First Canadians win Japanese Nobel Prize
Charles Taylor, Montreal Philosopher
Photo by Padraic
What does a philosopher from Montreal and a molecular biologist from Toronto have in common? They are the first two Canadians ever to win Japan’s most prestigious lifetime achievement award, the Kyoto Prize, largely referred to as Japan’s Nobel Prize.
Drs. Anthony Pawson and Charles Taylor were just announced as the winners of the prize which was created to recognize that “[humankind] has no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of society, and that mankind’s future can be assured only when there is a balance between our scientific progress and spiritual depth.”
The Kyoto Prize consists of a 20-karat gold medal and 50 million yen (US$470,765) in cash and has only been awarded to 74 recipients from 12 countries. It is awarded by the Inamori Foundation which was founded by Kazuo Inamori, creater of telecom giants Kyocera and KDDI Corporation. Most interestingly, nine previous Kyoto Prize winners have also been awarded the Nobel Prize.
Dr. Pawson, a University of Toronto professor and research director of Mount Sinai Hospital’s Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, received the Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences with its focus on the field of life sciences.
“Dr. Pawson, 55, a citizen of both Canada and the United Kingdom, will receive the award for his proposal and proof of the concept of adapter molecules, which has established one of the basic paradigms in intracellular signal transduction and contributed significantly to the subsequent development of the life sciences.” His groundbreaking work in discovering intracellular signals that regulate cellular reproduction and metabolism has transformed scientists’ understanding of cancer biology.
In 1994, he won the Gairdner Foundation award, considered a step toward a Nobel Prize. In 2006, the Queen made him a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, only the ninth Canadian to receive the distinction. Last week, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Alberta. Also in April last year, Dr. Pawson was one of only four inaugural winners of the Premier’s Summit Award, a $5 million grant given over a five-year period that is administered by MaRS.
Dr. Taylor received the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy with its focus on the field of thought and ethics.
“A philosopher and professor emeritus at McGill University, Dr. Taylor, 76, will receive the award for constructing a social philosophy that actively pursues the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultures. By advocating ‘communitarianism’ and ‘multiculturalism’ from the perspective of ‘holistic individualism’ Dr. Taylor has developed an enlightened philosophy that allows people of different historical, traditional and cultural backgrounds to retain their multiple identities while living together peacefully.” Most recently, as co-chairman of the Bouchard-Taylor Commission, he co-authored the Bouchard-Taylor report on the accommodation of minorities in Quebec.
“I’m very, very honoured and I still haven’t quite gotten over it,” said Taylor, who last year won the $1.5 million US Templeton Prize, the world’s largest monetary award, to explore the roots of violence and role played by language and linguistics in mankind’s grasp of spirituality.
Congratulations Drs. Taylor and Pawson!
Read the Globe and Mail article,: “Canadians win Japan’s Kyoto Prize for first time”
Lincoln Kim is a member of the healthcare and life sciences team of the MaRS Venture Group. He evaluates and supports the development of technology platforms and commercial market opportunities of start up and emerging companies, facilitates collaboration among research groups and between research scientists and industry.