If The Leonardo is the modern manifestation of Leonardo da Vinci’s vision and interdisciplinary innovation, then no one person better embodies the shared ethos of da Vinci, and his institutional namesake, than Ed Catmull.
Ed Catmull, a co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and former president of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, not to mention a graduate of the University of Utah’s College of Engineering, as well as a five-time Academy Award winner, perfectly embodies the ethos of The Leonardo through his interdisciplinary achievements, commitment to fostering creativity and education, visionary leadership, and lasting impact on society. His career and contributions exemplify the blend of art and science that The Leonardo celebrates and promotes.
The 2024 Leonardo Award Presentation
September 12, 2024
Additional Information to Come.
Please contact Taylor Smedley or Dustyn Burt for sponsorship information.
The Award celebration will include a VIP Reception, the Award presentation and a keynote speech by Dr. Catmull, and it will be followed by a private dinner with the awardee and honored guests in The Leonardo’s IDEA Space.
We invite you to support this event, and to help us create a lasting exhibit display on Ed Catmull’s life and legacy here in Utah, at a museum dedicated to inspiring creativity and innovation in people of all ages and backgrounds.
Generously Sponsored by
The Leonardo Award
We believe in each person’s infinite potential, and that everyone has the innate ability to tap into the same genius that defines Leonardo da Vinci’s lasting legacy: curiosity and making connections between ideas and pieces of knowledge that lead to new insights and innovation.
In this spirit, we annually present The Leonardo Award to an individual who has demonstrated a lifelong sense of curiosity and learning, and whose work inspires the creative potential in others. The award reflects the museum’s dedication to supporting both individual achievement, as well as the transformative impact individuals can have on their communities. Award recipients are remarkable in their own right, and for the ways in which they affect positive change. They follow in the footsteps of the museum and award’s namesake – Leonardo da Vinci—who said: “I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.”
Past recipients of The Leonardo Award include: Medical device pioneer and civic leader Fred Lampropoulos; environmental advocate and action star Jackie Chan; pioneering bioengineer and distinguished professor Dr. Steven Jacobsen; Dr. Christopher Johnson, distinguished professor of computer science, pioneer in scientific imaging and computing and founder of the Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute at the University of Utah, Dr. Nalini Nadkarni, an ecologist, ground-breaking researcher on ecosystem ecology, who believes that science is for all; and last year’s award, Nobel Laureate Dr. Mario Capecchi.
More information about past recipients can be found below.
Previous Award Recipients
2023 Leonardo Award Winner: Dr. Mario Capecchi
Dr. Mario Capecchi (born October 6, 1937) is a remarkable scientist whose imagination and creativity have inspired a generation of researchers worldwide. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2007 for his ground-breaking work on gene targeting in mice. Born in Italy during the upheavals of WWII, he spent much of his childhood in an orphanage before moving to the United States at the age of nine. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in biophysics at Harvard University and has held faculty positions at Harvard, the University of Utah, and the University of California, San Diego. At the University of Utah, he established a research department that became world-renowned for its work
on mammalian genetics.
Why We’re Inspired: Dr. Capecchi’s life journey has been nothing short of miraculous, and his dedication to the field of genetics is awe-inspiring. He has contributed significantly to our understanding of gene targeting, leading to the development of countless therapies for human diseases. He switches scientific fields of study every decade to maintain a fresh perspective and experience scientific progress. His passion for learning, willingness to share his expertise with others and perseverance truly make him an inspiring role model to scientists everywhere.
2022 Leonardo Award Winner: Dr. Nalini Nadkarni
Dr. Nalini Nadkarni (born 1954) is an ecologist who pioneered the study of Costa Rican rainforest canopies. She spent over two decades climbing the trees of Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea, the Amazon, and the Pacific Northwest, exploring the world of animals and plants that live in the canopy; and how this upper layer of the forest interacts with the world on the ground. An internationally acclaimed, pioneering researcher in this area, Nadkarni created The Big Canopy database to help researchers store and understand the rich trove of data she and others are uncovering.
Why We’re Inspired: Having double-majored in biology and modern dance at Brown University, Dr. Nadkarni started with an appreciation for both the arts and sciences. But perhaps more than that, her deep commitment to engaging non-academic audiences to inspire them to care about science, trees, and nature, in general, sets her apart as someone who can inspire entire communities with her work. In particular, she has been a leading force in bringing science education classes to incarcerated youth. In addition, she collaborates with writers, poets, dancers, and musicians to help communicate the importance and significance of her work.
2020 Leonardo Award Winner: Dr. Christopher R. Johnson
Chris Johnson (born 1960) is a computer scientist and distinguished Professor of Computer Science at the University of Utah. He is a world-renowned researcher and the founder of the Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute (SCI), which tackles some of the most complex problems in engineering and medicine through scientific and biomedical computing, visualization, and image analysis.
Why We’re Inspired: Dr. Johnson uses computing to help us see patterns in data or simulate real-world phenomena that can be applied to various engineering questions. Leonardo da Vinci spoke of “knowing how to see,” and Dr. Johnson’s work allows us to see the world entirely new ways. His success is born out of a deep commitment to interdisciplinary work, and the result is not just visually stunning but also scientifically important.
2019 Leonardo Award Winner: Dr. Stephen C. Jacobsen
Stephen Jacobsen (1940-2016) was an engineer, roboticist, and biomedical pioneer who worked on major breakthrough innovations, including the first artificial heart implanted in a human, the first artificial wearable kidney, and the Utah Arm – a prosthetic device for amputees. Jacobsen was the founder of several companies, including Sarcos, and he was a Distinguished Professor of Engineering at the University of Utah.
Why We’re Inspired: Jacobsen had a Tony Stark-like mindset, and he used his formidable skills not just to build companies or work with military leaders to develop exoskeleton suits for soldiers but also for whimsical, fun projects: he built mechanized dinosaurs for Universal’s Jurassic Park Ride, as well as the robotic controllers for the Bellagio Fountain in Las Vegas – which weighs 700,000 pounds and includes 125 individual robotic fountains. Like Leonardo’s, Jacobsen’s creativity and ceaseless innovative spirit knew no bounds, and also, like Leonardo, he found parallels that crossed disciplines.
2018 Leonardo Award Winner: Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, born to impoverished parents in 1954, is a world-renowned movie and action star, equally beloved in the East and West for his stunts and acrobatic fighting style. He has appeared in more than 150 films and is one of the most recognizable actors and influential personalities globally, including being a leading philanthropist. Chan is also an operatically trained vocalist who has released several music albums.
Why We’re Inspired: Chan, recognizing the tremendous platform that his stardom affords him, has branched out to inspire individuals and communities to understand the urgent need for environmental protection better. He collects and recycles props from his movie sets and works with artists to give them new life as sculptures that stand as a warning against our consumerist society. He inspires children to see themselves as ‘Green Heroes’ who can make a difference in the world. Chan’s dedication to this cause inspires anyone who seeks to create a better world with whatever skills and platforms we have.
2016 Leonardo Award Winner: Fred P. Lampropoulos
Fred Lampropoulos is an innovator who built his company, Merit Medical Systems, from the ground up. After 30 years in the medical device industry, he continues to advance life-saving technologies while building a global business. Merit Medical devices are used in the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of cardiac, peripheral, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary conditions.
Why We’re Inspired: Like Leonardo’s, Lampropoulos’ success was not pre-ordained based on family fortune, but he followed his curiosity which took him to the medical device industry, and without any background in medicine or med-tech, he went on to invent his own devices, eventually owning over 200 patents. His life story and success prove that a lot of passion, some resilience, and asking great questions can lead to the pinnacle of success.