Prof. Haim Sompolinsky being awarded the prestigious 2026 Dirac Medal and Prize
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) proudly congratulates Prof. Haim Sompolinsky, one of the world’s leading theoretical physicists and neuroscientists, on being awarded the prestigious 2026 Dirac Medal and Prize by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). The organization operates under a tripartite agreement between the Italian Government, UNESCO, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Prof. Sompolinsky is Prof. Emeritus at the Hebrew University’s Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC) and Racah Institute of Physics, as well as a Prof. of Molecular and Cellular Biology and of Physics in Residence at Harvard University.
Established in 1985 in honor of Nobel laureate Paul A.M. Dirac, the Dirac Medal is among the world’s most distinguished awards in theoretical physics. It recognizes scientists whose groundbreaking work has fundamentally advanced the field. Prof. Sompolinsky shares the honor with Prof. Deepak Dhar (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune, India), Prof. Bernard Derrida (Collège de France, France), and Prof. Marc Mézard (Bocconi University, Italy).
According to the ICTP citation, the 2026 medal honors the four recipients for their “pioneering contributions to equilibrium statistical mechanics and for extending its concepts and methods into non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, optimization problems, theoretical neuroscience, and, finally, artificial intelligence.”
Applying statistical-physics methods to neural-network theory, Prof. Sompolinsky helped establish the field of theoretical neuroscience and elucidated how collective activity in neuronal networks supports memory, computation, and learning. His contributions span disordered systems, associative memory, chaotic network dynamics, population coding, statistical mechanics of learning, and the theory of cognitive functions in brains and machines.
“This remarkable honor recognizes Prof. Sompolinsky’s extraordinary scientific vision and his ability to reshape entire fields of research,” said Prof. Tamir Sheafer, President of the Hebrew University. “By forging deep connections between physics, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, Haim has fundamentally changed the way we understand intelligence, both natural and artificial. His groundbreaking achievements exemplify the spirit of scientific excellence and interdisciplinary innovation that defines the Hebrew University. We are immensely proud of his accomplishments and extend our heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved international recognition.”
