Four leading scientists and researchers were honoured with the King Faisal International Prize 2017 at a glittering ceremony in Riyadh by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia yesterday (April 4).

The Prize honours exceptional achievements in a number of key areas, including Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science.

The event was attended by an elite gathering of princes, ministers, top officials, thought leaders, scholars, and scientists.

Giving away the award, King Salman commended the efforts of the scientists and researchers in creating a better world. The King also appreciated the King Faisal International Prize for its key role in enriching knowledge and encouraging initiatives for the development of mankind.

King Salman handed over the King Faisal International Prize for Medicine to Professor Tadamitsu Kishimoto of Japan for developing a novel biologic therapy for autoimmune diseases. Kishimoto is the Professor of Immunology Frontier Research Center at Osaka University.

The prize for science was shared this year by Professor Daniel Loss and Professor Laurens Molenkamp, physicists from Switzerland and Germany. Professor Daniel Loss is the Professor of the Department of Physics, University of Basel, while Professor Laurens Molenkamp is Professor and Head, MBE Unit, University of Wurzburg.

Professor Daniel Loss won the award in recognition of his work on the theory of spin dynamics and spin coherence in quantum dots, which has practical applications in spin quantum computers. Professor Laurens Molenkamp was honoured for his work in the experimental field of spintronics.

Professor Ridwan Al-Sayyid of the University of Lebanon was recognized for his specialized publications and research that have enriched the Arabic Library.

Launched by the King Faisal Foundation and granted for the first time in 1979, the King Faisal International Prize recognises the outstanding works of individuals and institutions in a number of key areas.  - TradeArabia News Service