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Martin Rees picks up the Templeton Prize from Prince Philip
(Courtesy: Clifford Shirley)
By Michael Banks
Can you guess what these two are saying to each other?
The photo, which was taken yesterday, shows the cosmologist Martin Rees from Cambridge University picking up the 2011 Templeton Prize at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Rees was presented with the gong, which comes with a cheque for a whopping £1m, by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in a private ceremony that was also attended by seven former Templeton winners, including Paul Davis and George Ellis.
Yesterday also happened to be Prince Philip’s 90th birthday.
According to the Templeton Foundation, the prize is awarded for “progress toward research or discoveries about spiritual realities”.
The 68-year-old cosmologist was awarded it for his “profound insights” into the nature of the cosmos that have “provoked vital questions that address mankind’s deepest hopes and fears”.
There was some controversy around Rees being awarded the prize. Indeed, he told me he was “surprised” on hearing he had won and that he usually tries to avoid discussing science and religion with his views being “rather boring”.
There is not a £1m prize on offer from us, but physicsworld.com readers – can you guess what is being said between Rees (right) and Prince Philip in our caption competition?
If we have some funny submissions then we may be able to dig out a prize for the best one.
HRH: So let me get this right; the idea was new matter is formed in between two galaxies as they move apart!
Here are a few early suggestions from the Physics World Facebook page:
“Can you lend me a bob or two, I’ve just had to help pay for a wedding?”
“Thanks for your b’day wishes, but the King of cosmos deserves more than my 90 princely gifts!”
HH : So how’dya find the templeton ?
Rees:
No money in atheons, sir,so I decided to look for an eleemosynary resonance of the Gaga particle to go with the faith hope and charity quarks.
HH: Congratulations Sir Martin. Here’s one in the eye for Richard Dawkins.
Rees: Richard Who??
“I see an almost complete disjunction between the science I do and any religious views I have – but in a multiverse, any improbable event becomes possible!”
HRH: Well. What d’you think Marty? Found this little so-and-so scuttling around amongst all those Higgs Bosons and what-not in back of dear old Mama-in-Laws drink’s cabinet. We called it the ‘Black Hole’ y’know.
Prof R: Should make a good target for the LHC then!
HRH: Cosmology, doesn’t that have something to do with cutting hair and polishing nails?
Well Your Highness, for a million quid I’d say I believe in Santa Claus.
Thanks for the medal. But help! It’s so heavy I’m falling over!
“So who did you marry to get your job?”