News Release
World's Most Prestigious Engineering Prize Opens for Nominations
London, United Kingdom, May 8, 2012 -- The international engineering community is being called upon to nominate their peers for the inaugural Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering - the biggest and most prestigious prize ever created to celebrate the achievements of today’s engineers.
Nominations open today for the prize which will award £1 million to the winning engineer or group of engineers responsible for the world’s greatest modern engineering advancement which has had a demonstrable benefit for humanity. The prize was created last year and aims to become as highly regarded internationally as the Nobel prizes. It will be awarded biennially and the search for the winner will demonstrate the importance of engineering to the fabric of society in every country across the globe.
Since its launch on 17 November 2011, the prize organisers have been assembling an eminent panel of judges – leaders in their fields across engineering disciplines, from around the world. They are academics and leaders in industry and are well placed to assess the importance and impact of engineering innovations globally.
"We have been fortunate in being able to draw together from around the world an amazingly distinguished group of panellists to judge this uniquely important prize, all of them household names in the world of engineering and science, and many of them leaders of internationally pre-eminent institutions and Academies," said Lord Alec Broers, Chair of the Judging Panel.
The confirmed judging panel is as follows:
Judges
Prof Frances Arnold, Chemical Engineer, Professor at Caltech, USA
Lord Alec Broers FREng Hon FMedSci FRS (Chair), Electrical Engineer. Past President, Royal Academy of Engineering, UK
Prof Brian Cox OBE, Particle Physicist. Royal Society Research Fellow, University of Manchester, UK
Prof Lynn Gladden, CBE FREng FRS Chemical Engineer. Professor at University of Cambridge, UK
Diane Greene, Director of Intuit, Director of Google, USA
Prof Calestous Juma, HonFREng FRS, Professor of International Development and Director of Science, Tech and Globalisation Project, Harvard University, USA
Prof Hiroshi Komiyama, Chemical Engineer President Engineering Academy of Japan
Prof John Hennessy, Electrical Engineer. President, Stanford University, USA
Prof. Dr. h.c. Reinhard Hüttl, President, acatech, Germany
Nathan Mhyrvold, Co-founder, Intellectual Ventures, USA
Narayana Murthy, Electronic Engineer. Founder, Infosys, India
Prof Choon Fong Shih, Mechanical Engineer. President, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia
Dr Charles Vest FREng Mechanical Engineer. President, National Academy of Engineering, USA
Paul Westbury FREng, Civil Engineer. CEO, Buro Happold, UK
The QEPrize is the result of a growing realisation in the worlds of business, engineering and politics of the need for a pioneering initiative to focus attention on engineering worldwide. A number of major engineering companies have donated to an endowment fund, which is being managed by an independent charitable trust, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation, chaired by Lord Browne of Madingley FREng FRS. The Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK will deliver the prize on behalf of the Trust.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for engineers everywhere to show the world their work and have it honoured on an international platform. To simply be nominated for this award would be an achievement in itself but to win it would be to write your name in the annals of engineering history,” said Lord Browne.
Message from HM The Queen
“Over the past 60 years, I have had the privilege of seeing how engineering developments can make a profound impact on people’s lives. I am delighted to lend my support to this prize and I hope that it inspires many more people across the globe to develop life changing engineering creations in the years to come.”
Further information
For interview opportunities, b-roll and film footage, stills and official QEPrize logos please contact: media@qep.org
Edelman
Toby Doman +44 (0)20 3047 2212
Emily Dimmock +44 (0)20 3047 2076
The QEPrize for Engineering:
Nominations for the prize are open until 14 September 2012. Details of how to make a nomination with conditions of entry can be found on the prize website www.qeprize.org. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in spring 2013.
Donors supporting the prize foundation:
An initial endowment has been established with support from the following companies: BAE Systems, BG Group, BP, GlaxoSmithKline, Jaguar Land Rover, National Grid, Shell, Siemens, Sony, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Steel and Toshiba.
Judges’ comments:
Lord Alec Broers, Chair of the Judging Panel. Past President, Royal Academy of Engineering: "We have been fortunate in being able to draw together from around the world an amazingly distinguished group of panellists to judge this uniquely important prize, all of them household names in the world of engineering and science, and many of them leaders of internationally pre-eminent institutions and Academies."
Prof Frances Arnold, Chemical Engineer. Professor at Caltech, USA: "This unique prize recognizes the intellectual excitement and huge social importance of engineering. I can think of no better career for a young person at this critical time, and no better way to advertise this fact to the world."
Prof Brian Cox, Particle Physicist. Research Fellow University of Manchester, UK: “Engineering is hardwired into us. From the earliest times, people have worked to shape the world around them and improve their lives through
engineering. The benefits are obvious and the impact incalculable. Everything we take for granted, from medicine to telecommunications, from computing to aviation, owes its very existence to engineers. It is obvious to me that the
symbiotic relationship between science and engineering will define the future of the global economy, and on a wider scale, the future of our civilisation, just as it defined our past”
Diane Greene, Director of Intuit, Director of Google, USA: "The Queen's Prize will focus attention on how applied technology is solving our world's major problems. The prize can make engineering more relevant and exciting for all of
us and so importantly, for girls and boys considering their career plans and to see engineering as one of the most effective ways to make the world better. "
Prof Dr. h.c. Reinhard Hüttl, President of acatech: “The German National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) enthusiastically appreciates the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering which provides an environment similar to the Nobel Prize. This is an excellent and most timely effort to support the innovation process on which our future depends.”
Prof Calestous Juma International Development Expert. Harvard University, USA: “The Queen Elizabeth Prize is what the world has been waiting for since the days of George Stephenson (and his steam engine). It will help inspire a new generation of young people focused on finding practical solutions
to global challenges.”
Narayana Murthy, Electronic Engineer. Founder, Infosys, India: “The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering is a wonderful recognition for modern engineers and their path-breaking achievements. As an engineer, I consider it a great honor to be part of the panel of juries for this prestigious award.”
Prof Choon Fong Shih, President, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia: “This prize will further the global appreciation and standing of engineering. The benefits which engineers can bring to societies across continents are immense, and it is so important that we broaden awareness and recognition of great work taking place today.”
Dr Charles Vest, Mechanical Engineer. President, National Academy of Engineering, USA: “The Queen Elizabeth Prize is an extraordinary and timely recognition of the role of engineering in modern society. Engineers and their work areessential to our economic vitality, health, security, and quality of life as we face the challenges of the 21st century on a planet with finite resources and a population approaching nine billion. Engineering innovation and entrepreneurship create jobs and opportunity.”
About The Royal Academy of Engineering
Founded in 1976, The Royal Academy of Engineering promotes the engineering and technological welfare of the country. Our fellowship – comprising the UK’s most eminent engineers – provides the leadership and expertise for our
activities, which focus on the relationships between engineering, technology, and the quality of life. As a national academy, we provide independent and impartial advice to Government; work to secure the next generation of engineers; and provide a voice for Britain’s engineering community.
Media Contacts
Ioana Patringenaru
Jacobs School of Engineering
858-822-0899
ipatrin@ucsd.edu