Awards For Past, Present and Future: The Unique Dan David Prize
Relatively a new endeavor, the Dan David prize is one of the most prestigious awards awarded each year. One unique aspect about it is that it includes three time frames: past, present and future. Each one of these signifies a great accomplishment by one or more people.
The past refers to achievements that help expand our knowledge of the past.
The present refers to accomplishments that contribute to our modern society.
The future refers to accomplishments that have the greatest of potential for the improving our future.
This award is not restricted to one field, or even to science alone, which is another element that makes it unique. In every year a specific subject is chosen for every time dimension. Moreover, each award consists of 1 million dollars, though 10% of these are donated by the laureates to students and scholars in the chosen field for the given time dimension.
The year 2006 was a great year:
- The famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma was given the prize for the past, for preserving our cultural heritage.
- Four eminent journalists: Goenawan Mohamad, Adam Michnik, Monica Gonzalez and Magdi Allam, were given the prize for the present, for for fighting and endangering their lives for free press.
- Two well known scientists: Dr. John Mendelsohn, and Dr. Joseph Schlessinger, were given the prize for the future, for their enormous contributions for treatment of cancer and cancer therapy.