Prix Georges Lemaître

The Georges Lemaître Prize is awarded every two years to a scientist who has made a remarkable contribution to the development and dissemination of knowledge in the fields of cosmology, astronomy, astrophysics, geophysics or space research. The winner is chosen by an international jury of scientists, chaired by the rector of UCLouvain.

In 2026, it will honour Professor Lyman Page.

• The day of 30 March will be devoted to scientific conferences and meetings between researchers. Registration
• A conference open to the general public will be held on 31 March from 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m. Auditorium A.10 (place des sciences)
• The prize will be awarded during the day dedicated to the Big Bang on 31 March at 6 p.m.

Conference open to the general public : Lemaître’s Light

• Date : 31 March from 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m. 
• Location : Auditorium A.10 (Place des Sciences in Louvain-la-Neuve).

Light from the birth of the universe arrives at the solar system after traveling nearly unimpeded through space for 13.8 billion years. This light, now called the cosmic microwave background (CMB), brings to us a picture of the primordial universe. 

Observational techniques have advanced to the point where the CMB can be exquisitely imaged. Along with this, a theoretical framework lets us accurately confront models with the observations. 

In the first part of the talk, we discuss how to think about the universe at its grandest scales. We then move on to measurements of the CMB and connect them with the fantastic interlocking web of observations that combine to support a model of the universe that began in a hot, dense state as envisioned by Lemaître.