APEC Science Prize for Innovation Research and Education (ASPIRE) Established

HOBOKEN, New Jersey and NEW YORK, July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Prize Will Recognize Young Scientists Who Demonstrate Commitment to International Collaboration

John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and Elsevier, two of the world's leading publishers of scholarly scientific knowledge, announced today their sponsorship of the APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE Prize) to recognize young scientists who have demonstrated a commitment to both excellence in scientific research, as evidenced by scholarly publication, and cooperation with scientists from other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)  member economies.  APEC is the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.  

Each APEC Member Economy will be invited to submit one nominee under the age of 40 for the ASPIRE Prize.  The winner will receive prize money in the amount of $25,000 and is expected to be honored at the Joint Transportation and Energy Ministerial Conference to be held September 13, 2011, in San Francisco, California.  U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu is expected to award the ASPIRE Prize.  Dr. Chu is a distinguished scientist and co-winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics (1997).

APEC facilitates economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region through the advancement of innovative R&D and technologies, knowledge sharing, enhanced international science and technology networks, and improved linkages between research and innovation.  APEC's 21 member economies account for approximately 41% of the world's population, 54% of world GDP, and 44% of world trade.  

"This is one of the most dynamic periods in scientific research, discovery and innovation in history. Regional and international collaboration, especially in the Asia-Pacific, has been critical to this growth, and we hope that the ASPIRE Prize will foster even closer regional research partnerships that will help us solve the most pressing shared challenges," said Stephen M. Smith, Wiley's President and CEO.

"The ASPIRE Prize recognizes that science is global and that young scientists, collaborating and networking across borders, are a tremendous resource for good.  This new generation of researchers in the APEC region hold the key to the knowledge and innovation that will drive economic prosperity and enhance human health and the environment," said YoungSuk "Y.S." Chi , Chairman of the Elsevier Management Committee.

This year marks the first time since 1993 that the United States is hosting APEC.  As the host, the United States has selected the theme of "green growth" to guide nominations for the ASPIRE Prize, building on efforts by APEC to promote environmentally sustainable economic growth and development and help our economies successfully transition to a clean energy future.  

APEC Member Economies, through the APEC Industrial Science and Technology Working Group, are actively soliciting nominations from top educational and research institutions based in their economies.  APEC Member Economies are required to submit their economy's one nominee no later than August 1, 2011.  

For more information on submitting nominees, please contact Mr. Luis Enrique Vertiz, Program Director, APEC Secretariat, at lev@apec.org.

About Wiley

Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 400 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology/Medicine, Physics, Chemistry and Peace.

Wiley's core businesses include scientific, technical, medical and scholarly (STMS) journals, encyclopedias, books and online products and services; professional/trade books, subscription products, training materials, online applications and Web sites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, N.J., with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada and Australia. The company's Web site can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.

Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include SciVerse ScienceDirect, SciVerse Scopus, Reaxys, MD Consult and Nursing Consult, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai's Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

Contact

Susan Spilka
Tel: +1-201-748-6147
sspilka@wiley.com

David Ruth  
Tel: +1-212-633-3914
d.ruth@elsevier.com