Medical News Today News Article

2008 Dan David Prize Winners At TAU

26 May=20 2008

The=20 seven 2008 Dan David Prize laureates, including Al Gore and = Sir Tom=20 Stoppard, were recognized for their impact on the world at a = ceremony held at Tel Aviv University. Israeli President = Shimon Peres=20 gave the keynote address.

Laureates were selected = based on=20 their activities in the three time dimensions of past, = present and=20 future.

Al Gore: Our Present Responsibility to = the=20 Environment

Gore received the $1 million prize = for his=20 present work in Social Responsibility with Particular = Emphasis on=20 the Environment, due to his contribution to creating greater = worldwide awareness of global climate change. Accepting the = prize,=20 Gore called on those concerned about the environment to = demand that=20 politicians to make a change to renewable sources of energy, = such as=20 solar power. What we need, Gore said, is "sufficient = political will.=20 But as the people of Israel know, sufficient political will = is a=20 renewable resource."

Honoring the "Creative = Rendering of=20 the Past"

Sharing the $1 million prize in the = field of=20 Creative Rendering of the Past - Literature, Theater, Film = are=20 filmmaker Atom Egoyan, author Amos Oz and playwright = Stoppard.=20

Oz (Arad, Israel) was honored for his works = emphasizing the=20 individual and exploring conflicts between nations. =

Stoppard=20 (London) was recognized for his portrayal of the search for = meaning=20 while displaying dazzling theatricality and genius for = laughter.=20

Egoyan (Toronto) was noted for his exploration of = the human=20 impact of historical events and the nature of truth and its=20 representation through art.

Climate Change and = Saving the=20 Future

Three geoscientists were recognized with = the $1=20 million Dan David Prize for their research affecting the = future:=20

Geoffrey Eglinton (University of Bristol, United = Kingdom) for=20 his studies of organic chemical fossils, which reveal the = climates=20 of ancient worlds and the implications for tomorrow. =
Ellen Mosley-Thompson and Lonnie G. Thompson, (Ohio = State=20 University, Columbus, Ohio) for their separate and joint = efforts=20 in studying the geological and environmental records in = ice cores=20 and how these records assist in predicting future = geological=20 events.

"Climate change is one of today's most = pressing=20 issues and recognizing four of the seven winners in this = area helps=20 bring additional focus on the crisis," said Mr. Dan David, = who=20 founded the prize. "As we look toward saving our future, we = cannot=20 forget our past, and that past as portrayed in the arts is=20 especially forceful - thus our prize for the past focuses on = this=20 area."

The Dan David Prize annually awards three = prizes of=20 $1 million each for achievements with an outstanding = scientific,=20 technological, cultural or social impact on our world. The = Prize is=20 headquartered at Tel Aviv University and is named after=20 international entrepreneur and philanthropist Dan David.=20

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Article adapted = by=20 Medical News Today from original press=20 release.
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American=20 Friends of Tel Aviv University supports Israel's largest and = most=20 comprehensive center of higher learning. It is ranked among = the=20 world's top 100 universities in science, biomedical studies, = and=20 social science, and rated one of the world's top 200 = universities=20 overall. Internationally recognized for the scope and = groundbreaking=20 nature of its research programs, Tel Aviv University = consistently=20 produces work with profound implications for the future.=20

Source: George Hunka
American Friends of Tel Aviv = University=20

Article URL:=20 http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/108717.php

Main News Category: Public=20 Health

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