Scotch whisky distiller seeks young European talent
Scotch whisky distiller William Grant & Son has pledged £300,000 (500,000 euro) in support of the Young European Prize for Invention & Discovery, which will be awarded with the Nobel Exhibition Trust, the organisation behind The Big Idea Millennium exhibition in Irvine, Scotland. The University of Paisley in Scotland will organize and administer the project. The award of £30,000 (50,000 euro) will be made every two years to the person or team, who, in the judges' opinion, has done most to advance mankind through invention and discovery in the previous two years. Winners must be aged between 18 and 35. The project, to be launched via the Internet in Spring 2000, is expected to attract interest from a wide number of European colleges and universities. University of Paisley chancellor Sir Robert Easton said: "This launch marks the establishment of one of the most significant science awards in Europe. The prize will encourage a new generation of scientists to follow in Nobel's footsteps and we are sure it will attract a wide and varied entry." The original inspiration for William Grant & Sons's sponsorship came from a lorry driver who works for the company. He wanted it to make a lasting contribution to the development of science in education as part of the Millennium celebrations. "I just thought of something that would help young people," said Mr Adams. "They're the citizens of tomorrow and that's where the ideas of tomorrow are going to come from." In the Spring of 2000, information posted on the World Wide Web and press advertisements in the scientific and national press will call for applications. Applicants will be expected to make their applications through the Internet to the University of Paisley, which will reply to initial applications by asking for fuller entries, which will have to be signed by a credible representative from a university within the country concerned. The University of Paisley will circulate the shortlist to the judges, who will select four possible winners to be invited to make presentations to the press and the public at The Big Idea Millennium exhibition at Irvine, Scotland, in Spring 2001. At the end of the display period, the judges will announce their final decision, with the winner receiving the £30,000 (50,000 euro) award and the runners-up receiving consolation prizes.