Scientists from France, Germany and U.K. awarded 2007 Japan Prize

The Science and Technology Foundation of Japan has announced that French, German and U.K. scientists have been named as laureates of the 2007 (23rd) Japan Prize. Prof. Albert Fert, 68, of France and Prof. Dr. Peter Grunberg, 67, of Germany, will receive the prize in this year's category of "Innovative Devices Inspired by Basic Research." They discovered the phenomenon of giant magneto-resistance (GMR) and contributed to the development of innovative spin-electronics devices. Dr. Peter Ashton, 72, of the U.K. has been selected in another prize category of "Science and Technology of Harmonious Co-Existence." They will receive certificates of merit, and commemorative medals. There is also a cash award of fifty million Japanese yen for each prize category. The prize categories for the 2008 (24th) Japan Prize will be "Information Communication Theory and Technology" and the"Medical Genomics and Genetics". For further details of the Japan Prize, contact The Science and Technology Foundation of Japan, Phone: +81-3-5545-0551, Fax +81-3-5545-0554, info@japanprize.jp, http://www.japanprize.jp/English.htm