Groundbreaking research in quantum computing, innovative vaccines, advanced chemistry, sustainable agriculture, and regenerative architecture for villages
This evening, the names of the winners of the 2025 International Wolf Prize for Science and the Arts were announced at the Israeli President's Residence, in the presence of President Yitzhak Herzog, Minister of Education Yoav Kish, and Chairman of the Wolf Foundation Board Prof. Dan Shechtman (Nobel Prize winner and Wolf Prize winner). This year, the prizes in the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry, agriculture, and architecture were awarded to nine winners from around the world.
The Wolf Prize, one of the most prestigious and important in the world, ranked second to the Nobel Prize in overlapping fields, is awarded annually by the President of the State of Israel on behalf of the Israeli Wolf Foundation to scientists and artists from around the world for a significant contribution to humanity, without distinction of religion, race, or gender.
Among the winners from around the world are Professor Motti Haiblum, Israeli physicist from the Weizmann Institute of Science, who, together with his award partners, led groundbreaking research in the field of quantum electronics that is changing our understanding of the behavior of particles in magnetic fields. The research of Prof. Heiblom and his partners opens up new possibilities for quantum computing, a technology that is expected to revolutionize the processing and calculation capabilities of future computers, and enable the solution of complex problems that are currently impossible to solve with existing technologies. In addition, Professor Pamela Bjorkman from Caltech, California, winner of the Wolf Prize in Medicine, has developed an innovative and groundbreaking approach to tackling challenging viruses. Her research, which focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which the immune system recognizes and attacks pathogens, has led to the development of new vaccine technologies that can tackle viruses that were previously resistant to treatment, including HIV and coronaviruses. Her work is considered particularly revolutionary in an era of global pandemics and forms the basis for the development of new tools to tackle global health challenges.
The prestigious Wolf Prize has been awarded for 47 years in the fields of science (medicine, agriculture, mathematics, chemistry and physics) and the arts (painting and sculpture, music and architecture). The winners are selected by anonymous international judging committees that meet annually around the world. The prize is awarded without distinction of religion, gender, race, geographical location or political position, and salutes leaders in their fields who contribute to a better world.
The Wolf Prize is considered one of the most important and prestigious scientific awards in the academic world, and many of its winners have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. Among the winners of the Wolf Prize over the years: Professors Stephen Hawking, Ada Yonath, Ruth Arnon, Dan Shechtman, Abraham Hershko, Franz Kraus, Anne Lahoulier, Giorgio Frizi, Emmanuel Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna; artists Marc Chagall, Anselm Kiefer, Louise Bourgeois and musicians Paul McCartney, Laurie Anderson and conductor Zubin Mehta.
And these are the winners of the 2025 Wolf Prize:
Wolf Prize in Medicine- The 2025 Wolf Prize in Medicine is awarded to a professor Pamela Bjorkman (Caltech – California Institute of Technology, USA), "for developing innovative, groundbreaking strategies to tackle viral defense mechanisms using novel antibody-targeted approaches." Prof. Bjorkman has researched in depth how the immune system recognizes pathogens, and has developed innovative approaches to tackle challenging viruses such as HIV and coronaviruses. Her work represents a revolutionary breakthrough for the development of vaccines and innovative treatment methods, and her contribution to the field of medicine is particularly significant in an era of global pandemics.
Wolf Prize in Physics– The 2025 Wolf Prize in Physics is awarded jointly to professors Moti Haiblum (Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel), Jayendra Jain (Pennsylvania State University, USA), and James Eisenstein (Caltech – California Institute of Technology, USA) For their contributions to understanding the unique properties of two-dimensional electron systems in strong magnetic fields. The three physicists led to a deep understanding of the fractional quantum Hall effect, a fascinating physical phenomenon that occurs in thin layers of electrons under strong magnetic fields. Their research has opened up new possibilities in the field of quantum materials, with far-reaching implications for future technologies, including quantum computing.
Wolf Prize in Chemistry – The 2025 Wolf Prize in Chemistry is awarded To Professor Helmut Schwarz (Technical University of Berlin, Germany)"For quantitative characterization of active intermediates in the gas phase to solve fundamental problems in catalysis." Prof. Schwartz has developed innovative research methods that allow for a deep understanding of chemical processes at the molecular level. His work has opened up possibilities for creating new and more efficient catalysts, with applications in the fields of clean energy production and greenhouse gas emission reduction. His contribution to chemistry is of paramount importance in addressing global climate challenges..
Wolf Prize in Agriculture- The 2025 Wolf Prize in Agriculture is awarded jointly to professors Jeffrey Dangle (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and HHMI, USA), Jonathan Jones (Sainsbury's Laboratory, England) and Brian Stacekevich (University of California, Berkeley, USA), "for groundbreaking discoveries in the immune system and disease resistance in plants. The three researchers have led a revolution in understanding the immune system of plants, and how they deal with pathogens. Their research is changing the way we protect agricultural crops from disease, and is making a significant contribution to global food security."
Wolf Prize in Architecture - The 2025 Wolf Prize in Architecture is awarded to a female architect Tiantian Shu (China) "About architecture that has transformed villages across China economically, socially, and culturally. Her innovative approach to rural development combines local materials and traditional building techniques, creating structures that not only improve the quality of life in villages but also preserve cultural traditions and strengthen the local economy."
Expansions and reasoning of the judges' committees in separate reports.
More of the topic in Hayadan:
