The astronomer Heino Falcke announced last Friday that he would devote part of his Spinoza Prize of 2.5 million euros to Universe Awareness. Heino Falcke is one of the three recipients who won the prestigious 2011 Spinoza Prize – the most prestigious award for scientists in the Netherlands. The 2011 Spinoza Prize was presented to the winners by the Dutch Junior Minister for Education, Culture and Science, Halbe Zijlstra at a ceremony held in the Hague, the Netherlands.
Falcke, professor of radio astronomy and astroparticle physics at the Radboud University Nijmegen (NL), intends to use part of his prize to support educational projects that encourage children around the world to be enthusiastic about science. He chose to work with UNAWE because it is a unique programme that inspires young underprivileged children with the wonders of the Universe. He also intends to work with the NOVA Information Center, Radboud University and ASTRON on projects that will give high school students hands-on experience with radio telescopes.
Most of Professor Falcke’s Spinoza Prize will be used to fund his research on the nature of black holes. His research will be carried out using radio telescopes from around the world, including the LOFAR Telescope, the headquarters of which are found in the Netherlands.
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