Dr Gunn led the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which produced a three-dimensional digital cosmic map encompassing a broad region. He played a leading role in the project, including planning, instrument development, and data analysis, and contributed to the elucidation of the evolutionary history of the universe. He also published many pioneering astrophysical theories. Through these achievements, he has contributed significantly to the understanding of the universe.
Kyoto Prize award category: Basic Sciences — Earth and Planetary Sciences, Astronomy and Astrophysics