JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Prof. Haim Sompolinsky, one of the world’s foremost theoretical physicists and neuroscientists, has been awarded the prestigious Dirac Medal and Prize by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy, in recognition of his pioneering contributions to theoretical physics, neuroscience and artificial intelligence.

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The 76-year-old scientist is professor emeritus at the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC) and the Racah Institute of Physics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He also serves as professor of molecular and cellular biology and professor of physics in residence at Harvard University.

He also received Smicha from the Ponovech Yeshiva.  Legend has it that he wrote his doctorate in the breaks between Sedorim. (YH)

The ICTP honored Sompolinsky for his groundbreaking work bridging the principles of physics with the study of the brain and artificial intelligence. His research laid the foundations of the field of theoretical neuroscience, transforming the understanding of how neural networks learn, process information and store memories in both biological brains and artificial intelligence systems.

“This remarkable honor recognizes Professor Sompolinsky’s extraordinary scientific vision and his ability to reshape entire fields of research,” said Prof. Tamir Sheafer, president of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “By forging deep connections between physics, neuroscience and artificial intelligence, Haim has fundamentally changed the way we understand intelligence, both natural and artificial.”

Established in 1985 in honor of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Paul A.M. Dirac, the Dirac Medal is regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious awards in theoretical physics. It recognizes scientists whose groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced the field.

Sompolinsky shares this year’s award with Prof. Deepak Dhar of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Prof. Bernard Derrida of the Collège de France, and Prof. Marc Mézard of Bocconi University in Italy.

Born in Denmark, Sompolinsky is the son of the late Prof. David Sompolinsky, a distinguished microbiologist who played a key role in rescuing hundreds of Danish Jews during the Holocaust.

Two years ago, Sompolinski received the Brain Prize for his pioneering contributions to computational and theoretical neuroscience. The prize is considered the world’s most prestigious for neuroscience research.