Call for applications for the “Grand Prix scientifique” Simone and Cino del Duca 2011 [fr]
Every year, the Simone and Cino del Duca Foundation of the Institut de France awards a scientific prize based on the recommendations of a jury of members of the Institut de France. The theme for 2011 is the following :
Theme for 2011: Scientific modelling of complex phenomena, associated information processing and numerical simulations.
The study of a scientific phenomenon, its prediction and control require the design of suitable modelling followed by digital simulations before possible optimisation. When the phenomenon is complex (due to a high number of variables, randomness, multiple couplings between interacting entities, etc), one must also cope with the uncertainty of certain mechanisms or of exceptional events, the great volume of data and the complexity of information processing, which requires specialized algorithms on high-performance computers, etc.
This great prize will be awarded to a French or European researcher (and his or her research team) who will present an ambitious research project on this theme. Projects may deal with phenomena related either to natural world, or to man-made systems that improve human well-being or environment, or with phenomena connected with the life of societies.
The amount of the prize will be 364,000 euros:
* 250,000 euros to finance the work of the award-winning research team,
* 50,000 euros awarded to the leader of the research group,
* an additional 64,000 euros towards the hiring of one or more French or foreign postdoctoral researchers to be selected by the team leader.
The application may be completed in French or English and must contain:
1. the application form,
2. an executive summary (title of the project, abridged CV of the project leader, main past scientific achievements and a short description of the research proposal) (approximately 500 words or 1 page),
3. a cover application letter signed by the leader of the team,
4. the complete CV of the team leader (maximum 2 pages),
5. an abridged CV of all team members,
6. description of results obtained by the team (maximum 5 pages),
7. a description of the research proposal and the intended use of the Grand Prix (3-5 pages),
8. a list of the team major publications (maximum 2 pages),
Applications must be both :
1. mailed electronically as one continuous pdf file,
2. sent by post.
The printed files must be postmarked by January 26, 2011 and the electonic files must also be submitted by email by January 26, 2011.
The applications must be sent to the following electronic address: fondation-del-duca@institut-de-france.fr
Applications will be examined by a jury composed of members of the French Academie des Sciences and of other academies belonging to the Institut de France. The jury will also seek the opinion of French and non French experts.
The Grand Prix will be awarded under the Dome of the Institut de France, on June 8, 2011. For further information, please contact the Simone and Cino del Duca Foundation of the Institut de France at:
Tel : 01 47 66 01 21
Fax : 01 46 22 45 02
Cino del Duca Grand Prize for Science – Previous Winners:
* 2005: Massimo INGUSCIO, professor at the University of Florence for his research on degenerate fermionic gases.
* 2007: Jacques PROST, General Director of the École Supérieure de Physique et Chimie Industrielles de la ville de Paris and Jean-François JOANNY, Director of the Unit of Physical Chemistry, UMR 168 CNRS- Curie Institute, for their research work on bio-imitation of the cellular movements: theoretical modeling and experiments.
* 2009: Michael HARRIS, Professor of mathematics at the University Denis Diderot in Paris for his research work on automorphic representations and Galois representations.