Martin Rees was awarded the 2001 Cosmology Prize of the Peter Gruber Foundation this month at a ceremony in Bern, Switzerland. The prize, established in 2000, is presented to a leading cosmologist, astronomer, astrophysicist, or scientific philosopher in recognition of groundbreaking theoretical, analytical, or conceptual discoveries. Beginning this year, the prize is sponsored jointly by the foundation, which is based in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, and the International Astronomical Union in Paris.
Astronomer Royal and a Royal Society Research Professor at the University of Cambridge in the UK, Rees is "renowned for his extraordinary intuition in unraveling the complexities of the universe," reports the foundation. "He has been a leader in the quest to understand the physical processes near black holes and is responsible for major advances in our understanding of the cosmic background radiation, quasars, gamma-ray bursts, and galaxy formation."
Rees was cited for his contributions to "almost every area of cosmology and astrophysics." He has been "an aspiring leader, eloquent spokesperson, and patient guide for astronomers all over the world. Through his public speaking and writing, he has made the universe a more familiar place for everyone." Rees recently wrote the book Our Cosmic Habitat (Princeton U. Press, 2001).
Bern was selected as the site for the award presentation to recognize Albert Einstein's contributions to cosmology. Einstein worked in Bern from 1902 to 1909 and wrote his theory of relativity there.
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