Swiss Science Prize Marcel Benoist

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The Swiss Science Prize Marcel Benoist (until 2016 Marcel Benoist Prize ) is a Swiss science prize.

The prize is awarded annually by the Marcel Benoist Foundation to academics who are established in Switzerland . According to the will of Marcel Benoist (1864–1918), the prize is to go to the scientist who “has made the most useful scientific invention, discovery or study during the year that is particularly important for human life”.

Foundation of the award

Marcel Benoist came from a wealthy Parisian family. He initially became a lawyer, but gave up his activity in 1898 for reasons that were not clear. He is said to have made several trips to Europe and collected art objects. After the death of his father, he led the life of a withdrawn intellectual on the estate he had inherited. Fearing that war would break out between France and Germany, he moved his art collection and his economic activities to Switzerland from 1911. From 1914 to 1918, Benoist spent most of his time in Lausanne . He died of smallpox in Paris on August 10, 1918. In the will of 1914 he transferred his assets to the Swiss Confederation , with the condition that the above-mentioned science award be set up.

The Swiss Federal Council satisfied the legal heirs in France, gave the art collection to the city of Lausanne (which it bought in 1965) for safekeeping, and on November 5, 1920 established the Marcel Benoist Foundation for the promotion of scientific research . The Board of Trustees is chaired by the current head of the Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research (EAER). Furthermore, the French ambassador to Switzerland (or a deputy appointed by him) and a senior federal employee appointed by the EAER from the fields of science policy or public health belong to him ex officio. In addition, the Federal Council appoints a further nine to fifteen members to represent the teaching staff of Swiss universities for a term of office of four years (with the possibility of re-election).

In 2017, a realignment was announced, with a recapitalization of the foundation through private donations, the transfer of the selection process to the Swiss National Science Foundation and the adjustment of the structures.

The prize has been awarded since 1920. This makes it the oldest science award in Switzerland.

Award winners

literature

  • Martin Stuber, Sabine Kraut: The Marcel Benoist Prize 1920–1995. The history of the Swiss Federal Science Award. Benteli, Bern 1995.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research: Swiss Science Prize Marcel Benoist realigned. Retrieved November 1, 2017 .
  2. ↑ Basler physicist wins most important Swiss science award in: Basler Zeitung of October 13, 2010
  3. ^ "Swiss Nobel Prize" for computer scientists in: Neue Zürcher Zeitung of September 2, 2011