John Beckman, Emeritus Research Professor of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) has been awarded the Prize for Research of the third edition of the Prizes at the La Orotava Science Fair. This award takes note of the broad and productive career of Beckman in the field of astrophysics, and his key work in the promotion of scientific knowledge from the Canary Islands.
After studying Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Oxford, Beckman moved to a postdoctoral position at Berkeley (U. California), worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of Caltech, and participated in interesting space projects such as the Mariner 6 and 7 missions to Mars.
His research has covered basic fields of Astrophysics, including the Cosmic Background Radiation, the evolution and structure of galaxies, the interstellar medum, and the chemical abundances of the stars and planets. As well as his scientific rigour the prize committee has valued his outstanding work of teaching and outreach, bringing the complexity of the Universe to a wide public.
The award, a piece by the ceramic artist Gonzalo Martín, will be given in a public ceremony on Thursday 6th November at 19:00 hrs, in the Town Hall of La Orotava. This distinction given to John Beckman reinforces the visibility of the international work carried out at the IAC and in the islands.
The Prizes at the Science Festival of La Orotava are aimed at recognizing the dedication of people and institutions which give prominence to outreach, education, and research in science., The Festival, which will be celebrating its XXII edition on November 9th in Constitution Square, La Orotava, has become the main event of Scientific outreach in the Canary Islands.
In this, the 2025 edition the other recognitions have been awarded in the fields of outreach and education. The Outreach Prize has been awarded to Komando Matemático, a group of retired mathematics teachers coordinated by the Canary Society of Mathematics Teachers “Luis Balbuena”, which promotes the enjoyment and understanding of mathematics through game activities. The Prize for Education is given to Aula 3i (Childrens’ classroom for Intelligent Innovation)a project stimulated by the Cabildo of Fuerteventura which is aimed at encouraging talent, creativity, and scientific-technological careers among young people.
With these prizes the La Orotava Science Festival renews its commitment to the promotion of knowledge and the recognition of those who contribute to making science a motor of progress and an essential set of values for Canary society.
The Festival is promoted by the Cabildo of Tenerife via its Science and Technology Park, and by the City Council of La Orotava, with the collaboration of the Canary Agency of Research, Innovation, and the Information Society of the Government of he Canaries.
