Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Eglinton FRS of the University’s School of Chemistry and Senior Research Fellow in Earth Sciences, was named as one of the winners of this year’s Dan David Prize, which annually awards three prizes of US$1 million each. Other 2008 laureates include former Vice-President of the United States, Al Gore and acclaimed playwright, Tom Stoppard.

The laureates, who donate 10 per cent of their prize money towards 20 doctoral and postdoctoral scholarships, will be honoured at a ceremony on 19 May 2008 at Tel Aviv University in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, Mr Shimon Peres.

The prize is awarded in three categories dubbed ‘Past, Present and Future Time Dimensions’. These are: ‘Creative Rendering of the Past – Literature, Theater, Film’, ‘Social Responsibility with Particular Emphasis on the Environment’ and ‘Geosciences’.

Professor Eglinton was recognised in the Geosciences category for his studies of organic chemical fossils, which reveal the inhabitants and climates of ancient worlds. He shares the prize with Ellen Moseley-Thompson and Lonnie G. Thompson of Ohio State University for their study of ice cores.

The Prize is named after international businessman and philanthropist Dan David. On the announcement of the 2008 winners, Mr David said: “The constellation of laureates is particularly meaningful at this time. On the one hand great creators depicting historical events in literature, theatre and film; on the other eminent scientists whose research predicts environmental disaster if we do not act; and in between a man working to promote awareness of this prediction and its remedies so that human history will continue to be told for generations to come.”

Source: By University Of Bristol