Five scientists were honored with the Shaw Prize in Hong Kong on Tuesday, for their outstanding contributions in astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences.
Four of them are recipients of this year’s prize, while the other one won the prize in 2021.
This year, the Astronomy prize was awarded to Shrinivas R Kulkarni, a professor at the California Institute of Technology, for his groundbreaking discoveries about millisecond pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and other variable and transient astronomical objects. 
The Life Science and Medicine prize was shared by Swee Lay Thein, hematologist and physician-scientist at the National Institutes of Health in the US, and Stuart Orkin, professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. 
The two scientists are recognized for their discovery of the genetics and molecular mechanisms underlying sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia, devastating blood diseases that affect millions of people worldwide.
The Shaw Prize in Mathematical Sciences 2024 went to Peter Sarnak, a professor at Princeton University, for his development of the arithmetic theory of thin groups and the affine sieve.
During the ceremony, Scott D Emr, Shaw Laureate in Life Science and Medicine 2021, was presented with his gold medal. The Cornell University professor received the certificate in the US in 2021.

In his address at the ceremony, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu praised the laureates for their exceptional contributions to expanding the horizons of scientific possibilities for humanity.
He also paid tribute to Run Run Shaw, the Hong Kong media mogul and prestigious philanthropist who founded the prize, saying that the prize inspires the youth of Hong Kong to see the promise, and the possibilities, of science.
Lee reaffirmed the government’s determination to develop Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology center, and an international hub for postsecondary education. 
Lee cited measures from the Policy Address released last month, including the ongoing preparatory work of the third “InnoHK” cluster, which will be focusing on advanced manufacturing, materials, energy, and sustainable development.
“Like the Shaw Prize Foundation, and the laureates they honor, Hong Kong is determined to thrive in this ever-changing world. And making good progress, too,” Lee said.
In 2002, the Shaw Prize Foundation was founded with the support of Shaw. The first Shaw Prize was awarded in 2004. Each of the three awards — Astronomy, Life Science and Medicine, and Mathematical Sciences — has carried a prize of $1.2 million since 2016.
The Shaw Prize recognizes individuals active in their academic and scientific fields, who have recently made significant advancements. Since 2004, the prize has acknowledged more than 100 exceptional individuals for their groundbreaking contributions.
In the ceremony’s opening remarks, Shaw Prize Council Chair Kenneth Young announced that as the Shaw Prize enters its third decade, new activities will be launched this year to engage local young science enthusiasts, hoping to nurture a new generation of scientists, and encourage broader engagement in science communication within the community.
These activities include the meetings between Shaw Prize laureates and local secondary school students, as well as cross-disciplinary roundtables with the laureates and local young scholars.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com