Frances Arnold, American biochemical engineer and professor of chemical engineering, bioengineering and biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, is the winner of this year’s Millennium Technology Prize and the 1 million euro ($1.2 million) that goes along with it, according to an article from The Seattle Times. Arnold was recognized for her work in "directed evolution," which has impacted areas such as pharmaceuticals and gene therapies and has helped lead to the production of medicines including drugs for diabetes.
According to the article, the Millennium Prize honors technological innovations that enhance the quality of human life in a sustainable way, and is awarded every two years by the Technological Academy of Finland. Arnold was selected from a field of 79 nominations and she is reportedly the first woman to win the award since its inception in 2004.
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