2 May 2016 — Members of the LIGO and Virgo collaborations have been awarded a Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, the Prize Selection Committee announced.
The award recognizes “the scientists and engineers contributing to the momentuous detection of gravitational waves”, which was announced by LIGO on Feb 11, 2016, stated the announcement by the Selection Committee.
The Special Breakthrough Prize can be awarded at any time in recognition of an exceptional scientific achievement. The $3 million prize will be shared as follows: the three LIGO founders — Ronald W.P. Drever (Caltech); Kip S. Thorne (Caltech); and Rainer Weiss (MIT) — will share $1 million; and the 1012 contributing scientists, engineers, and staff will share $2 million.