Caltech astrophysicist wins 1 of first Kavli Prizes

"I'm delighted with the award. It is in particular a most pleasant surprise after so many years," Schmidt says. "After all, it's been 45 years since I found the red shift in quasar 3C273."

Schmidt was the executive officer for astronomy at Caltech from 1972 to 1975, the chair of the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy for the following three years, and then served as the last director of the Hale Observatories from 1978 to 1980. Despite being named an emeritus professor 12 years ago, he has continued his research, working to find the redshift beyond which there are no quasars.

Schmidt's fellow Kavli Prize recipient in astrophysics, Lynden-Bell, is honored for his ideas that the enormous energy of quasars arises from frictional heating in a gaseous disk of material rotating around giant black holes. The prediction that quasars are found at the centers of galaxies was later confirmed by high-resolution observations with the Hubble Space Telescope.

The Kavli Prizes focus on the science of the greatest physical dimensions of space and time, the science of the smallest dimensions of systems of atoms and molecules, and the science of the most complex systems, especially living organisms. Dedicated to the advancement of science for the benefit of humanity, the Kavli Foundation supports scientific research, honors scientific achievement, and promotes public understanding of scientists and their work. Fred Kavli, a Norwegian-born physicist, business leader, inventor, and philanthropist, moved to the U.S. shortly after receiving his college degree in physics and started a company that became one of the world's largest suppliers of sensors for aeronautic, automotive, and industrial applications. He created the Kavli Foundation in 2002, and has since funded the establishment of 15 research institutes worldwide, including the Kavli Nanoscience Institute at Caltech.

This year's Kavli Prize winners are the first to receive the award in a biennial event that will be celebrated in Fred Kavli's native city, Oslo. The prizes will be presented by HRH Crown Prince Haakon at an award ceremony in Oslo Concert Hall on September 9. For more information on the prizes and recipients, please visit http://www.kavliprize.no/