The 2025 World Laureates Association (WLA) Prize winners were announced at the Lingang Center in Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area on Sept 10, with three US scientists receiving the prestigious honor.

The WLA Prize in Computer Science or Mathematics was conferred upon Richard Schoen, professor emeritus at Stanford University's School of Humanities and Sciences. His groundbreaking work in geometric analysis and differential geometry, particularly in conformal partial differential equations, minimal surfaces, general relativity, harmonic maps, and the Yamabe problem, was lauded as pioneering.

Richard Schoen wins the 2025 WLA Prize in Computer Science or Mathematics. [Photo/WLA Prize]

Scott D. Emr, professor emeritus of molecular biology and genetics at Cornell University, and Wesley I. Sundquist, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Utah, shared the WLA Prize in Life Science or Medicine for their breakthrough discoveries in the cellular machinery for receptor membrane protein trafficking and degradation, crucial for virus budding, infection processes, and HIV drug interventions.

Scott D. Emr and Wesley I. Sundquist, the 2025 WLA Prize laureates in Life Science or Medicine. [Photo/WLA Prize]

Established in Shanghai in 2021, the WLA Prize is a globally recognized science award, featuring two categories: Computer Science or Mathematics and Life Science or Medicine. Each category carries a cash prize of 10 million yuan ($1.4 million), shared among up to four laureates, making it one of the most generous science awards worldwide.

Since its inception, the WLA Prize has honored 12 scientists. The 2025 award ceremony, coinciding with the opening of the World Laureates Forum, will take place in the Lin-gang Special Area on Oct 24, with the laureates in attendance.

Lingang Center, the permanent site for the World Laureates Forum. [Photo/lingang.gov.cn]