Two Americans Receive Inamori Foundation's 15th Annual Kyoto Prizes; International Awards Honor Human Achievement.KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 1999-- The Inamori Foundation today presented its 15th annual Kyoto Prizes to two Americans and one citizen of France. Each Kyoto Prize consists of a diploma, a Kyoto Prize Medal and a cash gift of 50 million yen, or about $475,000 -- making it Japan's highest private award for human achievement. The Prizes are presented annually in the categories of Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences, and Creative Arts and Moral Sciences, to honor individuals and groups worldwide who have made significant contributions to mankind's scientific, cultural, and spiritual betterment. Advanced Technology The 1999 Kyoto Prize for "Advanced Technology" has been chosen from the field of Materials Sciences. Receiving the award was Dr. W. David Kingery, a University of Arizona (body, education) University of Arizona - The University was founded in 1885 as a Land Grant institution with a three-fold mission of teaching, research and public service. professor and materials scientist who is sometimes called "the father of modern ceramics." Ceramics, used since ancient times in pottery, chinaware chinaware, hard, white, translucent pottery with soft glaze, known as porcelain. It originated in China but is now produced in various countries. Its composition is of kaolin and petuntse. , tile, brick, cement and glass, have long been made from natural materials using empirical methods. Following World War II, with the growth in understanding of high polymers and other materials, Dr. Kingery began applying solid state physics and crystallography to ceramic materials, whose scientific development had until then been largely unfulfilled. Dr. Kingery thus became the first researcher who systematically integrated the techniques and knowledge related to ceramic materials into a scientific discipline using his own data. Current ceramic production involves the firing, or "sintering sintering, process of forming objects from a metal powder by heating the powder at a temperature below its melting point. In the production of small metal objects it is often not practical to cast them. ," of particles on the order of microns. Dr. Kingery has contributed greatly to theories of sintering, the most critical process in ceramic manufacturing. His individual research achievements led to the modern application of ceramics to oxygen sensors, fuel cells and a vast range of electronic components. Thanks to his outstanding work, ceramics began to attract widespread public attention in the 1970s. Today, it is possible to produce high-performance ceramic materials with unique electrical characteristics, as well as extreme heat resistance, pressure resistance, hardness, and anti-corrosiveness, by carefully selecting raw materials and strictly controlling the manufacturing process. Dr. Kingery presented the fruits of his research to the world in the book "Introduction to Ceramics." This text, translated into the world's major languages and considered the bible of ceramic materials science, epitomizes Dr. Kingery's invaluable contribution to society. In recent years, Dr. Kingery has analyzed, from an archaeological standpoint, the earthenware earthenware, form of pottery fired at relatively low temperatures, so that the clay does not vitrify (become glassy), as do stoneware and porcelain clays. Occasionally, earthenware is used as a general term for all kinds of pottery. , pottery and chinaware that are found throughout the world -- studying the development and diffusion of ceramic techniques and systematically compiling results via cultural and anthropological interpretations of advanced technology. Basic Sciences The 1999 Kyoto Prize for "Basic Sciences" has been chosen from the fields of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Astronomy and Astrophysics Astronomy and astrophysics may refer to:
Astronomy and Astrophysics (abbreviated as A&A . Receiving the award was Dr. Walter H. Munk of La Jolla La Jolla (lə hoi`yə), on the Pacific Ocean, S Calif., an uninc. district within the confines of San Diego; founded 1869. The beautiful ocean beaches, in particular La Jolla shores and Black's Beach, and sea-washed caves attract visitors and , California, an oceanographer and professor at the University of California The University of California has a combined student body of more than 191,000 students, over 1,340,000 living alumni, and a combined systemwide and campus endowment of just over $7.3 billion (8th largest in the United States). (Scripps Institution of Oceanography Scripps Institution of Oceanography: see California, Univ. of. ). The rapid progress of modern physical oceanography Physical oceanography is the study of physical conditions and physical processes within the ocean, especially the motions and physical properties of ocean waters. Physical oceanography is one of several sub-domains into which oceanography is divided; others include -- the study of currents, structures and other physical properties of the ocean -- began in the early 1940s. Since then, Dr. Munk has been continuously active as a researcher in this field. He has contributed greatly to the development of the Earth sciences, and particularly to physical oceanography, by continually breaking new ground in global oceanographic research through his original ideas and through the training of many other researchers. In 1941, Dr. Munk, together with Dr. H. U. Sverdrup, developed the world's first method of wave prediction, which provided the basis for the subsequent development of many wave prediction theories. This scientific method is still used in televised weather programs today. Dr. Munk also engaged in the analysis of sunlight reflected by ripples on the sea surface, which has been applied to the remote sensing Deriving digital models of an area on the earth. Using special cameras from airplanes or satellites, either the sun's reflections or the earth's temperature is turned into digital maps of the area. of sea winds using satellites. In addition, Dr. Munk has made a fundamental contribution to the theory of wind-driven ocean currents, or ocean circulation. When he began this study, it was already known that strong currents exist in the western parts of the major oceans -- including the Pacific (Kuroshio) and Atlantic (Gulf Stream). Incorporating the effect of friction caused by eddy flow, Dr. Munk elegantly explained the actual status of ocean current distribution. His study has provided the framework for the present theory on ocean circulation. Dr. Munk's interest in the physical properties of the Earth led to his advocacy of mantle sampling through ocean-bed excavation. He also analyzed the irregularity A defect, failure, or mistake in a legal proceeding or lawsuit; a departure from a prescribed rule or regulation. An irregularity is not an unlawful act, however, in certain instances, it is sufficiently serious to render a lawsuit invalid. of the Earth's rotation The Earth's rotation is the rotation of the solid earth around its own axis, which is called Earth's axis or rotation axis. The earth rotates towards the east, which can be observed by orientation with a magnetic compass at sunrise. , and illuminated the causes of rotational changes. Recently, Dr. Munk has advocated ocean tomography, which is expected to produce even more significant results in understanding our physical environment. Creative Arts and Moral Sciences The 1999 Kyoto Prize for "Creative Arts and Moral Sciences" has been chosen from the fields of Cinema and Theater. Receiving the award was Mr. Maurice Bejart of France, a choreographer cho·re·o·graph v. cho·re·o·graphed, cho·re·o·graph·ing, cho·re·o·graphs v.tr. 1. To create the choreography of: choreograph a ballet. 2. and director of the Lausanne Bejart Ballet. Mr. Bejart, who is considered one of the greatest choreographers of the 20th century, has elevated the art of dance to a level that deftly expresses human thought and emotion. He has revived the primitive power that dance possessed earlier in human history, but had lost in more modern times. Bejart made his debut as a dancer in 1945. After choreographing "Symphonie pour un Homme Seul (Symphony for a Lonely Man)" in 1955, he attracted global attention with "Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring)" in 1959. In choreographing this work, Bejart emphasized the power of sex and reproduction, which he expressed with a group dance (corps de ballet corps de bal·let n. The dancers in a ballet troupe who perform as a group. [French : corps, corps + de, of + ballet, ballet. ), comprising equal numbers of men and women in leotards, giving the impression that they were naked. Following the amazing success of "Le Sacre du Printemps," Bejart choreographed "IXe Symphonie (Ninth Symphony)," "Bolero bolero (bəlâr`ō), national dance of Spain, introduced c.1780 by Sebastian Zerezo, or Cerezo. Of Moroccan origin, it resembles the fandango. ," and many other works, all of which continue to be performed to wide acclaim. The "Bolero" is included in a dramatic climactic scene in the film "Les uns et les Autres" directed by Francois Truffant. This film, which has left a deep impression on audiences, made dance familiar to the general public. Bejart has also contributed greatly to the development of other dancers and choreographers. In 1970, he founded the Mudra mudra In Buddhism and Hinduism, a symbolic gesture of the hands and fingers used in ceremonies, dance, sculpture, and painting. Hundreds of mudras are used in ceremony and dance, often in combination with movements of the wrists, elbows, and shoulders. School, dedicated to the performing arts. A great many graduates of the school are active today as dancers and choreographers. The essence of Bejart's philosophy is love toward all people, transcending racial and ethnic barriers. No other choreographers have shown keener interest than Bejart in Asian and African cultures. In particular, Bejart has a deep interest in Japanese culture; which inspired him to create "The Kabuki," based on the kabuki play "Kanadehon Chushingura," as well as "M," which was inspired by the life of Yukio Mishima Yukio Mishima (三島 由紀夫 Mishima Yukio . Background The Inamori Foundation was established in 1984 by Dr. Kazuo Inamori Kazuo Inamori (稲盛 和夫 Inamori Kazuo) (born 1932 in Kagoshima, Japan) is a Japanese businessman. Inamori graduated from Kagoshima University in 1955 and has received honorary doctorates from several universities in the U.S., the U.K. , Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Kyocera Corporation. The Kyoto Prizes were created in 1985, in reflection of Dr. Inamori's belief that man has no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of all humankind. The Kyoto Prize laureates are selected through a strict and objective process involving candidates recommended from around the world. So far, the Prizes have been presented to 48 individuals (including five Japanese) and one group. HOME PAGE: http://www.inamori-f.or.jp PHOTOS: http://www.kyocera.com/prizes |
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