2009 Recipient Chosen for International Prize for Biology

Dr. Winslow Russell Briggs

On 15 September, at a meeting of the Committee on the International Prize for Biology (chaired by Dr. Takashi Sugimura, vice president, the Japan Academy) of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science decided to present the 25^th (2009) International Prize for Biology to Dr. Winslow Russell Briggs, an American citizen who is Director Emeritus, Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, USA, and Professor Emeritus, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, USA.

The field of specialization for the 25^th Prize is “Biology of Sensing.” Dr. Briggs has made several important discoveries with regard to phototropism, which has been an issue in plant biology from the time of Charles Darwin. Most notably, he discovered phototropin, a photoreceptor that allows plants to recognize the direction of light, which has had a major impact on photoreaction research, not only on plants but also on the wider realm of biology. His work has indeed made an extremely valuable contribution to advancing the entire domain of biological science.

Award Ceremony

The award ceremony was held on 30 November at the Japan Academy. Each year, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress attend the ceremony and a party in honor of the award recipient.

Commemorative Symposium

To commemorate the award to Dr. Briggs, the 25^th International Prize for Biology Commemorative Symposium on Biology of Sensing was held on 2-3 December at Kyoto University.

Dr. Winslow Russell Briggs
Nationality:		United States of America
Present Position:		Director Emeritus, Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution of Washington, USA
		Professor Emeritus, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, USA
Curriculum Vitae:
	1993-present	Director Emeritus, Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution of Washington
	1993-present	Professor Emeritus, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University
	1973-1993	Director, Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution of Washington
	1973-1993	Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University
	1967-1973	Professor, Department of Biology, Harvard University
	1966-1967	Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University
	1962-1966	Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University
	1957-1962	Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University
	1955-1957	Instructor, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University
	1956	Ph.D., Harvard University
Awards and Distinctions:
	2007	Gude Award, American Society of Plant Biologists
	2006	Centennial Award, Botanical Society of America
	2000	Finsen Medal, Association Internationale de Photobiologie
	1995	Sterling Hendricks Medal, United States Department of Agriculture and American Chemical Society
	1994	Stephen Hales Prize, American Society of Plant Physiologists
	1993-1994	Alexander von Humboldt U.S. Senior Scientist Award
	1986	Elected to Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina
	1984-1985	Alexander von Humboldt U.S. Senior Scientist Award
	1975	Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
	1974	Elected to National Academy of Sciences

- General Affairs Division