyi Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), continues exploring theories of some of the Universe's great mysteries by applying his physical intuition and mathematical skills; and Ms. Shimura develops natural colors and plant dyes to tell stories with kimono artwork, sharing her craft with younger generations at the art school she founded.

All three laureates are in Kyoto for the week attending the ceremony, holding lectures and workshops, and participating in youth development programs at area institutes. They will reconvene in San Diego, Calif., March 17-19, 2015, to participate in North America's 14th annual Kyoto Prize Symposium, a three-day celebration of the lives and work of the laureates with an opening Gala and ongoing lectures at San Diego-area co-host universities.



2014 Kyoto Prize Laureates

Biomedical engineer Dr. Robert Langer, 66, is a founder of the field of tissue engineering and creator of revolutionary drug delivery system (DDS) technologies. Tissue engineering is indispensable for the implementation of regenerative medicine. Dr. Langer's technique applies biodegradable polymer technologies to construct "scaffolds" for cell growth, contributing to the regeneration of tissues and organs. He has also developed DDS technologies for the controlled release of proteins, nucleic acids, and other macromolecular drugs.


Theoretical physicist Professor Edward Witten, 63, has made outstanding contributions to mathematical science through his exploration of superstring theory. Dr. Witten has served as a leader in the theory's dramatic evolution for more than 30 years. Superstring theory seeks to unify scientific understanding of the various physical forces that exist within the universe, offering promise to create what physicists have termed a "theory of everything" - one all-encompassing, coherent theoretical framework that offers an integrative perspective of how our universe is constructed.

Artist Ms. Fukumi Shimura, 90, has demonstrated artistic creativity for over half a century in her work with tsumugi kimonos. One of the characteristics of her work is her insistence on using an extraordinarily colorful range of plant-dyed yarns to improvise an infinite resonance of colors over canvases of tsumugi kimonos, by which she established her own original style of art and developed a radically new sense of beauty. To create a spectacular variety of natural pigments, she has constantly communicated with nature and deeply meditated "to weave human existence into nature." She remains actively engaged in all aspects of her art, dedicating great effort to educating the younger generation, and founded an art school, Ars Shimura, in 2013.

For more information about the 30th Kyoto Prize laureates, visit www.kyotoprize.org.

About the Inamori Foundation and the Kyoto Prize

The Kyoto Prize is an international award bestowed by the non-profit Inamori Foundation to honor those who have contributed significantly to the scientific, cultural, and spiritual betterment of humankind. The Foundation was established in 1984 by Dr. Kazuo Inamori, founder and chairman emeritus of Kyocera Corporation, founder of and honorary adviser to KDDI (News - Alert) Corporation, and chairman emeritus of Japan Airlines. Inamori created the Kyoto Prize in 1985, in line with his belief that human beings have no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of society, and that the future of humanity can be assured only when there is a balance between our scientific progress and our spiritual depth. With the 2014 laureates, the prize has honored 96 individuals and one foundation - collectively representing 16 nations. Individual laureates range from scientists, engineers and researchers to philosophers, painters, architects, sculptors, musicians and film directors. The United States has produced the most recipients (41), followed by Japan (17), the United Kingdom (12), and France (8). More information can be found at http://www.inamori-f.or.jp/index_e.html.


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