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| Avery Prize | |
|---|---|
| Name | Avery Prize |
| Awarded for | Lifetime achievement in [field] |
| Presenter | Avery Foundation |
| Country | United States |
| First awarded | 1990 |
| Website | Official site |
Avery Prize
The Avery Prize is a prestigious award presented by the Avery Foundation recognizing lifetime achievement in a specific scholarly or creative field. Modeled on distinguished honors such as the Nobel Prize, MacArthur Fellowship, and Pulitzer Prize, the Avery Prize has been awarded to leading figures associated with institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, and University of Oxford. Recipients have included scholars, practitioners, and public intellectuals who have connections to organizations including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Royal Society, and Institute for Advanced Study.
The Avery Prize was established in 1990 by the philanthropist and industrialist Charles Avery to honor long-term contributions to the arts and sciences. Early prize ceremonies featured speakers from Carnegie Institution, Rockefeller Foundation, and Guggenheim Foundation, and were held at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Smithsonian Institution. Over successive decades, the award expanded its advisory board to include members from Columbia University, Yale University, Princeton University, and international bodies like the European Research Council and Max Planck Society. Major milestones include a partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the introduction of an international shortlist in 2005, aligning the prize with global honors such as the Templeton Prize and the Right Livelihood Award.
Eligibility for the Avery Prize requires demonstrable career-long achievements typically recognized by peers from bodies such as the American Philosophical Society, British Academy, or National Academy of Sciences. Nominees are often senior figures affiliated with universities like University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or research institutes such as the Wellcome Trust and Salk Institute. The award emphasizes sustained impact on fields represented in partnerships with organizations like the Smithsonian Institution, Getty Trust, and British Museum. Past criteria reference honors held by candidates, including fellowships from the Royal Society of Arts, awards such as the Wolf Prize or Field Medal, and leadership roles at institutions like The Lancet or Nature Publishing Group.
Nominations are solicited from a wide network that includes members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, trustees of the Avery Foundation, and directors from cultural bodies like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Tate Modern. A selection committee composed of jurors from Harvard Kennedy School, New York University, and international centers such as the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique evaluates candidates. The shortlist is reviewed in consultation with external referees drawn from editorial boards of journals like Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and Modern Language Quarterly. Final decisions are announced at ceremonies attended by delegations from the White House, the European Commission, and the World Bank.
Laureates of the Avery Prize include eminent figures who have also received other major distinctions such as the Pulitzer Prize, Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, and Presidential Medal of Freedom. Recipients have been drawn from diverse institutions including Columbia University Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University, Oxford University Press, BBC, and National Public Radio. Notable winners have been associated with initiatives like the Human Genome Project, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and cultural projects at the Metropolitan Opera and Royal Shakespeare Company. Laureates often serve on boards of the World Health Organization, International Monetary Fund, or International Criminal Court.
The Avery Prize confers a cash award, a medallion struck by the Royal Mint or United States Mint, and a residency fellowship hosted by institutions including the Radcliffe Institute, Sackler Library, or Villa Medici. Additional benefits include research grants administered through partners such as the Gates Foundation, curatorial support from the Victoria and Albert Museum, and public lectures broadcast by outlets like PBS and BBC Four. Laureates receive invitations to participate in symposiums co-sponsored with organizations such as the Brookings Institution and the Council on Foreign Relations.
The Avery Prize has influenced career trajectories and institutional funding priorities, prompting collaborations among entities like the National Institutes of Health, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. Media coverage by The New York Times, The Guardian, and Le Monde has elevated public profiles of recipients and spurred debates in forums such as the World Economic Forum and the Davos sessions. Criticism has occasionally arisen from commentators in outlets like The Atlantic and New Statesman concerning selection transparency and geographic representation, leading the foundation to publish enhanced procedures aligned with standards advocated by the Open Society Foundations and Transparency International.
Category:Awards