TORONTO, ON – May 28, 2025 – The Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) proudly announces that Professor J. Richard Bond has been awarded the 2025 Shaw Prize in Astronomy. Professor Bond, also a University Professor at the University of Toronto, shares the prize equally with Professor George Efstathiou of the University of Cambridge, UK. The two astrophysicists are distinguished for pioneering research that has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of the universe, including its geometry, age, and expansion rate.

The Shaw Prize recognizes their groundbreaking work on the fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) – the faint afterglow of the Big Bang. Their theoretical predictions, verified by an armada of ground-based, balloon-borne, and space-based instruments (like NASA’s WMAP and ESA’s Planck spacecraft), have led to remarkably precise determinations of the universe’s age, its geometric shape, and its composition of matter and energy.

In reaction to the news, Stephen Wright, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto, commented:“Professor Bond’s pioneering work in theoretical cosmology has helped answer fundamental questions about what the universe is made of, how it grew into its current form and how it might evolve in the future. It is wonderful to see his exceptional contributions to astronomy recognized with this award and I extend my heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved honour.”

“We are incredibly proud of Dick Bond for this well-deserved international recognition,” said Shantanu Basu, Director of CITA. “His visionary research into the early universe has not only provided the theoretical bedrock for interpreting CMB observations but has also affirmed CITA’s and Canada’s position at the forefront of global cosmology.”

Cosmology has experienced a golden age over the past two decades, largely driven by increasingly precise measurements of these tiny variations in the CMB. Though these fluctuations are minuscule – the CMB’s temperature is uniform to better than 0.01% – they hold the secrets of the universe’s infancy. Bond and Efstathiou, as recognized by the Shaw Foundation, were crucial in understanding that these variations could unlock fundamental cosmological parameters with accuracies previously unimaginable. Their theoretical frameworks are now the standard tools used worldwide to interpret CMB data.

This work has allowed scientists to confirm that the universe’s geometry is nearly flat, meaning that the curvature of space-time is essentially zero, determine its age to within 0.15% (approximately 13.8 billion years), measure its expansion rate with 0.5% precision, and quantify the amount of mysterious dark energy to better than 1%.

Beyond his seminal CMB work, Professor Bond has made other profound contributions recognized by the Shaw Prize. He co-introduced the concept of the “cosmic web”— the vast network of filaments connecting galaxies and galaxy clusters. He also developed key mathematical theories for understanding how galaxies cluster and made fundamental contributions to understanding the inflationary phase of the very early universe.

Professor Efstathiou is similarly lauded for his leadership in studying galaxy clustering, his early conceptualisation of the universe as dominated by dark energy, and his development of powerful N-body simulations to model cosmic structures.

The research by both laureates touches upon almost every aspect of modern cosmology and has been instrumental in establishing the standard cosmological model – our current best description of the universe.

About the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA):
CITA is a national research institute hosted by the University of Toronto, dedicated to the study of the origin and evolution of the universe and the advancement of astrophysics and astronomy. Its researchers are at the cutting edge of theoretical and computational astrophysics, contributing to our understanding of everything from the earliest moments of the cosmos to the formation of stars and galaxies.

About the Shaw Prize:
The Shaw Prize, established in 2002 by the philanthropist Mr. Run Run Shaw, honours individuals who have achieved significant breakthroughs in academic and scientific research or applications, and whose work has resulted in a positive and profound impact on mankind. It consists of three annual prizes – Astronomy, Life Science and Medicine, and Mathematical Sciences – each bearing a monetary award of US$1.2 million. Professor Bond is the first faculty member of the University of Toronto to receive this prestigious distinction.

Contact:
Lyuba Encheva
Communications and Events Coordinator
Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics
Email: communication@cita.utoronto.ca