Congratulations to all of you on your inspiring achievements. This prestigious recognition by Rolex in these awards and enterprise will bring the positive spotlight to all your efforts and beyond- keep up your awesome spirit! The Rolex awards recognise young leaders with a proposal that will advance human knowledge or improve the quality of life on the planet.
http://blog.rolexawards.com/2016/11/10-new-laureates-in-40th-anniversary-year/
http://blog.rolexawards.com/2016/11/highlights-of-the-rolex-awards-ceremony-2016/
Andrew Bastawrous, from the United Kingdom; Kerstin Forsberg, Peru; Vreni Häussermann, Chile/Germany; Conor Walsh, Ireland; and Sonam Wangchuk, India – received their Awards from some of the biggest names in cinema. Michelle Monaghan, Casey Affleck, Don Cheadle, Maria Bello and Chris Pine were joined by oceanographer/explorer Sylvia Earle in making the presentations. However, the traditional red carpet leading into the venue was replaced by one in gold, the colour of the Rolex crown.
Four visionary women and six men – from nine countries have won Rolex Awards for Enterprise, presented in Los Angeles on 15 November.
The 2016 winners include a polar scientist, a robotic suit designer and an eye specialist who wants to save millions of people from going blind. Other winners have projects as diverse as technology to stop hunger and conservation initiatives to save species and habitats.
The five Laureates and five Young Laureates were honoured at a ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, a Hollywood landmark renowned as home of the Academy Awards.
Hundreds of luminaries, leading scientists, environmentalists and business people from Los Angeles and abroad gathered to celebrate the spirit of enterprise demonstrated by the winners chosen in this commemorative 40th year.
Rolex usually presents five Awards for Enterprise every two years; however, for this year’s 40th anniversary of the launch of the Awards, 10 prizes were announced – five for Laureates and five for Young Laureates (aged 18 to 30).
“We are celebrating a very significant occasion in the history of the Awards and in the history of Rolex,” said Rebecca Irvin, Head of Philanthropy at Rolex. “Forty years ago the company initiated the Rolex Awards to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Oyster in a manner that reflected the spirit of enterprise on which the company was founded.
“What better place to pay tribute to this enterprising spirit and the pioneering work of the 10 Rolex Awards winners than a city – Los Angeles – that embraces diversity and innovation.”
The new Laureates were chosen by an international Jury of 12 eminent experts, all of them present at the presentation of the Awards. The Jury members selected the winners early this year after meeting the finalists who had been shortlisted from among 2,322 applicants representing 144 nationalities.
Each Laureate receives 100,000 Swiss francs (US$104,000) and each Young Laureate 50,000 Swiss francs ($52,000) to advance their project; all receive a Rolex chronometer and worldwide publicity for their projects.
(Taken from http://blog.rolexawards.com/2016/11/10-new-laureates-in-40th-anniversary-year/ )