LONDON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Professor Usha Goswami at the University of Cambridge has received the Yidan Prize founded by Charles Chen Yidan for her ground-breaking neuroscience research in understanding brain function.
"I am deeply honored to receive the Yidan Prize, and to have my research in educational neuroscience, language and literacy recognized by the foundation (Yidan Prize Foundation). I whole-heartedly endorse the foundation's mission to create a better world through education. Children's language and reading skills are fundamental to their ability to access the opportunities offered by education," said Goswami during an award ceremony in Cambridge Tuesday.
As a Yidan Prize laureate, she received a gold medal and 30 million HK dollars (around 3.9 million U.S. dollars), half of which is a cash prize and the other half a project fund.
She plans to use the project fund for a dedicated neuroimaging investigation of developmental language disorder (DLD), said the laureate.
Goswami was awarded the Yidan Prize for Education Research in September 2019 for her research in understanding brain function, which allows educators to design different teaching pedagogy, techniques and tools to help children with dyslexia and special needs to learn languages more effectively.
As professor of cognitive developmental neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, Goswami is also a fellow of St John's College Cambridge. She founded and serves as director of the world's first Center for Neuroscience in Education.
Her research revealed the brain basis of rhythm perception, showing how this neural process is impaired in developmental dyslexia. These discoveries are enabling transformative educational interventions that have the potential to benefit millions of children worldwide.
Children with DLD have difficulties in acquiring oral language in the absence of some neurodevelopmental issues. Worldwide, it is estimated that over 15 million children are affected.
During the award ceremony, prize founder Chen said it was a great pleasure to work together and support Goswami's inspiring work which could benefit millions of children.
"We greatly anticipate that, here in Cambridge, exciting findings will open doors for passionate educators to apply innovative technology and solutions to create a more inclusive global community," he said.
Founded in 2016 by Chen, the Yidan Prize has a mission of creating a better world through education. It consists of two awards, one for Education Research and another for Education Development.
