Explore the Mapping of the Cosmos March 25 with Pioneering Astrophysicist James

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–University of California San Diego will virtually host international leader in astrophysical sciences, Professor James E. Gunn on March 25, 4-5:30 p.m.-PDT, as part of the annual Kyoto Prize Symposium. Originally planned as a series of live lectures in 2020, the 2021 Symposium has been recast to eliminate coronavirus risk by featuring the latest laureates of the Kyoto Prize in livestreamed video events that are free and open to the public.

Gunn’s discussion will be moderated by Dr. Alison Coil, Professor of Physics, and Ingrid and Joseph W. Hibben Chair, Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, UC San Diego. The event will feature Professor Gunn’s lecture from the latest Kyoto Prize ceremony in Japan, after which Professors Gunn and Coil will discuss current developments in astrophysics and cosmology. Anyone interested in attending this free livestream is encouraged to register before March 25 at http://kyotoprizesymposium.eventbrite.com to ensure that you receive log-in instructions well before the event.

Gunn is Emeritus Eugene Higgins Professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University. He led the pioneering Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) from its hardware design phase, beginning in 1992 and continuing through two decades of refinement and exploration. SDSS, which has produced a three-dimensional digital cosmic map encompassing a vast portion of the observable universe, is regarded among the most ambitious and influential surveys in the history of astronomy. Gunn played a vital role in the project, including conception, planning, instrument development and data analysis, and contributed to the elucidation of the evolution of galaxies across cosmic time. He has also published many pioneering astrophysical theories. A key contributor to scientific understanding of the universe, Gunn is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He has been honored with the Crafoord Prize in Astronomy, Gruber Prize in Cosmology, National Medal of Science, and most recently the Kyoto Prize, Japan’s highest private award for global achievement.

In addition to Gunn, the 2021 Kyoto Prize Symposium includes lectures by stage director Ariane Mnouchkine, Kyoto Prize Laureate in Arts and Philosophy, March 24 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.-PDT; and OLED pioneer Ching W. Tang, Kyoto Prize Laureate in Advanced Technology, March 25 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.-PDT. For more information and event registration, please visit http://kyotoprizesymposium.eventbrite.com.

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About the Kyoto Prize

The Kyoto Prize is an international award created in 1984 by Japan’s non-profit Inamori Foundation to honor those who have contributed significantly to humankind’s scientific, cultural and spiritual development. The prize consists of a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash award of 100 million yen (over $900,000) per prize category, presented during annual ceremonies each November 10 in Kyoto, Japan. The Kyoto Prize Symposium, co-hosted by UC San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene University, brings the latest Kyoto Prize laureates to North America each year in March, followed by Oxford University’s annual Kyoto Prize at Oxford events in the UK in May. Since 1985, the Kyoto Prize has been awarded to 111 extraordinary individuals from 17 nations.