NTI Advisor David Hamburg Receives 2015 Pardes Humanitarian Prize

WASHINGTON, D.C. – David Hamburg, a founding advisor to the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), received the 2015 Pardes Humanitarian Prize in Mental Health from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Friday night in New York City.  Dr. Hamburg and his wife, Dr. Betty Hamburg, were given the award for making a “profound and lasting impact” in improving the lives of people living with mental illness and in advancing the understanding of mental health. Watch the video highlighting their work here. 

“The Hamburgs are one of our country’s most thoughtful, caring, accomplished and creative families, and I personally consider them to be national treasures,” said NTI Co-Chairman Sam Nunn.  “I am delighted that they have been honored with the Pardes Humanitarian Prize in Mental Health for their important work in this critical field.”

In addition to his role at NTI, Dr. Hamburg is a Visiting Scholar at the American Association for the Advancement of Science and DeWitt Wallace Distinguished Scholar at Weill Cornell Medical College. He is President Emeritus at Carnegie Corporation of New York. Hamburg has a long history of leadership in biological and behavioral sciences and has been a pioneer in the prevention of mass violence. Dr. Hamburg has received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States.

In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Hamburg cited the “scope and flexibility” of institutions, such as NTI, that have worked with the Hamburgs over many years. “For a husband and wife in 2015, whose families a century ago were immigrant and disadvantaged, it is almost inconceivable we were able to grasp the opportunities offered by these superb institutions,” said Dr. Hamburg.
“All of us at NTI are delighted that David and Betty Hamburg have been recognized with this distinguished award,” said Joan Rohlfing, President of NTI.  “For decades, they have worked to solve problems and improve the prospects for humanity.  We are honored to work closely with David and to benefit from his wisdom, his vast experience and his hopeful spirit.” 

Dr. Hamburg concluded his remarks by highlighting the unique opportunity that the scientific community has for “solving problems, creating public understanding, and forging pathways to peaceful prosperity…We humans depend on one another everywhere, whether we are aware of it or not. In every sphere, we must come to educate ourselves on the pervasive and profound benefits that come from mutual aid and the enduring benefit of decent human relations in the context of our common humanity.”

The Nuclear Threat Initiative is a non-profit, non-partisan organization working to reduce threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. NTI is governed by a prestigious, international board of directors and is co-chaired by founders Sam Nunn and Ted Turner. NTI’s activities are directed by Nunn and Rohlfing.