Laureate prizes 2024 announced

The World Laureates Association Prize (WLA Prize) has unveiled its laureates for 2024, with Jon Kleinberg, a professor of Computer Science & Information Science at Cornell University, and Professor Jeremy Nathans at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine recognized for their contributions, announced the WLA Prize management committee on Thursday during a press conference in Shanghai.

Unveiled at the 4th WLA Forum on Nov 1, 2021, the WLA Prize is an international science prize initiated by the World Laureates Association (WLA), managed by the WLA Foundation, and exclusively funded by HongShan.

The prize is awarded annually and features two categories: "Computer Science or Mathematics" and "Life Science or Medicine." The total award for each prize, which may be divided among up to four laureates, is 10 million yuan ($1.39 million).

This year, the WLA Prize in Computer Science or Mathematics is bestowed on Kleinberg "for seminal contributions at the interface of computer science and social science, including intellectual leadership in the fields of social networks and algorithmic fairness.".

The selection committee, chaired by Michael I. Jordan, lauds Kleinberg's pioneering work that bridges computer science, mathematics, and social economics. Kleinberg's research not only addresses fundamental challenges within these disciplines but also fosters collaboration to tackle complex societal issues. His extensive contributions to algorithms, behavioral economics, game theory, law, and network science have reshaped the landscape of information technology and laid the groundwork for future advancements.

Moreover, Kleinberg's groundbreaking studies on the structure of the World Wide Web in the 1990s have had a profound impact on search engine design, influencing the evolution of Internet search algorithms. His leadership in the study of social networks and machine learning has further enriched the field, particularly in enhancing algorithmic fairness and understanding the interaction between machine learning and human decision-making.

Professor Nathans was awarded the 2024 WLA Prize in Life Science and Medicine "for discovering the genes, regulation, and plasticity underlying human color vision and elucidating disease mechanisms that lead to blindness".

Chair of the Life Science or Medicine selection committee, Randy Schekman, praises Nathans for his groundbreaking research on the molecular basis of color vision. Nathan's early achievements in cloning the opsin genes responsible for color vision in cows and humans laid the foundation for understanding sensory receptors. His subsequent work on color blindness and inherited retinal degeneration revolutionized the field, unveiling crucial insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying these conditions.

Nathan's discoveries, including identifying the gene for Stargardt disease and demonstrating the remarkable plasticity of the visual system in mice, have significantly advanced our comprehension of human vision. Schekman commends Nathans for his insatiable curiosity, profound knowledge of vision science, and innovative approaches, positioning him as "one of the best neuroscientists in the world".

The 2024 WLA Prize Award Ceremony is set to take place in Shanghai on Oct 25, where both winners will be present to receive their accolades.

The WLA Prize, which has been presented annually since 2022, is committed to celebrating groundbreaking research and innovation on a global scale, recognizing exceptional individuals who have made significant contributions to the scientific community to ensure their groundbreaking work receives the recognition it deserves.