Scientists and mathematicians were honored for their achievements at the Breakthrough Prize gala, referred to as the “Oscars of Science,” a celebration of the world’s top scientists in the fields of Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Mathematics. Each awardee of the Breakthrough Prize received $3 million for their multitude of research achievements, with other monetary awards gifted to early-career physicists and mathematicians.
The theme of the ceremony was “Look up,” taken from the late famous astrophysicist and Breakthrough Prize winner, Stephen Hawking’s final book Brief Answers to the Big Questions. In the book, Hawking encourages people to “Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.” He was honored at the gala through a multimedia tribute, as well as through statements by his daughter, Lucy Hawking, and actor Eddie Redmayne who portrayed Hawking in Academy Award nominated film, The Theory of Everything.
The awards were split into categories, with a total of seven $3 million prize awarded to nine researchers, two of whom are partners. The Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences recognized research conducted to understand living systems and extend human life, the Fundamental Physics Prize recognized those who discovered major insights into the deepest questions of the universe, and the Mathematics Prize awarded those who have contributed to major areas in their respective fields.
Youth were also recognized at the gala through the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, a global science competition with over 12,000 applicants that encourages young students to delve into science, math, and physics. This year, 16-year-old Samay Godika received up to $400,000 in educational prizes, including a scholarship and money to donate to a science lab for his school. He submitted a video within the life sciences category explaining the importance of the circadian rhythm, an idea inspired by family members who suffer from Parkinson’s and his curiosity on what affects the treatment.
“Stephen Hawking urged us to ‘look up,’ – to open our eyes and our minds to the wonder of the Universe. At the heart of all science is that spirit of curiosity,” said Internet investor and science philanthropist Yuri Milner.
