On 16 November 2023, the Balzan Prizewinners will present their work at the Balzan Prizewinners Interdisciplinary Forum at the City Hall (Rathaus) in Bern. The forum offers the public a unique opportunity to engage with the prize winners in person. The award winners are:
- David Damrosch for World Literature
- Heino Falcke for High resolution images: from planetary to cosmic objects
- Jean-Jacques Hublin for Evolution of Humankind: Paleoanthropology
- Eske Willerslev for Evolution of Humankind: Ancient DNA and Human Evolution
- Francesca Rava Foundation: Balzan Special Prize for Humanity, Peace, and Fraternity Among Peoples (not addressed at the Forum)
Programme
(subject to change without notice)
- 9:30am Registration and Welcome Coffee
- 10:00am Musical Opening by Tramontana
- 10:05am Welcome Address by Franziska Teuscher, Directorate of Education, Social Welfare and Sport of the City of Bern
- 10:10am Opening Address by Marcel Tanner, President of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
- 10:15am Introductory Speech by Alberto Quadrio Curzio, President of the International Balzan Foundation “Prize”
- 10:20am Musical Intervention by Tramontana
Part I
- 10:25am Address of Alberto Quadrio Curzio, Chair Part I
- 10:35am 1. Subject: Evolution of Humankind: Ancient DNA and Human Evolution - Introduction of the 2023 Prizewinner Eske Willerslev by Peter Suter
- 10:45am Presentation by Eske Willerslev, 2023 Prizewinner for Evolution of Humankind: Ancient DNA and Human Evolution
- 11:05am 2. Subject: Evolution of Humankind: Paleoanthropology - Introduction of the 2023 Prizewinner Jean‐Jacques Hublin by Nathalie Heinich
- 11:15am Presentation by Jean‐Jacques Hublin, 2023 Prizewinner for Evolution of Humankind: Paleoanthropology
- 11:35am Joint discussion among the 2 Prizewinners of Evolution of Humankind followed by Q&A
- 12:00am Lunch Break
Part II
- 1:15pm Address of Luciano Maiani, Chair Part II
- 1:25pm 1. Subject: World Literature - Introduction of the 2023 Prizewinner David Damrosch by Peter Kuon
- 1:35pm Presentation by David Damrosch, 2023 Prizewinner for World Literature
- 1:55pm Q&A
- 2:05pm 2. Subject: High resolution images: from planetary to cosmic objects - Introduction of the 2023 Prizewinner Heino Falcke by Paolo de Bernardis
- 2:15pm Presentation by Heino Falke, 2023 Prizewinner for High resolution images: from planetary to cosmic objects
- 2:35pm Q&A
- 2:45pm Joint session with all Prizewinners
- 2:55pm Closing Remarks by Marcel Tanner and Alberto Quadrio Curzio
