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Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2002

Presentation Photographs:

The jury for the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation 2002 has agreed to bestow this Award for international collaboration in Antarctica, as represented by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), whose Secretariat is at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

SCAR was established in 1958 with a membership of the national academies of science of the twelve countries that undertook Antarctic research in the International Geophysical Year (1957-58). In December 1959 the governments of those same twelve countries signed the Antarctic Treaty that preserves the Antarctic for peaceful purposes and scientific research, and provides the governance and legislative instruments for the region south of 60° South latitude. The membership of SCAR is now thirty-two countries, including Spain since 1987. Spain operates two scientific research stations in Antarctica: Juan Carlos I and Gabriel de Castilla. Two Spanish research vessels, Hesperides and Las Palmas, supply the stations and support scientific research programmes. The role of SCAR is to initiate, promote and coordinate scientific research in the Antarctic and to provide independent scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty System. SCAR is deeply honoured by this illustrious award that recognizes its contribution to international science and cooperation for almost half a century.

The Jury expressed its satisfaction at being able to recognize such important cooperation for the benefit of the international scientific community.

Prince of Asturias Awards

The Prince of Asturias Awards reward the scientific, cultural and social work conducted at internationally by individuals, groups and institutions whose achievements represent an example for mankind.

The Awards were established in 1980 by the Prince of Asturias Foundation, a non-profit institution that aims to promote the Sciences, Technology, Concord, Arts and Letters. HRH Crown Prince Felipe of Spain, the Prince of Asturias, presides over the Foundation and presents the awards annually at a symbolic ceremony in Asturias, Spain, before an invited audience from the worlds of society, politics and culture in Europe, Japan and the Americas. The ceremony attracts extensive international press, radio and television coverage and is considered one of the principal events in the European and Latin American cultural calendar.

Each Award comprises a diploma, a sculpture by the Spanish artist Joan Miró and a cash prize of 50,000 Euros.

There are eight different Prince of Asturias Awards: Communications and Humanities; Letters; the Arts; Technical and Scientific Research; International Co-operation; Concord; Social Sciences; and Sports.

The Prince of Asturias Award for International Co-operation

This Award will be bestowed upon the individual, work group or institution whose work has contributed in an exemplary and significant way to mutual understanding, progress and brotherhood among nations.

For further information about the Prince of Asturias Awards, see: http://www.fpa.es