May 31, 2018: The 2018 Kavli Prize Laureates were announced as part of a live webcast event. The 2018 Kavli Prize laureate announcements by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in Oslo, Norway included live coverage of a special Prize program from the World Science Festival in New York City, anda special keynote address by the Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson Ph.D., President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

The Kavli Prize recognizes scientists for pioneering advances in our understanding of existence at its biggest, smallest, and most complex scales. Presented every two years in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience, each of three prizes consists of USD $1 million. Laureates are nominated by committees whose members are recommended by The Chinese Academy of Sciences, The French Academy of Sciences, The Max Planck Society (Germany), The National Academy of Sciences (US), The Royal Society (UK) and the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. From these nominations, The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters selects the laureates.

First awarded in 2008, the Kavli Prizes have so far honored 47 scientists from 11 countries – France, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Winners receive gold medals in Oslo, Norway, in a ceremony presided over by His Majesty King Harald. A banquet takes place at Oslo’s famed City Hall. The Kavli Prize is a partnership between the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, The Kavli Foundation (USA) and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.