Modalities
This Prize is awarded to a scientist who has conducted distinguished research in the areas supported by the Foundation : Ethology, Psychology, Neurobiology, Anthropology, Ethnology, Human Paleontology and Archaeology.
The candidate must be proposed by a renowned scientific personality
Documents to be supplied
– The recommendation letter,
– The CV and a list of publications,
– The abstract (4 pages maximum) of the research work that justifies the award.
This folder should be sent by email to the Secretariat of the Fyssen Foundation at infos@fondationfyssen.fr
You will receive a confirmation email upon receipt of your file.
Closing date for the receipt of the folder : November 7th 2025
International Prize – Thematic 2025
The theme of 2025 International Prize is:
NEUROBIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HUMAN COGNITION
Cognition has evolved along the human lineage and is particularly developed in Homo sapiens along with the complexity of social interactions. The elucidation of the particularities in the development, organization and functional properties of the human brain which allow these performances is a major scientific challenge. Progress in that direction requires the combination of multiple approaches and disciplines.
The Prize will be awarded to an internationally recognized scholar who has significantly advanced our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms which endow humans of their cognitive abilities.
The award for the International Prize is 100 000 €
Laureats
Pr. Iain Couzin & Pr. Jean-Louis Deneubourg
2024
Collective Behaviour across species
Pr. Jean-Jacques Hublin & Dr. Svante Pääbo
2021
Évolutions vers la cognition Humaine
Mme Valentine Roux
2020
Technologie et techniques, évolution et transmission dans les populations humaines
Pr. Richard MORRIS
2019
Ecological psychology and spatial navigation
Pr. Silvia Arber
2018
Architecture des circuits neuronaux: des synapses à la cognition
Pr. Ian Hodder
2016
La directionnalité de l’évolution humaine: une approche par l’enchevêtrement
Pr. Roger Lemon
2015
Les mécanismes neurocognitifs des systèmes sensoriels et moteurs
Pr. Chris Frith
2009
Neuropsychologie – La relation entre le cerveau et l’esprit
Pr. Luigi L. Cavalli-Sforza
1993
Evolution and cognition
Pr. Jack Goody
1990
Anthropology and Cognition
Pr. Patricia S. Goldman-Rakic
1989
Neuroscience – Cognitive Development
Pr. Jean-Claude Gardin
1988
Epistemology – Logic of knowledge
Pr. David Premack
1987
Intelligence
Pr. David Pilbeam
1986
Paleontology
Pr. Pierre Buser
1985
Neurophysiology
Pr. Roger W. Brown
1984
Psychologie
Pr. Harold C. Conklin
1983
Anthropology
Pr. Vernon B. Mountcastle
1982
Neurobiology
Pr. William H. Thorpe
1981
Cognitive ethology
Pr. André Leroi-Gourhan
1980
Paleontology