DeCicca awarded Polanyi Prize

Philip DeCicca, an assistant professor in McMaster's Department of Economics, has been awarded a 2008 Polanyi Prize.

DeCicca, who received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 2005, has has published extensively in the field of health economics, with particular attention to the economics of smoking. His current research focuses on the impact of early childhood education on sustainable academic achievement.

The prize was announced today in Toronto to five academics representing a range of research fields.

Polanyi Prizes, valued at $20,000 each, are awarded to researchers who plan to continue postdoctoral studies at an Ontario university. Recipients are chosen by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies, an affiliate of the Council of Ontario Universities.

“Supporting their research is key to developing and keeping talented knowledge workers. In honouring these researchers' early achievements and confidently anticipating their future discoveries, we are cultivating a unique resource benefiting all Ontario,” said John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

The annual Polanyi Prize was established by the Ontario Government in 1986 after University of Toronto Professor John Polanyi was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in chemistry.

“The fact that the Government of Ontario has, through two decades and many changes, continued to sponsor these prizes carries a clear message: 'If you are an ambitious scholar, this is the place to be.'” says John Polanyi. “The prizes cover a broad spectrum of subjects from the sciences to the humanities, making the further point that excellence is indivisible; creativity in the arts supports that in science; and basic understanding is essential for innovation. If the province can succeed in making these points, the prizes will have served an historic purpose.”

Other recipients of this year's prize-all from the University of Toronto-are Mark Taylor (chemistry); Dr. Warren Lee (medicine); Katherine Larson (English); and Nadine Kolas (genetics).

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Philip DeCicca, an assistant professor in McMaster&#039;s Department of Economics, has been awarded a 2008 Polanyi Prize. <br />
<br />
<p>DeCicca, who received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 2005, has has published extensively in the field of health economics, with particular attention to the economics of smoking. His current research focuses on the impact of early childhood education on sustainable academic achievement.<br />
<br />
<p>The prize was announced today in Toronto to five academics representing a range of research fields.<br />
<br />
<p>Polanyi Prizes, valued at $20,000 each, are awarded to researchers who plan to continue postdoctoral studies at an Ontario university. Recipients are chosen by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies, an affiliate of the Council of Ontario Universities.<br />
<br />
<p>"Supporting their research is key to developing and keeping talented knowledge workers. In honouring these researchers&#039; early achievements and confidently anticipating their future discoveries, we are cultivating a unique resource benefiting all Ontario," said John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.<br />
<br />
<p>The annual Polanyi Prize was established by the Ontario Government in 1986 after University of Toronto Professor John Polanyi was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in chemistry. <br />
<br />
<p>"The fact that the Government of Ontario has, through two decades and many changes, continued to sponsor these prizes carries a clear message: &#039;If you are an ambitious scholar, this is the place to be.&#039;" says John Polanyi. "The prizes cover a broad spectrum of subjects from the sciences to the humanities, making the further point that excellence is indivisible; creativity in the arts supports that in science; and basic understanding is essential for innovation. If the province can succeed in making these points, the prizes will have served an historic purpose."<br />
<br />
<p>Other recipients of this year&#039;s prize-all from the University of Toronto-are Mark Taylor (chemistry); Dr. Warren Lee (medicine); Katherine Larson (English); and Nadine Kolas (genetics).

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