International Computing Prize Goes to Cell Biologist
University of Cambridge professor’s work with computing and biology is recognised.
PARIS, LONDON and CAMBRIDGE, England — 2 Nov 2006 — A computational cell biologist from the University of Cambridge has won one of the largest international prizes in science, the Royal Society and Académie des Sciences Microsoft European Science award, it was announced today.
Dr Dennis Bray has won the 250,000 euro award1, funded by Microsoft Corp, for his research using innovative computer simulations of biological systems. His work focuses on the molecular systems that enable bacteria to detect and respond to chemical changes in their surroundings — swimming, for example, towards food and away from poisons — a process known as chemotaxis.
“Bacterial chemotaxis is one of the few examples where we know all the individual components that dictate cell behaviour,” said Dr Bray. “Computer modelling allows us to look at how these sets of molecules, especially proteins, interact together to create a biological system and that’s why it’s so exciting. Discrepancies between our models and the experimental data lead us to areas of uncertainty — cracks in the smooth surface of current dogma that hint at unexplored layers below. One thing we discovered in this way is that thousands of receptor molecules on the bacterial surface work together, making a highly sensitive ‘nose’ that can detect and analyse the smells from different food sources.”
On a more general level, Dr Bray is trying to demonstrate that when computer simulations reach a sufficient richness and accuracy they may be treated as experimental objects in their own right. These surrogate organisms can then be used to tackle problems that cannot be approached with existing technology and equipment.
Dr Bray said, “This award will enable me to set up a computational facility for the new Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge consisting of a network of computing nodes and workstations. This will provide needed computational power for a number of ongoing projects, including our own molecular simulations of chemotaxis.”
The Royal Society and Académie des Sciences Microsoft European Science award was established to support research that explores novel scientific techniques and discovery, fuelled by the increasing convergence of computer science and the natural sciences. Microsoft’s support of this award is part of Microsoft Research Cambridge’s European Science Initiative, which is focused on accelerating ”new kinds” of science and computing being created at the intersection of both — areas with the potential to create profound social, technological, scientific and economic change
Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society, said, “The interface of science and computing is challenging the frontiers of scientific knowledge and a growing number of sciences would not exist in their current form were it not for the power of computers now available. Dr Bray has been a tireless and influential advocate of the computational approach to living cells. His work demonstrates why computational biology will be essential for making progress in the field of biology more generally.”
“The Académie des Sciences is particularly pleased to deliver, jointly with the Royal Society, the first Microsoft European Science award,” said Professor Édouard Brézin, president of the Académie des Sciences. “Today, computational sciences are of primary importance in all areas of science. Together with experiment, computer models are now able to provide information which would not be accessible otherwise. This is exemplified in the beautiful work of Dr Bray on bacterial chemotaxis.”
Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International, said, “Some of the most innovative uses for software are developing at the intersection of computing and the natural sciences. Private industry investment in scientific partnerships helps Europe stay competitive. Through this award and other programmes as part of the Microsoft European Science Initiative, we are helping to support the work of leading European scientists, such as Dr Bray, to push the boundaries of science and computing.”
Dr Bray will receive his award at a ceremony at the Royal Society tomorrow night (Friday 3 November).
The 2006 Royal Society and Académie des Sciences Microsoft European Science award was open to research scientists working in Europe at the interface of the biological sciences and computing. In 2007 the award will be aimed at computing and the physical sciences, and the call for nominations will be opened in December 2006.
About the Royal Society
The Royal Society is an independent academy promoting the natural and applied sciences. Founded in 1660, the Society has three roles, as the UK academy of science, as a learned Society, and as a funding agency. It responds to individual demand with selection by merit, not by field. The Society’s objectives are to:
• Strengthen UK science by providing support to excellent individuals
• Fund excellent research to push back the frontiers of knowledge
• Attract and retain the best scientists
• Ensure the UK engages with the best science around the world
• Support science communication and education; and communicate and encourage dialogue with the public
• Provide the best independent advice nationally and internationally
• Promote scholarship and encourage research into the history of science
About the Académie des Sciences
The Académie des Sciences, founded in 1666, one of the five Academies of the Institut de France, is an independent body. By virtue of its multidisciplinary approach and its interactions with other branches of knowledge, its missions are to:
• Encourage scientific life and contribute to progress in sciences and their applications;
• Formulate recommendations concerning problems of national or international interest related to sciences and their social implications;
• Develop international scientific relations, notably in Europe;
• Monitor the quality of the teaching of sciences;
• Encourage the diffusion of science among the public.
About Microsoft Research
Founded in 1991, Microsoft Research is dedicated to conducting both basic and applied research in computer science and software engineering. Its goals are to enhance the user experience on computing devices, reduce the cost of writing and maintaining software, and invent novel computing technologies. Researchers focus on more than 55 areas of computing and collaborate with leading academic, government and industry researchers to advance the state of the art in such areas as graphics, speech recognition, user-interface research, natural language processing, programming tools and methodologies, operating systems and networking, and the mathematical sciences. Microsoft Research employs more than 700 people in five labs located in Redmond, Washington; Silicon Valley, California; Cambridge, England; Beijing, China; and Bangalore, India. Microsoft Research collaborates openly with colleges and universities worldwide to enhance the teaching and learning experience, inspire technological innovation, and broadly advance the field of computer science. More information can be found at http://www.research.microsoft.com.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.
About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)
Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft employs more than 13,000 people in over 60 subsidiaries, delivering products and services in more than 138 countries and territories.
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1. Dr Bray will receive a trophy and 250,000 euro, of which 7,500 euro will be prize money with the rest earmarked for research.
For further information, contact:
Sue Windebank
Press and Public Relations
The Royal Society, London
Phone: +44 20 7451 2514/2510
E-mail:sue.windebank@royalsoc.ac.uk
Dominique Meyer
Délégation à l’information scientifique et à la communication
Académie des Sciences
Phone: +33 1 44 41 44 60 / 44 00
E-mail:disc@academie-sciences.fr
Microsoft Research
Jeff Sharpe
Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
Phone: +44 20 7632 3800
E-mail:jeffs@waggeneredstrom.com
Microsoft EMEA Response Centre
Phone: +44 870 243 0515
E-mail:emearesponse@waggeneredstrom.com
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