Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH - Prof. Irwandi Jaswir of Indonesia was named winner of King Faisal International Prize 2018 in the category of service to Islam.

Prof. Bashar Awad of Jordan was named winner for Islamic studies while Tunisia’s Prof. Chokri Mabkhout bagged the Prize in Arabic language and literature.

The prize in medicine went to Prof. James P. Allison of the United States whereas British Prof. Sir John M. Ball was declared the winner in the category of science.

The General Secretariat of King Faisal International Prize announced winners of the 40th edition of the Prize in a ceremony held in the presence of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah, adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and chairman of the King Faisal Foundation, and other dignitaries at Prince Sultan Grand Hall of Al-Faisaliah Center in Riyadh on Wednesday evening.

Members of the selection committees, eminent scholars, cultural figures and media persons also attended the function. The prize consists of a hand-written calligraphy certificate summarizing the laureate’s work, a commemorative 24 carat, 200-gram gold medal and a prize money of $200,000.

Prof. Jaswir, a renowned scholar in halal science, has been chosen for this coveted prize in recognition of his outstanding services and contributions to Islam and Muslims in the halal science.

At present, he is serving as the deputy dean of the International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART) and Secretary of Council of Professors at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

The Prize Committee highlighted his contributions in the establishment and development of ‘Halal Science’ through various publications and research studies. It also cited his valuable efforts in leading the International Institute for Halal Research at IIUM to become a renowned center for research and services related to halal food and consumer goods. The committee also considered his work in developing new methods for analyzing substances used in the manufacturing of ‘Halal Food Alternatives’, as well as practical procedures for producing Halal Gelatin from various Halal (non-porcine) sources, such as camel and fish.

The Committee also noted Prof. Jaswir’s collaboration with other scientists to develop new methods for quick detection of non-halal substances in food, cosmetics and other consumer goods used by Muslims. An instance of such methods is the ‘Portable Electronic Nose’ which detects within seconds the presence of alcohol and lard (porcine-derived fat) in food and beverages.

Born on 20 Dec. 1970 in Medan, North Sumatra, Jaswir obtained his bachelor’s degree in Food Technology and Human Nutrition in 1993 from Bogor Agriculture University (IPB) in Indonesia, Master of Science in Food Science and Biotechnology in 1996, as well as his PhD in Food Chemistry and Biochemistry in 2000 from the Universiti Putra in Malaysia.

Professor Jaswir has assumed many academic and administrative positions during his productive career. His vast contributions through his research in the field of Halal Science where he has published over 120 peer reviewed articles in scientific journals as well as accomplishing over 30 research studies. He has bagged earlier over 60 awards and honors.

Professor Bashar Awad, a Jordanian national, has won the award in Islamic studies for which the topic was “Critical editions of Islamic historical and biographical texts.”

Born in 1940 in Alazamyah, northern Bagdad, Awad obtained his PhD from Bagdad University in 1976. He has assumed many academic and administrative positions during his career such as president of Bagdad University and member of many Islamic counsels. He has published many books and articles in his field in addition to training many graduate students. Awad has been awarded with many awards and honors in recognition of his great efforts.

The selection committee picked him for the award in recognition of his broad historical and geographical views in his editing studies which covered the works of Hadith and history of scholars as well as the most famous Islamic figures. His works have set the foundations for rules and principles governing the practice of editing, which have brought this field closer to becoming a science based on precision, integrity and extensiveness.

Professor Chokri Mabkhout was chosen for the award in Arabic language and literature for which the topic was “Studies dealing with autobiography in Arabic literature.” The panel named him for the prize in recognition of his originality in the treatment and analysis of Arab biographical themes. It also appreciated his ability in absorbing the theoretical background and investigating the artistic and intellectual values in biographical themes, as well as the variety of critical approaches he adopted in his studies and the sober and aesthetically outstanding language in his critical analyses.

Born in 1962 in Tunisia, Mabkhout obtained his PhD in Arabic language and literature from Manoubah University.

He has assumed many academic and administrative positions during his career and is currently serving as president of Manoubah University. Mabkhout is author of several books.

The prize in the category of medicine for the topic of ‘Immunotherapy for Cancer’ was bagged by Professor James P. Allison from Texas. He was awarded the prize in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of the field of immunotherapy of cancer. He identified CTLA4 as an inhibitory receptor of T-cells and pioneered the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of a range of cancers.

Professor Allison has assumed many academic and administrative positions during his fruitful career. Currently he is the “Vivian L. Smith Distinguished” Chair of the Department of Immunology, & Director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. His vast contributions to humanity and medicine through his research in the field of Immunotherapy for cancer where he has published over 250 peer reviewed articles in reputable scientific journals.

In addition to being a member of the editorial board of many reputable scientific journals, professor Allison has participated in various conferences and exhibitions in his field as well as supervising many graduate students. His work has been recognized by over 60 awards and honors.

Professor Ball, was awarded the prize for science (mathematics) for his fundamental and groundbreaking contributions to nonlinear partial differential equations, the calculus of variations, and dynamical systems. In these areas he developed revolutionary approaches that are widely used in mathematics at present. In addition to his scientific achievements, Professor Ball has served the wider scientific community in a leading advisory role to mathematical initiatives around the world.

Ball has assumed many academic and administrative positions during his fruitful career. Currently he is the Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy and Director of the Oxford Centre for Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations at the university of Oxford.

His vast contributions to mathematics through his research in the field of nonlinear partial differential equations, the calculus of variations, and dynamical systems, where he has published over 70 peer reviewed articles in reputable scientific journals.