Call for applications for the “Grand Prix scientifique” Simone and Cino del Duca 2011

Every year, the Simone and Cino del Duca Foundation of the Institut de France awards a scientific prize based on the recommendations of a jury of members of the Institut de France. The theme for 2011 is the following :

Theme for 2011: Scientific modelling of complex phenomena, associated information processing and numerical simulations.

The study of a scientific phenomenon, its prediction and control require the design of suitable modelling followed by digital simulations before possible optimisation. When the phenomenon is complex (due to a high number of variables, randomness, multiple couplings between interacting entities, etc), one must also cope with the uncertainty of certain mechanisms or of exceptional events, the great volume of data and the complexity of information processing, which requires specialized algorithms on high-performance computers, etc.

This great prize will be awarded to a French or European researcher (and his or her research team) who will present an ambitious research project on this theme. Projects may deal with phenomena related either to natural world, or to man-made systems that improve human well-being or environment, or with phenomena connected with the life of societies.

The amount of the prize will be 364,000 euros: * 250,000 euros to finance the work of the award-winning research team, * 50,000 euros awarded to the leader of the research group, * an additional 64,000 euros towards the hiring of one or more French or foreign postdoctoral researchers to be selected by the team leader.

Further information and application form are available here.