By: Liz Do
27 Oct, 2025
CIFAR researcher and former Associate Fellow receive prestigious Shaw Prize
October 27, 2025
J. Richard Bond and George Efstathiou, a former Associate Fellow, are recognized for their profound impact in astronomy
J. Richard Bond and George Efstathiou, researchers with deep ties to CIFAR’s Gravity & the Extreme Universe program, recently accepted their 2025 Shaw Prize in Astronomy in Hong Kong.
The Prize celebrates individuals who have achieved significant breakthroughs in academic or scientific research and applications, making a profound and positive impact on society. Three annual prizes are awarded in Astronomy, Life Science and Medicine, and Mathematical Science. Each award is worth US$1.2 million. The award is often regarded as a step toward the Nobel Prize.
Bond and Efstathiou were honoured for their groundbreaking research in cosmology, especially their research on tiny fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background — the faint glow of light left over from the Big Bang. Their work led scientists to accurately determine the Universe’s age, shape and composition.
Not only have both researchers made significant contributions to the field of astronomy, both have also helped shape and advance research in the Gravity & the Extreme Universe program for decades. Bond has been a Fellow for almost 40 years, co-directing the program from 2002 to 2017. Meanwhile, Efstathiou was an Associate Fellow for 30 years, from 1987 to 2017.
“On behalf of CIFAR, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Richard and George on this well-deserved recognition,” said Stephen J. Toope, President & CEO of CIFAR. “Their contributions have had an extraordinary impact on cosmology, deepening our understanding of the Universe. This honour is a powerful reminder of how fundamental research can lead to transformative breakthroughs. Richard and George have been valued members of our CIFAR community for many, many years, and we are proud to celebrate their remarkable achievements.”
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