April 2, 2000
Presentation of the first Bolayi Award. The award, which is given every 2-3 years to Hungarian (or Hungarian-born) scientists who have achieved outstanding research and development results at an international level, has been set up by individuals – among others, Imre Sumudi, the entrepreneur who found success with the Plussz effervescent tablet, or Csaba Lantos, known at the time as a banker, is today’s Hungarian Minister of Energy. The first prize went to Tamás Freund, a neuroscientist, brain researcher and university professor.
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Brain researcher Tamas Freund, current President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, received the first Bolayi Prize from the President of the Republic, Arpad Goncz, on April 2, 2000.
Photo: Szilárd Koszticsák/MTI Rt. Photo editors
Arpad Güneş, who was in the final months of his career as President of the Republic, highlighted the following in his welcoming speech:
“The twentieth century that left behind us was a century of scientific revolution. There is no longer a pause in development – the results of science generate new and new results. The conviction of the founders of the Bolyai-díj Foundation that “we must raise knowledge, science and the world to a worthy place in our system of values” expresses a need Modern. The word of the times. (…) Our urgent task, then, is to make scientific research and the teaching profession attractive; so that young people—high school students, university students, doctoral students, young researchers—not only realize the excitement and beauty of scientific discovery, but also experience the possibility of success and social respect Here in Hungary.”
Let’s jump twenty-three years!
June 15, 2023
Katalin Novak, the first Hungarian woman – as well as the youngest ever – president of the republic, to be inaugurated in 2022, presents this year’s Bolyai Prize (Prize Laureate: Gabor Stepan mechanical engineer, university professor), he also met Tamas Freund, who a month ago was elected president of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences for another three years.
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Katalin Novak on Facebook: “Before the award ceremony, I consulted with Tamas Freund, President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, to whom I gave a document confirming his re-election. I wish you a good job, Mr. President!”
Photo: Gyula Bartos/Sandor Pallotta
Speech by Katalin Novak highlightedthat
The task of scientists is to uncover the scientific truth, to disseminate it widely, and the members of society can decide which of the facts provided by science they want to live with and which they do not. We should also be able to turn down a scientific opportunity if we see that it will cause more harm than good to society.
And the President of the Republic added: “The nation that will be able to compete will not be the one that uses all the scientific capabilities currently known, but rather the one that is able to make wise decisions regarding what you live and what you do not live.”
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