November 2, 2019
Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU)
The Emperor of Japan will confer a Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon to Hirosi Ooguri, Director of the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe at the University of Tokyo and the Fred Kavli Professor of Theoretical Physics and Mathematics at the California Institute of Technology, the government of Japan announced on November 2.
“I have been brought up in the public school system in Japan, starting from elementary education and all the way to the graduate school. My research has also been generously supported by the people of Japan. It means a lot to me to receive this award from the Japanese government.”
“I have been extraordinarily fortunate to have been able to enjoy my career in basic science research. I will continue my effort to advance our understanding of high energy physics and cosmology. As the director of the Kavli IPMU, I will also do my best to create and sustain an environment to support basic science research,” said Ooguri.
The awards will be conferred by Emperor Naruhito on November 3, the Culture Day holiday and the birthday of Emperor Meiji, who established the awards in 1881. Medals with Purple Ribbon were added in 1955 to recognize “individuals who have contributed to academic and artistic discoveries, inventions, and innovations.”
Robert W. Conn, president and chief executive officer of The Kavli Foundation, has sent his congratulations to Ooguri on the news.
“We are thrilled that Hirosi Ooguri has received the Medal of Honor, one of Japan’s most prestigious awards, in recognition of his many accomplishments and contributions to science. As the director of the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, we know Hirosi as one of the finest scientists in the world. We are honored to have him lead the Kavli IPMU and congratulate him on this richly deserved award.”
An award ceremony is scheduled on December 17. Then, recipients will be invited to the Imperial Palace to have an audience with the Emperor and receive his commendations at the State Banquet Hall.
Hirosi Ooguri’s Education:
1984 Kyoto University Bachelor of Science
1986 Kyoto University Master of Science
1989 University of Tokyo Doctor of Science
Employment:
1986 – 1989 University of Tokyo Assistant Professor
1988 – 1989 Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton Member
1989 – 1990 University of Chicago Assistant Professor
1990 – 1996 Kyoto University Associate Professor
1996 – 2000 University of California, Berkeley Professor
1996 – 2000 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Faculty Senior Scientist
2000 – 2007 California Institute of Technology Professor
2007 – present California Institute of Technology Fred Kavli Professor
2010 – 2015 California Institute of Technology, Division of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy Deputy Chair
2014 – present California Institute of Technology, Walter Burke Institute for Theoretical Physics Founding Director
2016 – 2019 Aspen Center for Physics President
2018 – present Kavli IPMU, University of Tokyo Director
Awards & Honors:
2008 American Mathematical Society Eisenbud Prize for Mathematics and Physics
2008 Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Humboldt Research Award
2009 Mathematical Society of Japan Takagi Lecturer
2009 Nishina Memorial Foundation Nishina Memorial Prize
2012 Simons Foundation Simons Investigator
2012 American Mathematical Society Fellow
2014 Kodansha Kodansha Prize for Science Books
2016 International Planetarium Society Best Educational Product Award
2016 Chunichi Shimbun Chunichi Cultural Prize
2016 American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow
2018 Joachim Herz Foundation Hamburg Prize
Related links
Types of Medals (Cabinet Office)
Summary of the Honors System (Cabinet Office)
Hirosi Ooguri’s website (Caltech)