According to the announcement at the founding ceremony of the Shaw Prize, the prize consists of three prizes, namely, mathematical science, astronomy, life science and medicine, which are not duplicated with the three scientific prizes set by the Nobel Prize. Mathematics and astronomy are both basic sciences, and the Nobel Prize without these two prizes is obviously flawed. Mathematics is the basic language of all natural sciences and modern technology, and it is indispensable for social science, economic activities and people's daily life. Mathematics plays a more important role in 2 1 century. Astronomy is both ancient and extremely young, and 2 1 century will be the golden age for exploring the universe. The "Shaw Prize" is more extensive in life science and medicine than the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, which will bring better health and higher quality of life to mankind in the new century. The Shaw Prize is to make up for the deficiency of the Nobel Prize, and the relationship between them goes hand in hand and complements each other.
Some people think that the Nobel Prize is western, so most of the winners are Europeans and Americans. Shaw Prize comes from the East, and the winners will mainly come from the East, especially from China and overseas Chinese. This is not only a huge misunderstanding, but also a naive idea. The international scientific community generally believes that the evaluation of the Nobel Prize in Science is fair and just. For example, Japanese scientists are also orientals, and their new discoveries and creations can also win prizes without discrimination. At the inauguration ceremony, Yang Zaijun, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Shaw Prize and a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, clearly announced that the principle of awarding the prize is: "Regardless of the race, nationality and religious beliefs of the winners, the aim is to achieve breakthrough results in academic and scientific research or application, and the results will have a far-reaching impact on human life."