King Faisal Prize 2023: Honoring Global Achievements in Science, Islam, and Education
The King Faisal Prize awards ceremony took place in Riyadh on Monday, presided over by King Salman and Prince Faisal bin Bandar.
The event, which is the most prestigious in the Muslim world, recognizes achievements in services to Islam, Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, medicine, and science.
Prince Turki Al-Faisal, founder and trustee of the King Faisal Foundation, emphasized the importance of the award in honoring scientists from around the world for their contributions to advancing humanity through scientific research and inventions.
Prince Turki explained that the "Service to Islam" prize is given for scientific achievements without regard to geographical, racial, religious, or sectarian considerations.
This year, the prize was awarded to the Japan Muslim Association for their support of Muslims in Japan and investment in Muslim youth education.
Additionally, Dr. Mohammad Al-Sammak of Lebanon received the award for his efforts in promoting Islamic-Christian dialogue, strengthening relationships, and participating in conferences regarding Islam and other beliefs.
He is also active in organizations promoting tolerance and peace.
The Islamic Studies prize was awarded to Dr. Wael Hallaq, a professor at Columbia University, for his scientific contributions to Islamic studies with works translated into multiple languages, providing a counterbalance to traditional Orientalist writings.
The Medicine prize was given to Dr. Jerry Roy Mendell, an Ohio State University professor, for his research and development of safe and effective gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, leading to a globally approved treatment.
Dr. Howard Chang, a US scientist, won the King Faisal Prize for his research on non-coding RNA's role in gene regulation.
He discovered innovative methods to identify regulatory sites within DNA, significantly impacting molecular biology and genetics.
The Arabic Language and Literature prize for 2024 was withheld due to nominated works not meeting the criteria.
The King Faisal Prize was established in 1977 by the King Faisal Foundation.
The text is about an award that was first given in 1979 to recognize individuals and establishments for their outstanding achievements in five categories.