Templeton Prize Awarded to Martin Rees

(April 07, 2011) This year, the John Templeton Foundation is honouring Martin Rees, a British cosmologist and astrophysicist. The annual Templeton Prize recognizes exceptional contributions to affirming life's spiritual dimension, through insight, discovery, or practical works. In a press release on Tuesday, the foundation underlined Rees' work, noting that the "big questions" he raises, such as "How large is physical reality?" -are reshaping crucial philosophical and theological considerations that strike at the core of life, fostering the spiritual progress that the Templeton Prize has long sought to recognize.
As a former president of the Royal Society, Rees has spent decades investigating the implications of the big bang, the nature of black holes, events during the so-called “dark age” of the early universe, and the mysterious explosions from galaxy centers known as gamma ray busters. Rees stated that he considers himself a product of Christian culture and ethics, affirming that he grew up in the traditions of the Anglican Church. The prize will be awarded on June 1st at London’s Buckingham Palace.