This year’s Tang Prize laureates in biopharmaceutical science, sinology and rule of law were unveiled June 19, 20 and 21, respectively, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to society.
Scientists Joel F. Habener, Svetlana Mojsov and Jens Juul Holst were acknowledged for their discovery of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-37), a bioactive hormone that stimulates insulin secretion and has the potential to treat diabetes and obesity, the Taipei City-based selection committee said. The 86-year-old Habener is an emeritus professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, while 77-year-old Mojsov is a research associate professor at Rockefeller University and 78-year-old Holst is a professor at the University of Copenhagen.
Ninety-four-year-old Hsu Cho-yun, a renowned Taiwanese American historian, was the recipient of the sinology award.
Former Ireland President Mary Robinson received the prize in rule of law for her work in gender equality, poverty alleviation, human rights and climate justice, the selection committee said, adding that the 80-year-old has long advocated for society’s most disadvantaged groups.
The announcements follow that of the 2024 Tang Prize in sustainable development June 18, which was awarded to Omar M. Yaghi, a chemistry professor at the University of California, Berkeley, for discoveries of essential tools to combat the climate crisis
Established by Taiwan entrepreneur Samuel Yen-liang Yin in 2012 and first conferred two years later, the biennial Tang Prize aspires to encourage more professionals to pursue knowledge needed to further the development of human civilization. Each award brings a cash prize of NT$50 million (US$1.54 million). (POC-E)
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