SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

Norway

King Harald hands out the Kavli Award for 2018

On Tuesday, His Majesty King Harald of Norway handed out the Kavli Award for 2018. This happened first in an award ceremony which was held in the Oslo Concert Hall. Next followed a reception and dinner with His Majesty, the winner, and other guests in the Oslo City Hall.

His Majesty King Harald V of Norway was received in the Oslo Concert Hall by members of the Kavli Foundation. American actor, Alan Alda and Norwegian actor, Heidi Ruud Ellingsen led the award ceremony. During the ceremony, His Majesty could see performances from some of Norway’s best musicians such as Eldbjørg Hemsing, Solveig Slettahjell, Mathias Rugsveen, and American singer, Adam Douglas.

This year, the winner in astrophysics is Dutch Ewine van Dishoeck. Within nanoscience, the prize is shared between French Emmanuelle Charpentier, American Jennifer A. Doudna and Virginijus Šikšnys from Lithuania. The award of neuroscience was also divided between three prize winners: A. James Hudspeth from the United States, Robert Fettiplace from the UK and Christine Petit from France.

“These Laureates represent truly pioneering science, the kind of science which will benefit humanity in a profound way. They will inspire both current and future generations to continue searching for answers to some of the most difficult questions of our time. Through their hard work, dedication and innovation, they have strengthened our understanding of existence,” said Ole M. Sejersted, President of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

The Kavli Prize is a partnership between The Norwegian Academy of Science, The Kavli Foundation, and The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The prizes recognise scientists for pioneering advances in our understanding of existence. Presented every two years in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience, each of three international prizes consists of $1 million (U.S.).

Laureates are chosen by committees whose members are recommended by six of the world’s most renowned science societies and academies. First awarded in 2008, the Kavli Prizes have so far honoured 40 scientists from eight countries.

About author

Senior Europe Correspondent Oskar Aanmoen has a master in military and political history of the Nordic countries. He has written six books on historical subjects and more than 1.500 articles for Royal Central. He has also interview both Serbian and Norwegian royals. Aanmoen is based in Oslo, Norway.