Klaus J. Jacobs Awards

Charles A. Nelson, is selected as one of two recipients of the 2021 Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize, together with Daniel L. Schwartz, for his work using longitudinal studies to demonstrate that early adversity in the first three years of life impacts later developmental outcomes.

Daniel L. Schwartz is selected as one of two recipients of the 2021 Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize, together with Charles A. Nelson, for his research into the mechanics of learning and problem-solving, and their application in enhancing the educational success of students of all ages.

Prof. Daphne Bavelier receives the 2019 Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize endowed with one million Swiss Francs for her research on leveraging action video games to promote brain plasticity and learning.

Prof. Paul Bloom received the 2017 Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize for his research into the origins, nature and development of children’s moral thought and behavior.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize 2016 went to economist Orazio P. Attanasio for his use of economic models and field experiments to assess and shape early child development programs and policies in low income countries.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize 2015 went to Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore of University College London (UCL), UK, for her research on understanding emotional and social brain development during adolescence.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize 2014 went to the Canadian neurobiologist Michael J. Meaney, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, for his research on the mechanisms for how parental care becomes embedded in children’s biology.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize 2013 went to the American economist Greg J. Duncan for his research on the long-term consequences of poverty in early childhood.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize 2012 went to the leading international developmental and clinical psychologist Professor Dante Cicchetti for his research on the resilience of children and the developmental results of difficult life conditions.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize 2011 went to developmental psychologist Professor Michael Tomasello for his evidence-based research showing that already one-year old children can cooperate and help other children.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize 2010 went to Terrie Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi for their research on the interplay between genetic disposition and environmental influences.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize 2009 went to Laurence Steinberg for his immens contribution to improving the life circumstances of young people and their families.

The Jacobs Foundation Board recognizes Dybuster for their exceptional efforts to promote the learning abilities of dyslexic and dyscalculic children by providing software solutions based on artificial intelligence and neuroscience, and especially for their response to COVID-19 related challenges.

The Jacobs Foundation Board recognizes PEAS for their exceptional efforts to drive educational quality through efficient school management and to operate low-cost secondary schools for the most marginalized students in Uganda and Zambia, and especially for their response to COVID-19 related challenges.

The Jacobs Foundation Board recognizes Ubongo for their exceptional efforts to provide quality edutainment with localized educational cartoons to children in Africa, and especially for their response to COVID-19 related challenges.

The 2017 Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize was awarded to War Child in the Netherlands for their global efforts to improve the lives of children exposed to war by promoting psychosocial well-being and fostering emotional resilience for their future.

The 2016 Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize was awarded to ICS-SP in Nairobi, Kenya for their unique approach combining agribusiness with skillful parenting in East Africa aimed at improving early childhood development, parenting and agricultural practices in rural areas.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize 2015 went to Gesamtschule Unterstrass (a private comprehensive school) in Zurich, Switzerland, for an innovative social emotional learning project adding social competencies to the Swiss curriculum.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize 2014 was awarded to the Serenity Harm Reduction Programme Zambia for its evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address severe needs of trauma affected children and their families in Zambia.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize 2013 went to the ELTERN-AG, for its prevention program to support families that have young children and find themselves in particularly difficult circumstances.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize 2012 went to the Off Road Kids Foundation, Germany, for its nationwide social work, helping young runaways and street children.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize 2011 was awarded to Christiane Daepp for the development of the concept of the Ideenbüro, helping schoolchildren to take on responsibility, to learn to cooperate and to regard life’s problems as challenges.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize 2010 was given jointly to the two organizations Opstapje e.V. in Germany and a:primo in Switzerland. They have taken an innovative support model for children and families and successfully adapted it to local conditions in Germany and Switzerland.

The Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize 2009 went to Father Johann Casutt († 2012) who successfully adapted the Swiss model of vocational training for young people to suit the circumstances of Indonesia.