The turning of the year is usually greeted with joy and celebration, yet this time its arrival is accompanied by a sense of sorrow – the sorrow that follows the great loss caused by the devastating Tai Po fire on 26 November 2025 in Hong Kong. This tragedy claimed numerous precious lives and affected many families in our community. True to our sense of shared responsibility, The Shaw Foundation reached out with assistance where it was most needed. On behalf of The Shaw Prize Foundation, we extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish strength and healing to all who were affected. May we cherish every moment with those we love.

We grieve, too, the passing of Professor Chen Ning Yang, a founding member and former Chair of the Board of Adjudicators of The Shaw Prize. Professor Yang’s wisdom and vision laid the very foundation on which the Prize stands today. We will always remember his guidance, and his spirit will continue to light our path for the many years to come.

Amid the sadness, moments of celebration still find their way. One of the brightest was the welcoming of four new Shaw Laureates: Professors John Richard Bond and George Efstathiou for the Prize in Astronomy; Professor Wolfgang Baumeister for the Prize in Life Science and Medicine; and Professor Kenji Fukaya for the Prize in Mathematical Sciences, expanding our Shaw Prize family to 114 exceptional members.

In October last year, the 2025 Shaw Laureates visited Hong Kong for the Award Presentation Ceremony and a rich programme of educational events. A highlight, besides the annual ceremony, was the “2025 Roundtable with Shaw Laureates – Human Stories in Science: The Grit Behind the Glory”. Held for a second time, this cross-disciplinary discussion brought together diverse perspectives from experts in different fields. The Laureates shared not only the excitement of their discoveries, but also the doubts, failures and persistence that lie behind every major breakthrough, creating an afternoon of inspiration for young scholars and senior academics alike. Three Shaw Prize Lectures were also hosted at local universities, allowing deeper academic exchanges with students and faculty.

A special part of our mission is to open doors wide for teenagers who are only just beginning to explore the world of science – so that they can meet, listen, and talk to some of the world’s finest scientists in person. The “Shaw Laureate Space Theatre Lecture: The Big Bang Afterglow”, a special Astronomy lecture hosted by the two Astronomy Laureates, was held at the Hong Kong Space Museum. Another activity designed specifically for high school students was the first ever Shaw Prize Student Engagement Programme, “Innovating for Tomorrow: A Conversation with The Shaw Laureates 2025” These two events welcomed more than 200 local students. In line with our mission, we believe the future of science rests with the next generation, and we strive to create more experiences that spark curiosity and inspire lifelong learning.

In addition, The Shaw Prize 2025 Exhibition at the Hong Kong Science Museum offered the public a chance to explore the Laureates’ remarkable achievements.

2025 marked a year of renewal for The Shaw Prize Council. We were delighted to welcome three new Council Members: Professors Ming-Chung Chu, Zhi-Quan Luo, and Justin Wu. They have devoted themselves diligently to advancing the Prize, strengthening its international reputation while deepening connections with our local community. At the same time, we bid farewell to former Council Members, Professors Wai-Yee Chan and Pak-Chung Ching, who now serve as advisors to the Council. Their pivotal role in upholding the Prize’s mission will continue to guide us.

None of the year’s events would have been possible without the generous behind-the-scenes contributions of a team of assisting scholars and student correspondents. Their enthusiasm and hard work brought the Shaw Prize closer to many more people, and we thank them most sincerely.

Looking ahead, we will continue with the spirit of persistence and perseverance as we strive to honour excellence. After much anticipation, a significant announcement will be made in late January. We invite you to join us in unveiling this exciting new chapter of The Shaw Prize. Stay tuned!

Raymond Chan
Chair of The Shaw Prize Foundation