Rolex awards
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Rolex
Rolex SA is a Swiss watchmaking manufacturer of high-quality, luxury wristwatches. Rolex watches are popularly regarded as status symbols and BusinessWeek magazine ranks Rolex No.71 on its 2007 annual list of the 100 most valuable global brands...
. The Rolex Awards recognize outstanding achievement, particularly in the areas of science and medicine; technology and innovation; exploration and discovery; the environment; and cultural heritage.
The awards accord generous support to five Laureates and five Associate Laureates for their pioneering efforts to expand knowledge and improve human life. For their new ventures or completion of ongoing projects. Laureates receive US$ 100,000 each, a gold Rolex chronometer, the benefits of official recognition via an awards ceremony and international publicity. The Associate Laureates whose projects are deemed exceptionally promising by the judges also each receive a financial award (US$ 50,000 Associate Laureates in 2008; before it was US$ 35,000), a steel-and-gold Rolex chronometer, and official recognition through ceremonies in their home countries. The accomplishments of these Laureates and Associate Laureates benefit needy communities in the developing world.
As of 2011, 115 laureates have been selected since the awards were established in 1976. Judging is done by world-famous experts. All Laureates and Associate Laureates apply in their own behalf.
Young Laureates Programme
In 2009 the Rolex Awards introduced the Young Laureates Programme. This program goal is to "foster innovation in the next generation" The program selects 5 young enterprising individuals and provides with them funding and resources for their projects.Award-winners
The winners of the inaugural Young Laureates Awards are:- Reese Fernandez, founder of Rags2Riches, an upcycling fashion enterprise supporting women in the Philippines
- Jacob Colker, an American harnessing human fascination with social media to generate volunteerism
- Bruktawit Tigabu, saving children through accessible, engaging education in Ethiopia
- Piyush Tewari, creator of SaveLife Foundation in India to improve emergency response to road accidents
- Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, tackling poverty through supporting farmers in Nigeria with informational radio broadcasts
The Rolex Award Laureates for 2008 included:
- Alexis BelonioAlexis BelonioAlexis T. Belonio is a professor, engineer, scientist, innovator, and inventor from the Philippines. He was the first Filipino to receive the Rolex Award for Enterprise in 2008 due to his creation of a low-cost and environment friendly rice husk stove...
, Filipino innovator of rice husk stove - Talal Akasheh, Jordanian professor of physical chemistry protecting Petra
- Tim Bauer, American mechanical engineer reducing pollution from two-stroke engines
- Andrew McGonigle, Scottish physicist developing a reliable way to predict volcanic eruptions
- Elsa Zaldívar, making low-cost housing from vegetable and plastic waste in Paraguay
The Rolex Award Laureates for 2006 included:
- Alexandra Lavriller - "A disappearing culture"
- Brad Norman - "Saving the gentle giant"
- Pilai Poonswad - "Great mother of the hornbills"
- Chanda Shroff - "Reviving Kutchi traditions"
- Rory Wilson - "Observation in the wild"
The Rolex Award Laureates for 2004 included:
- Lonnie Dupre, an explorer who crossed the Arctic in the summer of 2005
- Claudia Feh, a scientist working with Mongolian nomads
- Archeologist David LordkipanidzeDavid LordkipanidzeDavid O. Lordkipanidze is a Georgian anthropologist and archaeologist, Professor, Dr.Sc., Corresponding Member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences . He is famous for having discovered the hominin species, Homo georgicus...
- Teresa Manera, who works to preserve prehistoric animal footprints
- Kikuo Morimoto, whose work is to revive Cambodian silk producing, particularly as a means of providing employment for Cambodian villagers
The Rolex Award Laureates for 2002 included:
- Gordon Sato, environmental project - planting mangrove trees in Eritrea