| Tokyo, October 9, 1998 --- The HONDA FOUNDATION (under Hiromori Kawashima, president) decided to award the Honda Prize for 1998 to Professor Hubert Curien (74) of the University Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 6, a French mineralogist and an authority on crystallography.
Prof. Curien chose to make his study in crystallography, and for the past
40 years he has undertaken studies and has given lectures in this field at the
University of Paris. Besides working as a university professor, he has played
leading roles in diverse positions he held not only at French but also European
and international organizations. He also had many occasions to decide the orientation
of research policy in scientific and technological fields, through which he contributed
to global environmental protection activities.
Prof. Curien made a very substantial contribution in particular to the promotion
and development of the Earth observation system through the use of artificial
satellites. As President of the French National Center for Space Studies (CNES),
he gave the go-ahead for the French observation satellite system (SPOT) and the
first satellite launch in Western Europe. Furthermore, as Chairman of the Council
European Space Agency, he endeavored to develop the Earth observation and management
system. In 1992, Prof. Curien was elected as Chairman of the "Space Agencies Forum
for the International Space Year (SAFISY)," which promoted intensive use and improvement
of space systems to improve the management of Planet Earth.
Moreover, Prof. Curien served as the Minister of Research and Technology in
the Cabinets of Prime Ministers Fabius, Rocard and Cresson of the French Government.
These activities of Prof. Curien are in accord with the concept of "true technology
designed to achieve a harmony with the whole environment surrounding human activities
= eco-technology" as advocated by the Honda Foundation. Prof. Curien will be the
19th winner of the Honda Prize, and will be awarded a supplementary prize of Ten
Million Japanese Yen (10,000,000.) The awards ceremony will take place on November
17, the birthday of the late Soichiro Honda, at Hotel Okura in Tokyo.
The term Eco-Technology is derived from combining the words ecology and technology. It is a new technological concept that seeks harmony with the environment surrounding all human activity. The concept is one that must be addressed for the future of our society. This differs from the conventional concept of technology as a means to pursue efficiency and profits.
CURRICULUM VITAE of Prof. Hubert Curien
| 1924 |
Born in Cornimont, France |
| 1945-50 |
Educated in physics at the Ecole Normale Supérieure and at the University
of Paris |
| 1956 |
Professor of Paris University |
| 1968-73 |
General Director of National Research Center, France |
| 1973-76 |
General Delegate for Research and Technology |
| 1976-84 |
President of the French National Center for Space Studies |
| 1979-84 |
Chairman of the European Science Foundation |
| 1981-84 |
Chairman of the Council European Space Agency |
| 1983 |
Vice President of the International Academy of Astronautics |
| 1983-85 |
Chairman of the French National Space Academy |
| 1984-86 and 1988-93 |
Minister of Research and Technology, Government of France |
| 1992-93 |
Chairman of SAFISY (Space Agencies Forum for the International Space Year) |
| 1994-96 |
Chairman of the Council of CERN |
| 1994-97 |
President of Academia Europaea |
Awards
Grand-Officier Legion d'honneur, France
Commander of several foreign orders.
Knight of the British Empire.
Memberships
The French Academy of Sciences
Major publications
"Hubert Curien : For an International Science Policy"
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October 9, 1998