AWARDS

The Academy of Magic & Science awards are given to the individuals who deserve to be honoured for their contribution to science, education, communication, the art of magic as well as creating bridges of collaborations and innovation across disciplines turning somehow the impossible into possible.

OUTSTANDING IMPACT

This award is given to the individuals, teams or institutions, which through their research, inventions, breakthrough or actions marked a positive change in the course of history.

Professor Sir John Gurdon

Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine
The pioneering research of Prof John Gurdon in nuclear transplantation and cloning, as well as the discovery that mature cells can be converted to stem cells, noted outstanding advancements in developmental biology. The godfather of cloning, through his research gifted to the world of science the reprogramming of mature cells to become pluripotent cells, a finding with great potential in the fields of biology, medicine and humanity as a whole. Professor Gurdon’s Outstanding Impact award was celebrated with a conjuring effect dedicated in process of cloning, performed by Alexis Arts, in the Gurdon Institute of the University of Cambridge

INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTION

This prize recognises and rewards the outstanding contribution toward the wider community socially, culturally, educationally or academically. The artwork is designed and shaped by sculptor Yanni Souvatzoglou, who crafted awards for the Athens2004 Olympics.

Domenico Dante

FISM World President
The Federation Internationale des Societes Magiques is the international body bringing together the world’s leading magic societies. Federation was created in 1948 and today consists of more than 97 magic societies, both national and international, as well as national Federations which represent over 70,000 magicians from 49 countries. Domenico Dante, Peter Din and Gerrit Brengman lead FISM, unifying magic societies from all over the world, developing, elevating and promoting the art of magic, coordinating the activities of member societies, as well as fighting against exposure and copies of original acts and inventions and organising the World Championships of Magic. The recognition for International Contribution was awarded to Domenico Dante in the prestigious debate chamber of the Cambridge Union in February 2015

INSPIRATION

The extraordinary qualities, hard work and creative impulse that craft positive role models and can inspire generations across disciplines, cultural and educational backgrounds receive the Award of Inspiration.

Toby Churchill

Entrepreneur
Toby Churchill FRSA is an inspirational and highly awarded British entrepreneur, who created a miracle - being disabled and unable to speak, he designed and manufactured communication aids. At the age of 21 he contracted encephalitis while swimming in a polluted river and became disabled and lost his speech. Dissatisfied with the rudimentary communication aids then available for people who cannot speak, he designed the first Lightwriter for his own use and, after meeting other people with similar needs, started to manufacture them. He set up Toby Churchill Limited in 1973 to manufacture portable text-based communication aids. The company won a number of awards including a British Design Award, a Department of Trade and Industry Languages for Export Award, the Queen's Award for Export and more. Toby is a true inspiration for everyone aiming to innovate, create, solve problems to help the society and fight through the impossible to create miracles!

Patrick Hughes

Artist - Creator of Reverspective
Patrick Hughes is a British artist working in London. He is the creator of "reverspective", an optical illusion on a three-dimensional surface where the parts of the picture which seem farthest away are actually physically the nearest. Reverspectives are three-dimensional paintings that when viewed from the front initially give the impression of viewing a painted flat surface that shows a perspective view. However as soon as the viewer moves their head even slightly the three dimensional surface that supports the perspective view accentuates the depth of the image and accelerates the shifting perspective far more than the brain normally allows. This provides a powerful and often disorienting impression of depth and movement. The illusion is made possible by painting the view in reverse to the relief of the surface, that is, the bits that stick farthest out from the painting are painted with the most distant part of the scene.

SLYDINI’S FLAME

This award is given in the honour of Tony Slydini, a world renowned magician, whose innovations in close up artistry earned him a legendary reputation across the globe. The flame award, inspired by the mythology of the three flames of Slydini’s hometown in Italy, designed by the native Pasquale Peppe, symbolises the power of excellence as well as the passing of the flame of inspiration from a talented individual to the wider society.

Gabriella Christiani

Oscar Prize winner
The Italian Academy Award Winner Editor with about thirty feature film credits, including masterpieces such as The Last Emperor (1987), Teleios (2017) and Last Tango in Paris (1972) is a technical innovator, who first used digital technologies for the “nonlinear” editing of the film. The Slydini’s Flame passed in her hands in December 2017 in the hometown that nurtured her, as well as Slydini’s talent, until she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her art and career.

HSH Prince Albert II

Prince of Monaco
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II is the reigning monarch of the Principality of Monaco and head of the princely house of Grimaldi. Enthroned in 2005, he quickly became a leading advocate for environmental causes. Through his foundation he greatly contributes in the fields of favouring sustainable practices, supporting innovations that challenge threats, conserving species that face extinction and promoting environmental education. The Slydini flame was passed in his hands in November 2018 in the Cambridge Union as expression of recognition for his contributions in education and positive impact, as well as the inspirational mission to leave world a more magical place.

Giovanni Muciaccia

TV host & actor
Giovanni Muciaccia is one of the most insirational figures in art creativities in Italy! He was born in Foggia and went to the Mario Riva Academy and to the Dramatic Arts Academy in Palmi, Calabria. He made his television debut on Rai Uno in 1992 with Disney Club and conducted La banda dello Zecchino on the same channel for the following two years. He took part to the third Nanni Moretti Sacher Festival with a short film entitled Sformat. In 1998– 1999 he became the television conductor of Art Attack, one of the Disney Channel’s flagship programs that acquired such a reputation to be also broadcast on Rai Due. The Slydini flame was passed in his hands in September 2021 in the Slydini Festival in Foggia, Italy, as expression of recognition for his artistic education and positive impact.

THE LEGENDS SCHEME