UNESCO calls for nominations for Mendeleev Prize
News, 03 December 2020
On 2 December 2020, UNESCO announced the call for applications for the UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences 2021.
The UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences aims to promote and honour excellence in the basic sciences, defined to include the disciplines of chemistry, physics, mathematics and biology, the foundation on which scientific knowledge can be propagated and which are fundamental to the advancement of innovation and sustainable development.
UNESCO invites the governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, the non-governmental organizations maintaining official partnerships with UNESCO and active in relevant fields covered by the Prize, the UNESCO Chairs, the Category 2 Centres, the international scientific unions and universities to propose individual candidates for the 2021 edition of the UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences.
Awarded every year to two prize-winners, its purpose is to reward individuals for their major achievements in terms of development, diffusion, and international cooperation in the basic sciences, which had a significant transformational impact on a regional or global scale. Each of the two individual prize-winners will receive a financial award of USD 250,000 as well as a gold medal and a diploma. 2021 marks the first edition of the Prize.
Deadline for submissions: 15 March 2021
No self-nomination shall be considered.
For more information, please visit the Prize’s webpage or contact the Mendeleev International Prize’s Team (tel.: +33 (0)1 45 68 10 61; e-mail: mendeleevprize@unesco.org
In line with the mission of UNESCO’s International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP), and with UNESCO’s strategic documents, the UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences was established on 21 October 2019, by acclamation, during the 207th session of the UNESCO Executive Board.
The Government of the Russian Federation proposed to establish and fund a joint UNESCO-Russian Federation international prize, in the name of the Russian chemist Dimitri Mendeleev, for the Basic Sciences. The Prize is also an enduring legacy to the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements IYPT2019.
In line with the mission of UNESCO’s International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP), and with UNESCO’s strategic documents, the UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences was established on 21 October 2019, by acclamation, during the 207th session of the UNESCO Executive Board.
The total value of the Prize is USD 850,000 per year.
The financial award of the Prize is USD 500,000 and will be awarded annually to two prize-winners in the amount of USD 250,000 in recognition of their breakthrough discoveries, outstanding innovations and avid promotion of the basic sciences, driving or with potential to drive in the future, socio-economic transformation and development of human societies.
The Prize is created to foster scientific progress, science popularization in the fields of basic research, as well as to commemorate the remarkable scientific heritage of Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev, one of the outstanding chemists in the history of science.
The Prize aims to further development of the UNESCO interdisciplinary approach in basic sciences, education and capacity-building for sustainable development by encouraging scientists in the fields of chemistry, physics and astronomy, biology and mathematics, encouraging quality research in developing countries, as well as scientific research aimed at further improvement of lives of people in the international community.
Prize management
The Secretariat of the Prize is located in the UNESCO Natural Sciences Sector
Jury of the Prize
The jury shall send an assessment on the nominations and accompanying recommendations to the Director-General of UNESCO. They shall be appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO for a two-year period for a maximum period of six years. The jury shall consist of seven independent members being personalities with a recognized reputation in the field covered while also taking into consideration the need for equitable geographical distribution, gender equality and the principle of non-payment of honoraria.
The Jury shall meet once a year for deliberation on the Prize-winners.
The jury shall send an assessment on the nominations and accompanying recommendations to the Director-General of UNESCO at the latest two months before the award ceremony.
Nomination of candidates
In accordance with the generally accepted practice for UNESCO awards, nominations shall be submitted to the National Commissions, by non-governmental organizations maintaining official partnerships with UNESCO, by UNESCO Chairs, category 2 centres, international scientific unions and universities active in relevant fields covered by the Prize. A self-nomination cannot be considered.
Each nomination shall be accompanied by a written recommendation either in English or in French.
Procedure for the awarding of the Prize
The Prize shall be awarded by the Director-General or his/her representative at an official ceremony held for that purpose in alternation at UNESCO’s premises at Headquarters and in the Russian Federation.
UNESCO shall present to the prize-winners a financial award of USD 500, 000 as well as a gold medal and a diploma. UNESCO shall officially announce the names of the prize-winners and highlight their achievements.