Press release
Professors Balzani and Oganessian to receive first UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences
The decision was made on the recommendation of an eminent international jury chaired by Professor Jean-Pierre Sauvage, winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Vincenzo Balzani (Italy)
Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of Bologna.
Recognized for the lasting impact of his outstanding scientific achievements in basic chemical sciences and his career-long efforts to promote international cooperation, science education and sustainable development.
Professor Balzani pioneered inorganic photochemistry and supramolecular photochemistry. He has also made great contributions to science education and to reflection on science as a driver to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and on the relationship between science and society, science and peace.
Yuri Oganessian (Russian Federation)
Professor, Scientific Director.
Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna.
Recognized for his breakthrough discoveries that extend the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements and for his promotion of the basic sciences at global scale.
Professor Oganessian鈥檚 work played a leading role in the synthesis and study of new chemical elements of the periodic table. He has driven major developments in international scientific cooperation that led, inter alia, to the discovery of superheavy elements like the one with atomic number 118 named after him as Oganesson.
The laureates will receive the Prize at a , during the 41st session of the Organization鈥檚 General Conference.
About the UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences
Established as a follow up of the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements in 2019, the was created to foster scientific progress, science popularization and international cooperation in the basic sciences. The Prize honours the remarkable scientific heritage of Dimitri Mendeleev, father of the Periodic Table, whose work was fundamental to the development of chemistry, physics, biology, aeronautics, hydrodynamics, meteorology and astronomy as well as what is now termed sustainable development. Dmitri Mendeleev鈥檚 version of the periodic table of 1869 contained gaps in places where he believed unknown elements would fit, thereby, challenging the generations to come to follow in his footsteps for the progress of science and the betterment of humankind. Since then, the Periodic Table has been continuously supplemented as scientists identify and synthesize new elements, mainly through international scientific cooperation.
The Prize is awarded annually to two individuals for their breakthrough discoveries or outstanding innovations driving, or with potential to drive, socio-economic transformation and development of human societies, and for their dedicated promotion of basic science. Each laureate receives a monetary award of US $250,000, a gold medal and a diploma.
As this event takes place at UNESCO Headquarters during its General Conference, registration is mandatory, please request your .
Media contact: Thomas Mallard, t.mallard@unesco.org