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Riyadh,
16 January
2007,
HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Director of King Faisal Foundation,
tonight announced the winners of the 2007 King Faisal International Prize.
The prize for
Science (Topic: Chemistry) has been awarded to:
Professor James Fraser Stoddart (UK)
Fred Kavli Professor of NanoSystems Sciences, University of
California, Los Angeles
Professor
Stoddart is a pioneer in the development of a new field in chemistry dealing
with nanoscience. He is awarded the Prize for his work in molecular recognition
and self-assembly. His introduction of quick and efficient template–directed
synthetic routes to mechanically interlocked molecular compounds is of seminal
importance. It has changed dramatically the way chemists think about molecular
systems and how they can be used in the fabrication of molecular switches and
machines such as molecular elevators and shuttles.
Stoddart's work
was cleverly, elegantly and meticulously done, and carries tremendous
creativity, originality and innovation.
The Prize for
Medicine (Topic: Prostate Cancer) has been awarded jointly to:
Professor
Fernand Labrie (Canada)
Head of the Department of Molecular Endocrinology,
Center Hospital of Laval University at Quebec
and
Professor
Patrick Craig Walsh (USA)
University Distinguished Service Professor of Urology,
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
In
recognition of their respective contributions to therapeutic and surgical
manage-ment of prostate cancer.
Professor
Labrie is recognized for developing LHRH agonists and combined androgen blockage
in the treatment of Prostatic Cancer - these innovative procedures have replaced
orchiectomy (surgical removal of the testes) and estrogen therapy, and changed
the quality of life of prostate cancer patients. He has also evaluated early
detection procedures for prostate cancer which helped increase the patients'
chances for survival.
Professor Walsh
is renowned worldwide for developing nerve sparing radical surgery for prostate
cancer, thereby contributing substantially to improved survival and eliminating
the possibility of impotence and incontinence. He has also made important
contributions towards better understanding of some genetic aspects of prostate
cancer and hypertrophy.
The
Prize for Arabic Language and Literature (Ancient Arabic Rhetoric) has been
awarded jointly to:
Professor
Muhammad A. Al-Omari (Morocco)
Professor of rhetoric, King Muhammad V University, Rabat
and
Professor Mustafa A. Nasif (Egypt)
Professor of rhetoric, Ain Shams University, Cairo
Professor
Al-Omari is awarded the Prize in recognition of his distinguished studies in
Arabic rhetoric and the concepts of text and functions of Arabic rhetoric and
oratory, both presently and in the past. Through his grasp of modern rheotoric
and stylistics research, coupled with his deep insight of Arabic language
heritage, Professor Al-Omari has set an example of precise methodology and
presentation of research in Arabic rhetoric.
Professor Nasif
is recognized for his comprehensive, diversified and highly original research
into Arabic rhetoric as it relates to the origins from which modern Arabic
rhetoric derives. His studies reflect new concepts and an excellent awareness of
the progress of modern Arabic rhetoric.
The Prize for
Islamic Studies (Topic: Muslims' Contribution to Pure or Applied Sciences) has
been awarded to:
Professor Roshdi Hifni Rashed (Egypt/France)
Emeritus Research Director (Distinguished Class) of the C.N.R.S.
(France)
and Honrary Professor, Tokyo University (Japan)
in recognition
of his insightful studies, authentication, commentaries and translations of
Muslims' contributions to pure science, in particular their achievements in the
fields of mathematics and optics. Professor Rashed has authored around 60 books
and more than 100 scholarly articles in addition to his translation of some
important relevant texts from ancient languages.
His methodology
and the originality and depth of his works have earned him respect both in the
Arab world and international. He is particularly recognized for his illustrious,
six-volume book on the history of Arab contributions to science, and his
four-volume book on analytical mathematics between the third and fifth Hejira
centuries.
The Prize for
Service to Islam has been awarded to:
H.E.
President
Mintimer
Sharipovich Shaimev (Russia)
President of the Republic of Tatarstan
H.E.
President
Shaimiev
is awarded the Prize in recognition of his distinguished services to Islam,
including his steadfast efforts to revive Islamic culture in the Republic of
Tatarstan, promote Islamic teachings and values among its population, and
rebuild Islamic mosques destroyed during previous eras Today, more than 1000
mosques have been rebuilt, including 40 in the capital city of Kazan, whereas
only four mosques had remained during the communist rule of that country.
President Shsimiev's reign has also witnessed the inauguration of the Ghol
Sharif mosque, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture, as well as the
printing of the Holy Qur'an and major Islamic books, inception of numerous
Islamic schools and societies and establishment of the Russian Islamic
University which teaches in Russian, Tatarian and Arabic languages. The
president is also acknowledged for pursuing a wise policy that helped
consolidate rapport and peaceful coexistence among members of the population,
and culminated in a discernible economic and cultural development of that
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