James Lovelock wins award in Spain

James Lovelock wins award in Spain
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By m.p. - May 27, 2009 - 3:28 PM
The originator of the Gaia theory is the winner of this year's Fonseca Prize from Santiago de Compóstela University

James Lovelock in 2005. Photo - Bruno Comby/Wikipedia

The Fonseca prize, a scientific award made annually by the University of Santiago de Compóstela, has gone for the second year running to a British scientist. Stephen Hawking was the recipient of the first ever Premio Fonseca last year, and this year’s has gone to James Lovelock, the environmentalist and scientist noted as the originator of the Gaia theory.

The award comes with a purse of 6,000 € and a bronze statue by the Galician artist, Ramón Conde.

The university rector, Senén Barro, told EFE when the unanimous decision was announced that the award recognises Lovelock’s multiple facets as a scientist, as a meteorologist, a writer, an inventor and an environmentalist. Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis, that the Earth behaves like a self-regulating living organism, was criticised by other scientists when it was first announced, but is now receiving more recognition, the rector said.

James Lovelock, now aged 89, is the inventor of the electron capture detector, a device which revealed for the first time the presence of pesticide residues throughout the natural world. He was also the first to detect the presence of CFC gases in the atmosphere, which led other scientists to warn of their damaging effect on the ozone layer.

It was also announced this Wednesday that the World Health Organisation has won the prestigious Prince of Asturias Prize for International Cooperation. The Príncipe de Asturias Foundation describes the WHO as one of the ‘most respected international institutions for its remarkable work fostering coordination and cooperation between countries in matters of health.’

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