MITRE Trustee Dr. George H. Heilmeier Wins Kyoto Prize

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Bedford, Massachusetts, June 30, 2005 — The MITRE Corporation congratulates Dr. George H. Heilmeier, a MITRE Trustee and chairman emeritus of Telcordia Technologies, Inc., on being named as one of three winners of this year's Kyoto Prizes, the international awards presented by the Inamori Foundation to recognize life-long contributions to advanced technology, basic sciences, and arts and philosophy.

Dr. Heilmeier will receive the 2005 Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology for his groundbreaking research in the field of liquid crystals and his direct contributions to the development of the liquid crystal display. In 1968 as a young researcher at RCA Laboratories, Dr. Heilmeier studied the electro-optic effects in liquid crystals and created the first prototypes for the liquid crystal display screens used in today's flat-panel computers and televisions.

Other prize winners included Simon A. Levin from Princeton University for his role in establishing the field of spatial ecology, and Nikolaus Harnoncourt, a former conductor of the Vienna and Berlin philharmonic orchestras, for his exceptional creativity as a conductor and performer of European early music. Each recipient will be presented with a diploma, a 20-karat gold medal, and approximately $465,000 (50 million yen) at a ceremony in Kyoto, Japan, in November.

A member of the MITRE Trustees since 1993, Heilmeier has won many awards, including the David Sarnoff Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers; the National Academy of Engineering Founders Award, the academy's highest honor; and the National Medal of Science for contributions to national security and competitiveness. Twice he was awarded the Department of Defense (DOD) Distinguished Civilian Service Medal—the highest civilian award given by the DOD, and one that is rarely given twice.

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