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Kyoto Prize Symposium Comes to San Diego March 18-20

SDSU, UCSD and USD to present latest Kyoto Prize laureates, celebrate great achievements in computer science, cancer research and social philosophy

SAN DIEGO - March 3, 2009 – The Inamori Foundation and the Kyoto Symposium Organization today announced that they will host the eighth annual Kyoto Prize Symposium in San Diego March 18-20, 2009. The three-day event will celebrate the latest recipients of the Kyoto Prize, Japan's highest private award for global achievement, through public presentations on local university campuses. For only the second time in the history of the Prize, all three laureates are from North America - including a UC Berkeley professor and the first recipients from Canada.

Admission to most events is free, with online registration available at www.kyotoprize.org.

A benefit gala, "The Kyoto Prize: Celebrating Outstanding Human Achievement," will officially open the Symposium at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines hotel. Complimentary presentations by each laureate will follow, March 19-20, at San Diego State University; University of California, San Diego; and University of San Diego.

The Latest Kyoto Prize Laureates

Dr. Richard M. Karp, a computer scientist and university professor at UC Berkeley, is the 24th Kyoto Prize laureate in "Advanced Technology." Dr. Karp's contributions to Computational Complexity Theory have led to epoch-making improvements in large-scale information systems, the foundation for today's digital society. His problem-solving computer algorithms have also influenced many other fields of technology - from logistics to genetics - by integrating human inspiration and creativity with the problem-solving power of the computer. Dr. Karp will discuss "The Mysteries of Algorithms," Thursday, March 19, 9:30-11:00 a.m. at San Diego State University. As the event's invited scholar, Dr. Andrew Viterbi, co-founder of Qualcomm and president of The Viterbi Group, will discuss Dr. Karp's achievements and basic research surrounding four of the most significant developments of our era: the Internet; the World Wide Web; search engines; and mobile communication.

Dr. Anthony J. Pawson, a molecular biologist at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital, and university professor at the University of Toronto, is the 24th Kyoto Prize laureate in "Basic Sciences." Many diseases afflicting humans arise from a failure of "intracellular signal transduction," in which cells get the wrong instructions for growth. By proposing and proving the concept of adapter molecules in this process, Dr. Pawson has made a tremendous contribution to virtually every field of biomedical research - providing insights for new therapeutic drugs and aiding the fight against cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and many other ailments. Dr. Pawson will discuss "How Human Cells Talk to Each Other, and What Goes Wrong in Disease," Thursday, March 19, 3:30-5:00 p.m. at University of California, San Diego. Dr. Susan Taylor, a UCSD professor and investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, will discuss the implications of Dr. Pawson's findings for the process of biological evolution and the targeting of disease.

Dr. Charles M. Taylor, a professor at McGill University in Montreal and internationally acclaimed philosopher, is the 24th Kyoto Prize laureate in "Arts and Philosophy." Dr. Taylor has spent most of his life constructing a social philosophy to promote harmony among people of different historical, traditional, and cultural backgrounds. By calling for diverse peoples to coexist while retaining their own unique identities, Dr. Taylor's work addresses some of the greatest challenges now facing human society. His presentation, "Democracy and Exclusion: The Darker Side of Political Identity," will illuminate how democratic societies define a collective identity, and the experience of those whose differences place them outside of the majority. Joining him at the event, Friday, March 20, 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at University of San Diego, will be renowned sociologist Dr. Robert N. Bellah, professor emeritus of UC Berkeley and recipient of the U.S. National Humanities Medal.

"The Kyoto Prize Symposium brings some of the world's most creative minds to our community," said Robert Horsman, president and CEO of San Diego National Bank, who chairs the non-profit Kyoto Symposium Organization. "In celebrating the laureates of the Kyoto Prize, we strengthen international ties while showcasing San Diego's own academic, hi-tech, biotech, and arts communities."

In addition to his role as chairman of the board, Horsman has taken the lead of the benefit gala along with fellow co-chairs Masaaki Tanaka, president and CEO of Union Bank; and Dr. Dana Gibson, president of National University. Reprising his role as the gala's honorary chair is Dr. Irwin Jacobs, chairman of Qualcomm Incorporated. The benefit gala will fund the 2009-2010 Kyoto Scholarships, presented to six high school seniors - three each from San Diego and Tijuana - who have been inspired by the laureates to contribute to the betterment of society. The $10,000 scholarships are given in the broad fields of advanced technology, basic sciences, and arts and philosophy.

"The Kyoto Prize laureates leave a precious legacy to society through their work," said Malin Burnham, vice chairman of Cushman-Wakefield of San Diego and founding chairman of the Kyoto Symposium Organization. "Our Kyoto Scholarships are designed to reflect the example set by these laureates. From participating in groundbreaking research to volunteering in developing nations, our scholarship recipients are making a real difference in today's world."

The Kyoto Prize

The Kyoto Prize is presented annually by the Inamori Foundation to individuals and groups worldwide who have made outstanding contributions to the betterment of humanity. Consisting of academic honors, a 20-karat gold medal and a cash gift of 50 million yen (about $500,000), it is Japan's highest private award for lifetime achievement. The laureates are selected through a strict and impartial process considering candidates recommended from around the world. As of November 10, 2008, the Kyoto Prize has been awarded to 77 individuals and one group - collectively representing 13 nations. Kyoto Prize laureates range from scientists, engineers and researchers to philosophers, painters, architects, sculptors, musicians and film directors. The United States has produced the most recipients (33), followed by Japan (12), the United Kingdom (nine), and France (seven).

The Inamori Foundation

The non-profit Inamori Foundation was established in Kyoto, Japan, in 1984 by Dr. Kazuo Inamori, a Japanese humanitarian and founder of both Kyocera and KDDI Corporation. Dr. Inamori created the Kyoto Prize in 1985, in reflection of his belief that human beings have no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of society, and that mankind's future can be assured only when there is a balance between science, technology and the human spirit.

The Kyoto Symposium Organization

The Kyoto Symposium Organization is a San Diego-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization established to support the Kyoto Prize Symposium and Kyoto Scholarship programs.

Download photos at: http://www.kyotoprize.org

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