Last week, the Blavatnik School of Government welcomed the 2024 Kyoto Prize Laureates, holding a series of lectures and public events to celebrate their achievements in science, technology and the arts.
The Kyoto Prize is an annual, internationally renowned award dating back to 1985. Awarded by the Inamori Foundation, it recognises visionary individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective fields. The three fields include science, technology, and philosophy and the arts, with one award presented for each field. Each of the prize winners is awarded a diploma, a medal and 100 million yen – equivalent to half a million pounds.
The 2024 Laureates were theoretical physicist Sir John Pendry, who was recognised for his ground-breaking work on metamaterials, including laying the groundwork for invisibility cloaks; geologist Paul Hoffman who was celebrated for his ‘snowball Earth’ hypothesis concerning glaciation; and choreographer William Forswythe who was recognised for his experimentation with contemporary dance.
Since 2016, the Blavatnik School has hosted the Kyoto Laureates annually at Oxford. The school uses the opportunity to provide a platform for celebrating and learning about a “shared commitment to excellence, global understanding, and the public good” across science, technology and the humanities.
Professor Ngaire Woods, founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, said: “We are honoured to welcome these visionary Kyoto Prize Laureates to Oxford. Their work represents not only the highest level of academic and creative excellence, but also a profound commitment to making the world a better place. These values are at the heart of what we strive to do at the Blavatnik School through our independent research and supporting future leaders to succeed.”
The Kyoto Prize follows the legacy of Kazuo Inamori, a Buddhist priest and the founder of the Japanese ceramics and electronics manufacturer Kyocera, who believed that the future of humanity can only be assured by a balance between scientific progress and spiritual depth.
Shinobu Inamori-Kanazawa, President of the Inamori Foundation who awards the prize in honour of Mr Inamori, said: “We are delighted that the Blavatnik School of Government provides a European home for the Kyoto Prize, creating opportunities for the brilliant young minds in the Oxford community and beyond to meet with the inspiring Kyoto Prize Laureates each year.”
