The Blavatnik School of Government welcomed the Kyoto Prize Laureates on 5th and 6th May 2026, with a series of lectures and public events celebrating their achievements in the arts, sciences and technology.
The Kyoto Prize, awarded annually by the Inamori Foundation in Japan, honours those who have made significant contributions in their fields. Each year, the Blavatnik School hosts the laureates for the Kyoto Prize at Oxford, offering a platform for dialogue and learning that reflects a shared commitment to excellence, global understanding and the public good.
This year’s laureates include mathematical engineer Shun-ichi Amari for his pioneering contributions to the theoretical foundations of artificial intelligence and for establishing the field of information geometry; psychologist Carol Gilligan for opening new horizons in the ‘Ethic of Care’ and challenging the limitations of conventional psychological theories; and developmental biologist Azim Surani for discovering genomic imprinting in mammals, transforming understanding of developmental biology and epigenetics.
Lord Hague of Richmond, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, noted that the laureates “remind us that progress is not just technical, but human”. Their work “spans disciplines but is united by a commitment to improving the human condition”.
He added that the Kyoto Prize exemplifies the University’s close collaboration with Japan.
“The University has a long and valued relationship with Japan, built over many years through the exchange of students, scholars and ideas. It is a relationship grounded in shared commitments - to excellence, to public service, and to addressing global challenges. Our partnership with the Kyoto Prize is a particularly meaningful expression of that connection, bringing outstanding Japanese and international thinkers into dialogue with our community here in Oxford.”
The visit included public lectures, discussions and opportunities for students and researchers to engage directly with the laureates and their work.
For more information about the Kyoto Prize at Oxford, visit: https://www.kyotoprize.ox.ac.uk/
