Descartes Prize

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Descartes Prize is an annual award in science given by the European Union, named in honour of the French mathematician and philosopher, René Descartes.

The prizes are awarded in two categories -

• Outstanding Scientific and Technological Achievements Resulting from European Collaborative Research
• Outstanding Science Communication Actions.

The research prize was first awarded in 2000, with the science communication prize first awarded in 2004.

The research prize is awarded to teams of researchers who have "achieved outstanding scientific or technological results through collaborative research in any field of science, including the economic, social science and humanities." [1]. Submissions may be received by the research teams themselves or by suitable national bodies.

The science communication prize is a "prize of prizes" that is only open to winners of other award schemes from the year preceding the award. Eligible forms of science communication include public engagement, written communication including newspaper articles and popular science books, audio-visual media including TV programmes and websites, and "innovative action".[2]

Proposals (also referred to as submissions) received are judged and a shortlist of nominees are announced, from which five Laureates (finalists) and five Winners are announced at a prize ceremony in December each year.

[edit] External links

• Official site
• EU CORDIS FP6 site on the Descartes Prize
• Editorial policy for the promotion of science whatever the media