Date: 3 Oct 2009 Comments: 0

Relatively a new enterprise, the Dan David prize is one of the most prominent awards awarded every year. One unique feature about it is that it covers three time dimensions: past, present and future. Each one of these signifies a great achievement by one or more people.

The past refers to accomplishments that help expand our knowledge of the past.
The present refers to accomplishments that contribute to our contemporary society.
The future refers to accomplishments that have the greatest of potential for the advancing our future.

This prize is not limited to one field, or even to science alone, which is another aspect that makes it unique. In every year a specific field is chosen for every time dimension. Moreover, each award consists of one million dollars, though 10% of these are contributed by the laureates to students and scholars in the chosen field for the specific time frame.

The year 2006 was a great year:
- The renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma was given the prize for the past, for preserving our cultural heritage.
- Four eminent journalists: Goenawan Mohamad, Adam Michnik, Monica Gonzalez and Magdi Allam, were given the prize for the present, for for fighting and risking their lives for free press.
- Two well known scientists: Dr. John Mendelsohn, and Dr. Joseph Schlessinger, won the award for the future, for their vast contributions for treatment of cancer and cancer therapy.