King Faisal International Prize Winners 2006 [Archives:2006/913/Front Page]

RIYADH, Jan 13 – The 29th annual King Faisal International Prize winners were announced recently. Seven winners from around the world won King Faisal's International prizes in the fields of science, medicine, Arabic language and literature and service to Islam. The winners of the service to Islam are H.E. Shaikh Salih bin Abd Al-Rahman Al-Husayyin from Saudi Arabia, and Shaikh Yusuf bin Jasim bin Muhammad Al-Hidji from Kuwait. Winner of Arabic Language and literature are Professor Tammam Hassan Omar from Egypt and Professor Abdelkader Fassi Fehri, topic of research was The Arabic Language in Modern Linguistics. Winner in medicine is Professor Michael Anthony Gimbrone, Jr. from USA whose research was on Biology of Vascular Inflammation. Winners in science are Professor Simon Kirwan Donaldson from UK and Professor Mudumbai Seshachalu Narasimhan from India whose research area was Mathematics.

King Faisal Foundation believes that it is through the collective efforts of outstanding individuals that the highest aspirations are realized. The annual presentation of King Faisal International Prize enables the Foundation to reward dedicated men and women whose contributions make a positive difference: those who exceptionally serve Islam and Muslims, and the scientists and scholars whose research results in significant advances in specific areas that benefit humanity. This incentive also encourages expanded research that may lead to important medical and scientific breakthroughs.

Merit and excellence alone are the criteria for selection. As testimony to the high calibre of Prize recipients and to the importance of the research carried out by KFIP laureates, nine winners have gone on to win Nobel prizes for the same works that were recognized by King Faisal International Prize. Incredibly, four of the six Physics and Chemistry Nobel Laureates for 2001 were former KFIP winners.

Topics & Nominations

Following its inception in 1977 (1397H), the King Faisal International Prize has quickly established itself as one of the world's most prestigious awards. This reputation could not have been accomplished without, firstly, the strict adherence to nomination and selection procedures to ensure that all the winners are selected solely on the basis of merit, and secondly, the continuous support of academic institutions both nationally and internationally Through the Prize, the King Faisal Foundation seeks to show its appreciation to those individuals who have rendered exceptionally outstanding services to Islam and Muslims, and to scholars and scientists who have made significant contributions and advances in areas that benefit developing and Islamic countries, and humanity at large.

Each year, Islamic organizations, universities and other learned circles throughout the world nominate individuals for any of the five categories of the Prize. The winners are usually announced in January, and receive their awards two months later in a special ceremony held in Riyadh under the auspices of the King of Saudi Arabia. This ceremony is one of the most important annual events organized by the King Faisal Foundation.

Selection Procedure

King Faisal Foundation was established in 1976 by the eight sons of the late King Faisal ibn Abd Al Aziz, a son of Saudi Arabia's founder and the Kingdom's third monarch. The ongoing memorial to a great man has revitalized the traditions of Arabic and Islamic Philanthropy.

Of the many philanthropic activities of the Foundation, the King Faisal International Prize is the most widely known. By drawing attention to important issues and rewarding gifted scientists who have made these issues a priority in their careers, it is hoped that the direct and indirect effects of the Prize will be far reaching.

Prizes for Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, and Arabic Literature were established in 1977 and first awarded in 1979. In 1981 the Prize Board added Medicine; Science was included in 1982. They were awarded in 1982 and 1984 respectively.

Each year, the selection committees designate subjects in Islamic Studies, Arabic Literature, and Medicine. Topics in Islamic Studies highlight areas of importance in Muslim society; Arabic Literature related to specialized areas within the discipline. Subjects in Medicine are reflecting current areas of international concern. The Science subcategories cover a broad scope: physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology.

Nominations for the Prizes are accepted from international institutions and organizations only, and not from individuals or political parties. Winners of the Prize for Service to Islam are chosen directly by the respective selection committee. For other Prize categories, pre selection by peer reviewers is carried out, following which the works of worthy nominees are submitted for further scrutiny by selected referees appropriate to each discipline. Autonomous, international, specialist selection committees are then convened at the headquarters of King Faisal Foundation in Riyadh each January to make their final decisions.

Merit alone governs the rigorous selection procedures, earning King Faisal International Prize the distinction of being among the most prestigious of international awards to scholars and scientists who have made the most significant advances to benefit humanity and enrich human knowledge. This year's awards bring the total number of laureates to 175 distinguished individuals from 38 countries.

Each of the five Prize categories consists of a certificate, hand written in Arabic calligraphy, summarizing the laureate's work; a commemorative 24 carat, 200 gram gold medal, uniquely cast for each Prize; and a cash endowment of SR750,000 (US $200,000). Co winners in any category share the monetary grant. The Prizes are awarded during a ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, under the auspices of the King of Saudi Arabia.

King Faisal International Prize laureates have earned numerous other prestigious national and international prizes for their efforts. In some cases, King Faisal International Prize has preceded other international awards, including even the Nobel Prize, thus validating the rigorous and unbiased selection process.

The granting of these Prizes embodies King Faisal Foundation's firm belief that through the collective efforts of outstanding individuals the highest aspirations of mankind are realized. The Prizes enable the Foundation to show its appreciation to men and women who have made truly outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

Topics for 2007 awards:

The deadline for all nominations is 1 April 2005
——
[archive-e:913-v:14-y:2006-d:2006-01-19-p:front]