The VIZE 97 Prize
The Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97 Prize
Since 1999, The Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97 has awarded its international Prize to significant thinkers whose work exceeds the traditional framework of scientific knowledge, contributes to the understanding of science as an integral part of general culture and is concerned with unconventional ways of asking fundamental questions about cognition, being and human existence. By awarding its annual Prize, the Foundation enables the Czech public to meet the pioneers in interesting areas of contemporary scientific thought and to learn more about their work. The regular awarding of the Prize is therefore not limited to the actual ceremonial act of the presentation of the prize, but is also accompanied by other events, including informal meetings of students and professors during discussions with the laureate and invited guests. The Prize is awarded every year at a ceremony held on 5th October. The laureate receives a diploma and a commemorative artefact in the form of the crutch of Saint Vojtěch rendered by the Czech artist Jiří Plieštik. Since 2004, the presentation ceremony for the VIZE 97 Prize has been held at the facilities of the Prague Crossroads.