Kavli Prizes

Science prizes for the 21st century, the Kavli Prizes recognize scientists for their seminal advances in three research areas: astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience. Consisting of a scroll, medal and cash award of one million dollars, a prize in each of these areas is awarded every two years beginning in 2008.

The Kavli Prizes are presented in cooperation and partnership with the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The prizes are awarded at a ceremony in Oslo, Norway – Fred Kavli's native country – with the President of the Norwegian Academy presiding.

Independent of The Kavli Foundation, Kavli Prize recipients are chosen by three prize committees comprised of distinguished international scientists recommended by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences, the Max Planck Society, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and The Royal Society. After making their selection for Award recipients, the recommendations of these prize committees are confirmed by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

To learn more about the Kavli Prize, please visit their website.

The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience is awarded for outstanding achievement in advancing our knowledge and understanding of the brain and nervous system, including molecular neuroscience, cellular neuroscience, systems neuroscience, neurogenetics, developmental neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience and related facets of the brain and nervous system.

The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience has twice been awarded to Yale University researchers:

• in 2008, to Pasko Rakic, inaugural director of the Kavli Institute for Neuroscience and the founding chair of the department of neurobiology;
• in 2010, to James Rothman, chair of the department of cell biology and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2013.