Genius 100 Foundation celebrates Nobel Prize® winners Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier and Dr. Jennifer A. Doudna
It is with tremendous pride that we congratulate two of our Genius 100 Visionaries, Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier and Dr. Jennifer A. Doudna on being jointly awarded the Nobel Prize® in Chemistry 2020.Announced by The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Drs. Charpentier and Doudna received this honor for the development of a method for genome editing, referred to as Genetic Scissors: a tool for rewriting the code of life.Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier (Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, Berlin, Germany) and Dr. Jennifer A. Doudna (University of California, Berkeley, USA) have discovered one of gene technology’s sharpest tools: the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors.
Using these, researchers can change the DNA of animals, plants, and micro-organisms with extremely high precision. This technology has had a revolutionary impact on the life sciences, is contributing to new cancer therapies and may make the dream of curing inherited diseases come true – and making it possible to change the code of life over the course of a few weeks.
“There is enormous power in this genetic tool, which affects us all. It has not only revolutionized basic science but also resulted in innovative crops and will lead to ground-breaking new medical treatments,” says Claes Gustafsson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.
Since Charpentier and Doudna discovered the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors in 2012 their use has exploded. This tool has contributed to many important discoveries in basic research, and plant researchers have been able to develop crops that withstand mold, pests, and drought. In medicine, clinical trials of new cancer therapies are underway, and the dream of being able to cure inherited diseases is about to come true. These genetic scissors have taken the life sciences into a new epoch and, in many ways, are bringing the greatest benefit to humankind.
Drs. Charpentier and Doudna have been part of the Genius 100 Community since its founding in 2016. Inspired by Einstein, the Genius 100 Foundation was created to honor one hundred exceptional individuals - whether they are scientists, artists, philanthropists, innovators, or other paragons of excellence in their own disciplines - united by two qualities: great thinkers and great doers.
“We are awed by the discovery of these two female scientists from different parts of the world, who have come together due to their brilliance and fortitude, to make it a better place for so many people,” states Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Co-Founder and Global Ambassador of Genius 100.
Together with our entire Genius 100 Community around the globe, we applaud Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier and Dr. Jennifer A. Doudna on their positive influence, their visions for the future, and are excited to have the opportunity to engage with them to inspire the next generation of geniuses.
Nobel Prize® is a registered trademark of the Nobel Foundation.
"The human capacity to solve hard problems is virtually limitless when purpose and intent are manifest."– Daniel Goldin, G100 Visionary
Genius 100 was founded to inspire and support the creation and expansion of new knowledge and solutions. We are a hub and catalyst for people who push the boundaries of what is possible – and who have a desire to share their knowledge and experience with those who wish to expand their world view.
We saw exciting opportunities for collaboration and partnership between leaders and future thinkers who were interested in working together to develop and implement new ideas. We invited 100 great minds from ten disciplines, including the arts, sciences, technology, and humanities, to form a group of 100 geniuses. The Genius 100 community is a spirited, productive collective entity that will continue to evolve and flourish.
Genius 100 celebrates modern genius, innovation and exploration, and the positive impact they can have on our world.
"Today, there is so much focus on what divides us, but incredible power comes from magnifying what connects us."– Tiffany Shlain, G100 Visionary
One hundred exceptional individuals originally comprise the Genius 100 community. Whether they are scientists, artists, philanthropists, innovators, or other paragons of excellence in their own disciplines, they are united by two qualities: they are both great thinkers and great doers.
We applaud their positive influence, share their visions for the future, and are excited to engage with them to inspire the next generation of geniuses.
The Making of the 3D Publishing Milestone: Genius: 100 Visions of the Future
Chris Hadfield
Astronaut, former commander of the international space station, the first canadian to walk in space
Deepak Chopra
Title herefounder, the chopra foundation, co founder of jiyo.com and the chopra center for wellbeing. bestselling author, renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation
Barbra Streisand
Award-winning actress and singer, director, writer and activist
Shinya Yamanaka
Nobel laureate in stem cell research, director of the center for ips cell research and application (cira) at kyoto university
Shimon Peres (1923-2016)
Former president and prime minister of israel, nobel peace laureate
Frank Gehry
Award-winning and internationally-renowned architect
Zubin Mehta
Multiple-award-winning classical music conductor, hollywood walk of fame inductee
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020)
Associate justice of the supreme court of the united states
Rick Hansen
Paralympic athlete, activist, and philanthropist for people with disabilities
Steven Chu
Nobel laureate in physics, former u.s. secretary of energy under the obama administration (2009 – 2013)
Johann Olav Koss
Four-time olympic gold medalist in speed skating, internationally renowned social entrepreneur, right to play international founder
Julia Kristeva
Philosopher, psychoanalyst, award-winning writer
"To solve an issue, the development of solutions must outpace the development of problems."– Boyan Slat, Genius 100 Visionary
Genius 100 Think Tank - From vision to impact.
Backed by NYU’s Bronfman Center, the Genius 100 Think Tank works closely with the G100 community to create and direct social change. We leverage our network and expertise to address the globe’s most important challenges by a multi-disciplinary approach, backed by an enthusiastic group of professors and thought leaders. Together, acting as change-makers, through education and outreach, we use cutting-edge research that helps us rethink and reshape our activities.
The team leading this initiative:
Dr Nir Tsuk is a seasoned practitioner, academic and facilitator with more than 20 years of international experience in the fields of social capital, entrepreneurship, and in the study of impact and culture of innovation.
Serving as a Visiting Professor at the Bronfman Center, Nir is now heading a new impact and intrapreneurship institute at NYU connecting New York and Tel Aviv.
Previously, he helped grow various organizations expand globally, such as idealist.org and Ashoka. He holds a PhD from Cambridge University.
Dan is a thought leader in innovative finance, focused on impact venturing and investments in emerging markets.
Dan has gained substantial experience in startup venturing, investments and corporate venture capital. He advised international organizations such as the World Bank and the European Commission, as well as other leading corporates and entrepreneurs, on various international projects.
Dan co-authored several pioneering books on Crowdfunding. He is a faculty member at the Business School of the Hebrew University (Israel, Jerusalem).
Dr Nir Tsuk
Co-Director, Genius 100 Think Tank
Dr Dan Marom
Think Tank Venture Partner
"In such a short time, you can make such a difference in one's life."– Dr. Sanduk Ruit, G100 Visionary
Genius 100 Do Tank - From vision to impact.
G100’s Do Tank is a powerhouse for impact investing & venturing. It serves as a catalyst for purpose-driven activities & projects, transforming visions to impactful reality.
We act as the operating arm of the Genius 100 community and work closely with its members to create sustainable and meaningful social change. By leveraging our network and expertise, we develop and finance large-scale projects that target the basic needs of low and middle-income communities worldwide.
We aim to facilitate the alignment of capital and values and to increase private sector investment in developing countries. We act as a catalyst for investment in exceptional social entrepreneurs, as well as a centre for knowledge exchange and innovation in development finance and impact investing.
The team leading this initiative:
Ido is an accomplished project developer, focused on large-scale, greenfield projects in emerging markets.
Ido has led multinational expert teams across market-driven projects aimed at targeting the basic needs of low and middle-income communities. He has acquired hands-on global experience in a variety of sectors as a project developer and investor, as well as taken on active roles in the management of several operating companies.
Dan is a thought leader in innovative finance, focused on impact venturing and investments in emerging markets.
Dan has gained substantial experience in startup venturing, investments and corporate venture capital. He advised international organizations such as the World Bank and the European Commission, as well as other leading corporates and entrepreneurs, on various international projects.
Ido Ginzburg
Do Tank Venture Partner
Dr Dan Marom
Do Tank Venture Partner
Current Projects
"We see with our brain no less than we see with our eyes."On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's creation of the General Theory of Relativity, we invited our inaugural community of 100 geniuses to share their visions for the future. The result is Genius: 100 Visions of the Future, the world's first 3D-printed book. Designed by renowned industrial designer, artist, and architect Ron Arad, the collection is produced in the likeness of its inspiration, Einstein himself. While the first-edition print run is highly limited, the book's reach has already proven itself to be profound – and not only because, in partnership with NASA, a copy was printed in space. As our foundational project, Genius: 100 Visions was the spark that ignited collaborative energy between its contributors. It points to inspiring, untried paths, and fuels the commitment and excitement that drive the Genius 100 visionaries to work together to develop solutions and breakthroughs for the near and distant future.– Amir Amedi, G100 Visionary
"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."– Colonel Chris Hadfield, G100 Visionary
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We'd love to hear from you, and to inspire you – in the words of our Albert Einstein – to "Never lose a holy curiosity."