Professor James Gunn conceived and led the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which produced a three-dimensional digital cosmic map encompassing a broad region – a ‘map of the universe’. He contributed to the elucidation of the evolutionary history of the universe and has also published many pioneering astrophysical theories. Through these achievements, he has provided us with a significant understanding of the universe. Professor Gunn is the current Kyoto Prize Laureate for Basic Sciences.

This event features a mixture of live and recorded material, including a stream of Professor Gunn's lecture from the Kyoto Prize ceremony in November 2019. This is followed by a live exclusive Q&A, with the opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

Please note: This event takes place online via Zoom. Register at the Kyoto Prize at Oxford website.

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Preview

Panel discussion

A panel discussion featuring the 2019 Laureates also takes place as part of this year’s Kyoto Prize at Oxford – find out more and register via the webpage.

About the Kyoto Prize

The Kyoto Prize is an international award, organised by the Inamori Foundation, to honour those who have contributed significantly to the scientific, cultural, and spiritual betterment of humankind. Each year the prize is awarded in three categories: Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences, and Arts and Philosophy. The awards are held annually in November, in Kyoto, Japan. The Laureates travel to Oxford in the following May for the Kyoto Prize at Oxford hosted by the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. (Due to the postponement of last year's event in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the Blavatnik School is hosting the 2019 Laureates.)

The driving vision for the Kyoto Prize at Oxford is that the Inamori Foundation and the Blavatnik School of Government find a shared purpose in inspiring, educating and connecting individuals who strive for the greater good of humankind and society.