Three University of California scientists were honored on April 18 at the annual Breakthrough Prize gala, where they received recognition for their achievements in physics and mathematics.
The awards, often referred to as the “Oscars of Science,” are given by the Breakthrough Foundation to celebrate major advances in scientific research. The event was hosted by James Corden and co-created by tech leaders Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, Julia and Yuri Milner, and Anne Wojcicki. This year marks the fourteenth edition of the prizes.
David J. Gross from UC Santa Barbara received the $3 million Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for his lifetime work in theoretical physics. Gross was recognized “for a lifetime of groundbreaking contributions to theoretical physics, from the strong force to string theory, and for tireless advocacy for basic science worldwide.” He previously won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2004 and directed UC Santa Barbara’s Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics.
UC Berkeley’s Yunqing Tang shared the New Horizons Prize in Mathematics for her research into Diophantine geometry, which has led to significant advances in number theory. Benjamin Safdi from UC Berkeley and Berkeley Lab was awarded the New Horizons Physics prize as its sole winner this year due to his research into axion-like particles related to dark matter.
The total value of this year’s prizes is $18.75 million, bringing total awards conferred since inception above $340 million. According to organizers, UC scientists have now won a total of 15 Breakthrough Prizes.
Mark Zuckerberg and Dr. Priscilla Chan said: “This year’s laureates show what great science can do — deepen our understanding of the world and lead to discoveries that improve millions of lives… We’re proud to recognize their work.” Yuri Milner added: “The brilliant scientists who win the Breakthrough Prize are building a cathedral of knowledge on foundations laid down by the giants who came before them. We owe our civilization — and its future — to them.”
Organizers highlighted that such advancements would not be possible without federal investment; notably, since its founding in 1979, support from agencies like the National Science Foundation has played a key role.
