Wolf Prize

Last updated
Wolf Prize
Wolf Foundation Logo.svg
Awarded forOutstanding achievement in Agriculture, Chemistry, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, and Arts
Country Israel
Presented by Wolf Foundation
Reward(s)US $100,000
First awarded1978;45 years ago (1978)
Website www.wolffund.org.il

The Wolf Prize is an international award granted in Israel, that has been presented most years since 1978 to living scientists and artists for "achievements in the interest of mankind and friendly relations among people ... irrespective of nationality, race, colour, religion, sex or political views."

Contents

History

The prize is awarded in Israel by the Wolf Foundation, founded by Ricardo Wolf, a German-born inventor and former Cuban ambassador to Israel. It is awarded in six fields: Agriculture, Chemistry, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, and an Arts prize that rotates between architecture, music, painting, and sculpture. Each prize consists of a diploma and US$100,000. The awards ceremony typically takes place at a session in the Knesset. [1] The prize is described by the Foundation as being "awarded annually", but is not in fact awarded every year: between 2000 and 2010, only six prizes were awarded in most fields, and only four in Physics.

The Wolf Prizes in physics and chemistry are often considered the most prestigious awards in those fields after the Nobel Prize. [2] [3] [4] [5] The prize in physics has gained a reputation for identifying future winners of the Nobel Prize – from the 26 prizes awarded between 1978 and 2010, fourteen winners have gone on to win the Nobel Prize, five of those in the following year. [3]

In medicine, the prize is probably the third most prestigious, after the Nobel Prize and the Lasker Award. Until the establishment of the Abel Prize, the Wolf Prize was probably the closest equivalent of a "Nobel Prize in Mathematics", since the more prestigious Fields Medal was only awarded every four years to mathematicians under forty years old. In agriculture, the prize has likewise been equated to a "Nobel Prize in Agriculture". [6]

The most recent Wolf Prize was awarded in June 2022 to:

Laureates per country

Below is a chart of all laureates per country (updated to 2023 laureates). Some laureates are counted more than once if have multiple citizenship.

CountryNumber of laureates
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 190
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 41
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 25
Flag of France.svg  France 23
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 15
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 15
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union / Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 14
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 13
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 11
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 13
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 10
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 8
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 7
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 6
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 5
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 5
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 4
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan 4
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 3
Flag of India.svg  India 2
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 2
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 2
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 1
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 1
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 1
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 1
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1
Flag of Rhodesia (1968-1979).svg  Rhodesia 1
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 1
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 1
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 1
Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 1
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 1

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. "Faculty Notes". Cornell Arts & Sciences Newsletter. Cornell University. November 1980. p. 7.
  2. Physicsworld.com: Wolf prize goes to particle theorists
  3. 1 2 Harris, Margaret (November 2010). "Gongs away". Physics World . Bristol: Institute of Physics Publishing. 23 (11): 46–47. Bibcode:2010PhyW...23k..46H. doi:10.1088/2058-7058/23/11/46.
  4. Basolo, F: "From Coello to Inorganic Chemistry: A Lifetime of Reactions", page 65, Springer, 2002
  5. "IREG List of International Academic Awards" (PDF). IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence. 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  6. National Research Council: "National Research Initiative: A Vital Competitive Grants Program in Food, Fiber and Natural-resources Research", page 155, National Academies Press, 2000