Dan David Prize 10th Anniversary 2011 Laureates Announced: The Coen Brothers - for Cinema; Marcus Feldman - for Evolution; Cynthia Kenyon and Gary Ruvkun - for Ageing

TEL AVIV, Israel, February 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- President of the Republic of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, to Receive 2010 Prize

The international Dan David Prize, which annually awards three prizes of US$1 million each for outstanding achievement, announced the names of its 2011 laureates today.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20110222/438685 )

The Dan David Prize, named after international businessman and philanthropist Dan David, is headquartered at Tel Aviv University. The laureates, who donate 10% of their prize money towards 20 doctoral and postdoctoral scholarships, will be honoured at a ceremony on May 15, 2011 at Tel Aviv University in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Shimon Peres, and the President of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Giorgio Napolitano.

The 2011 Dan David Prize laureates, in the Past, Present and Future Time Dimensions, are:

Past - "Evolution"

Prof. Marcus Feldman (Stanford University)

Marcus Feldman has produced conceptual results of broad interest in the domain of animal and plant evolution. His work has led to highly focused insights of cultural significance in different civilizations. His work not only explores basic scientific topics, but investigates the societal consequences of the conclusions he draws in terms of models of evolution.

Present - "Cinema and Society"

The Coen Brothers (USA)

Joel and Ethan Coen make a creative partnership unique in the history of filmmaking. Their control over final cut of their films, their grasp of film genres, black comedy, and their capacity to bring narrative complexity to apparently simple plots have become hallmarks of their films. Their impressive list of films include Blood Simple, The Big Lebowski, Fargo, No Country for Old Men, and Barton Fink.

Future - Ageing - Facing the Challenge

Prof. Cynthia Kenyon (University of California, SF) and Prof. Gary Ruvkun (Harvard Medical School)

Cynthia Kenyon is a visionary whose work has established that ageing is genetically regulated. Gary Ruvkun discovered that a hormone similar to human insulin is key in longevity. From Kenyon's and Ruvkun's pioneering work, there is good reason to think that life-span could be extended in man, and that the onset of diseases of old-age could be delayed genetically or with drugs.

    
    Contact:

    Ms. Orly Fromer
    Media Director
    Dan David Prize
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    E-mail : fromer@post.tau.ac.il

    Dan David Prize Office: 
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