Marcel Benoist Prize

The Marcel Benoist Foundation was founded originally to make an annual monetary award to a scientist of Swiss nationality or resident of Switzerland who has made the most useful scientific discovery, with emphasis on those affecting human life. Since 1997 candidates in the humanities have also been eligible.

The foundation was established by the will of the French lawyer Marcel Benoist resident of Lausanne who died in 1918, and since 1920 has made an annual award.

The foundation is managed by trustees some of whom are Swiss ministers, others are heads of the main Swiss universities.

The first award was to the Immunologist Maurice Arthus (1862-1945) at the University of Lausanne, and other winners have been, among others, computer scientist Niklaus Wirth and astronomer Michel Mayor. Up to 2003, nine Marcel Benoist winners have subsequently won the Nobel Prize.

See also

• Prizes named after people

External link

• The Marcel Benoist Foundation - Official site and list of winners