Armenian, Russian and U.S. Scientists Share Viktor Ambartsumian International Prize 2014

YEREVAN (Mediamax) — Scientists Felix Aharonian from Armenia, Igor Karachentsev from Russia and Brent Tully from the U.S. were named the winners of Viktor Ambartsumian International Prize 2014.

“The Committee decided that the Prize will be shared between three scientists”, stated Chairman of the National Academy of Sciences, Chairman of Viktor Ambartsumian International Prize Committee Radik Martirosyan.

Felix Aharonian who works in Ireland and Germany will get $250,000, while Igor Karachentsev and Brent Tully will get $125,000 each.

The prize pool of Viktor Ambartsumian Prize totals $500,000 and since 2010 it has been awarded every two years.

The official award ceremony will take place in Yerevan, on September 18.

Prof. Felix Aharonian (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Ireland and Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Heidelberg, Germany) was awarded for “outstanding contributions to the field of high energy astrophysics and to the physics of cosmic accelerators, and leading role in the development of the stereoscopic system of Cherenkov telescopes”. He was nominated by Academia Nazionale Dei Lincei (Italy).

Prof. Igor Karachentsev (Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russia) and Prof. Brent Tully (Institute of Astronomy, University of Hawaii, USA) were awarded for “their fundamental contribution in the cosmology of the Local Universe”. They were nominated by the Special Astrophysical Observatory (Russia).

“Felix Aharonian is an eminent scientist in the whole world. Second prize-winner Igor Karachentsev received his “scientific blessing” in Byurakan Observatory; Brent Tully is also a very renowned scientist”, pointed out Radik Martirosyan.

Viktor Ambartsumian International Prize was established by the Armenian President in 2009 and is considered one of the most significant prizes in astronomy, astrophysics and other adjacent sciences. The winners of Viktor Ambartsumian International Prize 2010 were Michel Mayor (Switzerland), Garik Israelian (Spain) and Nuno Santos (Portugal), and winners of Viktor Ambartsumian International Prize 2012 were Jaan Einasto (Estonia) and Igor Novikov (Russia).