The Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford welcomed the Kyoto Prize Laureates on 6–7 May 2025 with a series of lectures and public events to celebrate their extraordinary 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 of Government hosts the laureates for the Kyoto Prize at Oxford, offering a platform for dialogue, learning, and celebration that reflects a shared commitment to excellence, global understanding, and the public good–whether in the science, arts or public policy. 

This year’s laureates include choreographer and dance innovator William Forsythe, who has transformed contemporary dance through bold experimentation; theoretical physicist Sir John Pendry who is celebrated for his groundbreaking work on metamaterials, laying the groundwork for creating innovative materials such as “superlenses” and “invisibility cloaks”; and evolutionary biologist Paul F Hoffman, recognised for deepening our understanding of the Earth’s past including through his “snowball Earth” hypothesis which demonstrated that the planet experienced global glaciation events. 

Professor Ngaire Woods, founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, said: 

“We are honoured to welcome these visionary Kyoto Prize Laureates to Oxford. Their work represents not only the highest level of academic and creative excellence, but also a profound commitment to making the world a better place. These values are at the heart of what we strive to do at the Blavatnik School through our independent research and supporting future leaders to succeed.” 

Shinobu Inamori-Kanazawa, President of the Inamori Foundation, said: 

“We are delighted that the Blavatnik School of Government provides a European home for the Kyoto Prize, creating opportunities for the brilliant young minds in the Oxford community and beyond to meet with the inspiring Kyoto Prize Laureates each year. We sincerely hope the ’Kyoto Prize at Oxford’ will foster profound learning and provide new insights through its diverse and intellectually stimulating programmes.” 

For more information about the Kyoto Prize at Oxford, visit: https://www.kyotoprize.ox.ac.uk/