The is an annual award for outstanding contribution to the advancement of research in fundamental
biology. The prize, although it is not always awarded to a biologist, is one of the most prestigious honours a natural scientist can receive. There are no restrictions on the nationality of the recipient. Past laureates include
John B. Gurdon,
Motoo Kimura,
Edward O. Wilson,
Ernst Mayr,
Thomas Cavalier-Smith and many other great biologists.