Andrei Sakharov Prize / en John Polanyi receives American Physical Society's Andrei Sakharov Prize /celebrates/john-polanyi-receives-american-physical-society-s-andrei-sakharov-prize <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">John Polanyi receives American Physical Society's Andrei Sakharov Prize</span> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-type/community" hreflang="en">Community</a></div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>lanthierj</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2021-10-21T12:41:21-04:00" title="Thursday, October 21, 2021 - 12:41" class="datetime">Thu, 10/21/2021 - 12:41</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-people/faculty" hreflang="en">Faculty</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-campus field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-campus/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-awards-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/department-chemistry" hreflang="en">Department of Chemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/celebrates/awards-tags/andrei-sakharov-prize" hreflang="en">Andrei Sakharov Prize</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-orientation field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">landscape</div> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/media/085A0974-celebrates.jpg" width="750" height="500" alt="John Polanyi"> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item">(Photo by Johnny Guatto)</div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards-funding/university-professors/">University Professor</a> Emeritus <strong>John Polanyi</strong> is the recipient of <a href="https://aps.org/programs/honors/prizes/prizerecipient.cfm?last_nm=Polanyi&amp;first_nm=John&amp;year=2022">the 2022 Andrei Sakharov Prize from the American Physical Society</a> – the first researcher from a Canadian institution to receive the recognition.</p> <p>Named for the famed nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate, and activist for disarmament, peace and human rights, the award recognizes outstanding leadership of scientists in upholding human rights.</p> <p>Polanyi is recognized for “seven decades of tireless activism for a nuclear-weapons-free world, for upholding human rights and freedom of speech globally, for public education on the essential role of science in society, and for his visionary approach to bringing about a hopeful, peaceful future,” the citation says.</p> <p>“My qualifications for this marvelous prize are slim,” Polanyi says. “I have done a scientist's normal work as a citizen.”</p> <p>Nobel laureate Polanyi has spent the greater part of a century voicing his strong belief that scientists have a responsibility to involve themselves in the defence of human rights. When Sakharov spoke out against weapons, Polanyi spoke out for Sakharov.</p> <p>“I wrote to colleagues across Canada. We then petitioned the Soviet leaders to listen to Sakharov's warnings, rather than persecute him,” Polanyi says. “When later Sakharov and I met, he told me that such protests ultimately saved him.</p> <p>“He was clear-thinking and very brave. He lives on as an inspiration to all who speak out for humanity, and for the role of freedom of thought if we are to have a future.”</p> <p>Professor <strong>Rob Batey</strong>, chair of the department of chemistry, said the prize “serves as a reminder of the role that scientists can play in advancing and advocating on issues of broader societal importance.</p> <p>“This award is a wonderful recognition of the contributions of Prof. Polanyi in protecting human rights and fighting nuclear weapons proliferation.”</p> <p><strong>Melanie Woodin</strong>, dean of the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, congratulated Polanyi on the recognition.</p> <p>“Not only has he dedicated his career to scientific research in chemistry, he has also been a tireless defender of human rights and a strong advocate for a nuclear-weapons free world. He is an incredibly worthy recipient of this prize.”</p> <h3><a href="/news/u-t-s-john-polanyi-recognized-anti-nuclear-weapons-activism-upholding-human-rights">Read the U of T News story</a></h3> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-source field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Arts &amp; Science</div> <div class="field field--name-field-top-story-hub-page- field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Top Story (Hub page)</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 21 Oct 2021 16:41:21 +0000 lanthierj 170859 at